Counsel

Highmark Health; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Highmark Health is seeking a seasoned lawyer to provide regular legal support for multiple units, offering timely and accurate counsel across federal, state, and regulatory matters.

The role requires a Juris Doctor, bar licensure (PA or eligible within a year), and 5+ years of related experience, including health regulation or corporate law. Strong communication, ethics and confidentiality are essential.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree required.
• Active license to practice law in PA or eligible within one year of hire.
• Minimum 5 years of related law experience in health regulation, insurance, corporate law, or litigation.

Responsibilities

• Provide regular legal support for one or more units of the Corporation; offer timely and accurate legal advice and ensure compliant documents.
• Manage litigation, transactions or other matters and assist outside counsel as needed.
• Prepare legal memoranda, contracts, pleadings, analyses and correspondence.
• Develop strong relationships with internal staff and external counsel.
• Stay current on developments in the law and uphold confidentiality and ethics.

Skills

Communication skills

Relationship building

Business acumen

Independent work

Strategic thinking

Problem solving

Confidentiality

Ethics

Education

Juris Doctor

Job description

Company :

Highmark Health

Job Description :

JOB SUMMARY

This job investigates factual situations and presents well-reasoned and creative solutions and alternatives based upon independent legal research and analysis of the facts and the law. The incumbent provides timely and accurate legal advice and prepares effective documents based upon knowledge of federal, state and other applicable law and the regulatory environment in which the Corporation and its affiliates(“Corporation”) function. Provides regular legal support on significant projects or matters for one or more discrete units of the Corporation and demonstrates significant knowledge of the Corporation’s business, while retaining the discipline of legal analysis. Works cooperatively with both inside counsel and, with approval of managing attorney, outside legal counsel.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide regular legal support for one or more discrete units of the Corporation; demonstrate significant knowledge of the Corporation’s business, while retaining the discipline of legal analysis; provide timely and accurate legal advice and prepare effective documents based upon knowledge of federal, state and other applicable law and the regulatory environment in which the Corporation functions; apply sound business judgment to the provision of legal advice; have advanced expertise in areas of legal practice that are necessary to effectively provide legal counsel; provide results of analysis to other attorneys in the Law Department(“Department”) or, under the direction of a managing attorney, directly to appropriate management and staff of the Corporation; provide legal advice to management and staff of the Department.
• Maintain positive and effective relationships with other members of the Department, as well as management and other staff of the Corporation, and outside counsel; maintain and foster productive relationships between the Corporation and external parties.
• Manage litigation, transactions or other matters and/or assist and work cooperatively with and/or supervise outside legal counsel from approved law firms used by the Corporation in support of one or more projects in the lawyer’s area of practice for the Corporation; may direct such work of outside legal counsel or facilitate such work of outside counsel to address issues effectively and efficiently, including minimizing outside legal counsel fees and expenses, as appropriate.
• Have well-developed skills in preparing legal memoranda, contracts, pleadings, analyses, correspondence and other relevant documents, while continuing to strengthen one or more other skills; perform legal research and investigate facts.
• Should have strong decision-making capability and should be proficient in being able to make business-oriented yet legally compliant recommendations. Investigate both straightforward and complex situations and present well-reasoned and creative solutions and alternatives based upon independent legal research and analysis of the facts and the law.
• Will demonstrate very good to excellent oral and written communication and information sharing skills.
• Very good to excellent negotiating skills with outside parties.
• Able to juggle multiple matters and effectively multi-task and prioritize tasks to ensure that work is completed in a timely, thorough and efficient manner.
• Effectively work in the midst of change and is willing to shift priorities and focus.
• Will seek out challenging tasks and assignments, engage in frequent development discussions and is open to feedback.
• Other duties as assigned or requested.

EDUCATION

Required

• Juris Doctor

Substitutions

• None

Preferred

• None

EXPERIENCE

Required

• 5 years of related, progressive law experience that is deeper in the area of relevant specialization.
• 3 years in related disciplines, such as insurance regulation, health law, general corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, contracts, antitrust, employee benefits, intellectual property and litigation

Preferred

• None

LICENSES or CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• License to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or applicable state (DE, WV or NY); or eligible for admission within one year of hire
• For Privacy Counsel positions only: Obtain and maintain certification as a privacy professional within one year of employment

Preferred

• None

SKILLS

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong relationship building skills
• Client focused with strong business acumen
• Self-starter with the ability to work under pressure independently and as part of a team
• Ability to think strategically and act proactively to create strong trust and confidence with business units
• Strong innovative problem-solving capabilities
• Keep current on recent developments in the law and develop in-depth knowledge of one or more areas of the law which are applicable to the Corporation’s business
• Observe high standards of confidentiality consistent with all applicable laws, professional standards and requirements of the Corporation
• Observe high personal and professional ethics

LICENSES or CERTIFICATIONS

Required

• None

Preferred

• None

SKILLS

Language (Other than English):

None

Travel Requirement:

0% - 25%

PHYSICAL, MENTAL DEMANDS and WORKING CONDITIONS

Position Type

Office-based

Teaches / trains others regularly

Frequently

Travel regularly from the office to various work sites or from site-to-site

Occasionally

Works primarily out-of-the office selling products/services (sales employees)

Never

Physical work site required

Yes

Lifting: up to 10 pounds

Constantly

Lifting: 10 to 25 pounds

Occasionally

Lifting: 25 to 50 pounds

Rarely

Disclaimer: _The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.

Compliance Requirement : This job adheres to the ethical and legal standards and behavioural expectations as set forth in the code of business conduct and company policies._

_As a component of job responsibilities, employees may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or other confidential customer information that must be protected at all times. In connection with this, all employees must comply with both the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policies and Procedures as well as all data security guidelines established within the Company’s Handbook of Privacy Policies and Practices and Information Security Policy.

Furthermore, it is every employee’s responsibility to comply with the company’s Code of Business Conduct. This includes but is not limited to adherence to applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations as well as company policies and training requirements.

Highmark Health and its affiliates prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on any category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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