EVP, Associate General Counsel

Palomar Holdings, Inc.; California (MO); On-site; USD 260,000 - 320,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

401k with employer contributions

PTO & holidays

Professional development assistance

Company events

Job summary

Palomar Holdings, Inc. seeks an Executive Vice President, Associate General Counsel - Corporate in La Jolla, CA. This senior leader will manage public company governance, securities, capital markets, M&A, insurance law, and related litigation.

Reporting to the CLO, you will guide governance processes, filings, and regulatory compliance for a NASDAQ/NYSE‑listed environment while partnering with the executive team to execute strategic transactions and corporate finance initiatives.

Qualifications

• J.D. from ABA-accredited law school; CA Bar eligibility or admission.
• 15+ years of Big Law and in-house insurance/financial services.
• Direct exposure to SEC reporting, proxy processes, and board governance.
• M&A transaction experience with deal execution and outside counsel management.
• Capital markets exposure with catastrophe bonds, ILS, or debt/equity offerings.
• Strong corporate insurance law background with securities regs awareness.

Responsibilities

• Lead governance for public company matters, including Board materials.
• Oversee SEC filings, insider trading rules, and Regulation FD compliance.
• Advise on Exchange Act, SOX, Dodd-Frank requirements for NASDAQ/NYSE.
• Serve as primary in-house counsel for related litigation and governance.
• Head M&A from diligence to closing; coordinate regulatory approvals.
• Lead capital markets activity: catastrophe bonds, credit facilities, debt/equity.

Skills

Public company governance

SEC reporting

M&A transactions

Capital markets

SOX compliance

Legal leadership

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited school

Job description

Palomar is a rapidly growing and innovative insurer focused on providing specialty insurance to residential and commercial customers. Palomar welcomes the best and brightest to our thriving team. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Palomar is building a dynamic and diverse team.

Join a company built on a culture of agility, innovation and authenticity that delivers peace of mind and protection to individuals and businesses impacted by adversity.

Palomar Holdings is seeking an Executive Vice President, Associate General Counsel - Corporate to join our La Jolla, CA headquarters. Reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary, this senior legal leader will serve as the primary in‑house counsel for Palomar's public company governance, securities law, capital markets, M&A, corporate insurance law, and public company litigation functions. This role joins a strong, established legal team and will work in close partnership with the EVP, Associate General Counsel - Regulatory, whose ownership of litigation, licensed entity compliance, and operational legal matters remains fully intact.

What will you do:

Public Company Governance, Securities Law & Federal Regulatory Obligations

• Support the CLO in her role as Corporate Secretary, including Board and committee governance, records management, and preparation of all Board materials
• Lead Palomar's SEC reporting obligations, including periodic filings, proxy preparation, and insider trading and Regulation FD compliance
• Advise on federal securities law requirements, including Exchange Act, Sarbanes‑Oxley, and Dodd‑Frank obligations applicable to a NASDAQ‑listed company
• Serve as primary in‑house counsel for public company‑related litigation, including securities, disclosure, governance, and shareholder matters

Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Transactions

• Lead M&A transactions as primary in‑house legal counsel from diligence through signing and closing, directing outside counsel and advising the executive team
• Coordinate with internal legal partners on regulatory approval processes and post‑closing integration handoffs

Capital Markets – Catastrophe Bonds & Financing

• Serve as in‑house legal lead for capital markets activity, including catastrophe bond issuances, credit facilities, and debt and equity transactions
• Monitor developments in insurance‑linked securities and capital markets relevant to Palomar's risk transfer strategy

Corporate Insurance Law & State Regulatory Affairs

• Provide strategic legal counsel on corporate insurance law matters, including holding company structure and regulatory matters intersecting with corporate transactions
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments at the state and federal level with potential impact on Palomar's corporate structure and specialty lines strategy

General Corporate & Legal Operations

• Manage outside counsel relationships for transaction, securities, and capital markets matters in coordination with the CLO
• Oversee transaction‑related contracts and strategic partnership agreements
• Support employee relations, executive matters, and cross‑functional legal needs in partnership with HR and business leadership
• Mentor and develop junior legal team members

What we are looking for:

• J.D. from an ABA‑accredited law school; active admission to the California State Bar (or eligibility for Registered In‑House Counsel status)
• 15+ years of legal experience combining Big Law training with in‑house insurance or financial services experience
• Meaningful public company tenure with direct exposure to SEC reporting, SOX compliance, proxy processes, and Board governance, ideally at a NASDAQ‑ or NYSE‑listed company
• Demonstrated M&A transaction experience in insurance or financial services, including deal execution and outside counsel management
• Capital markets experience with catastrophe bonds, ILS structures, credit facilities, or debt and equity offerings
• Strong corporate insurance law background with familiarity across federal securities regulations and multi‑state insurance holding company frameworks; specialty lines experience a distinct advantage
• Experience with public company litigation and directing outside litigation counsel
• Proven ability to advise C‑suite executives and Board members, influence cross‑functional stakeholders, and lead high‑performing legal teams
• Strong Microsoft Office skills including Excel, Outlook, and Teams
• Ability to be on‑site in the La Jolla, CA office 5x/week

We love people who want to:

• Build strong relationships through transparency, trust, and respect for each other.
• Work in an agile environment, with a resilient mindset to find creative solutions to challenges.
• Collaborate and celebrate diverse perspectives, promoting inclusivity and equality.
• Do the right thing with strong conviction and integrity.
• Be bold and innovative to help make an impact.
• Demonstrable track record of working autonomously and driving progress
• Be intellectually curious, think creatively, and pragmatic

What will you get in return?

• Full Suite of Medical Benefits
• 401k with 3.5% Automatic Fully Vested Employer Contributions
• Competitive PTO + Holiday Program
• Professional Development Assistance
• Regular company‑wide social events (even virtually!)

At Palomar, we are committed to diversity, equality and inclusion in all facets of the organization. We have built an open culture that celebrates the diversity of our workforce, while actively championing equality and inclusion practices that make us a company people want to work with and work for.

We believe that diversity, equality and inclusion yields greater organizational creativity and productivity, which helps us serve our customers and partners more effectively. Delivering on our diversity commitment returns greater value to our shareholders and ultimately makes a positive impact to the communities in which we do business and to the people who live in them.

Accommodations

Palomar will consider reasonable accommodations to ensure a qualified applicant with a disability can be considered for the position. Palomar will also consider necessary modifications to the physical work environment, or to the way a job is usually performed, so an individual with a disability can perform the essential functions of the position. Additional accommodations will be considered that enable an employee with a disability to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment like those that are enjoyed by other employees without disabilities.

For more information about our company, visit us at www.plmr.com. Palomar is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pay Range

$260,000-$320,000 + Bonus Potential & Participation in our Competitive Long‑Term Incentive (LTI) Program.

The above pay range is for all US‑based roles based on function and level, benchmarked against companies of similar size and scope. To be compliant with local legislation as well as provide greater transparency to candidates, we disclose salary ranges on all job postings regardless of the desired job location. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and the opportunity for annual long‑term incentive stock grants. In addition, we offer a highly competitive benefits package. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate experience and qualifications, and may vary from the amounts listed above.