Legal Counsel, Wordings

AXA Group; Stamford (CT); On-site; USD 104,000 - 182,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Legal Counsel to join their Global Wordings team. This role offers the chance to apply your legal expertise in drafting and advising on complex insurance policies across multiple business lines. You'll collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders to innovate and enhance insurance products, ensuring compliance and addressing regulatory inquiries. If you're passionate about shaping the future of insurance and thrive in a dynamic environment, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Benefits

Competitive retirement savings plan

Health and wellness programs

Learning opportunities

Flexible working arrangements

Family friendly leave benefits

Qualifications

• Licensed attorney in at least one state with a Law Degree.
• Moderate experience in-house at an insurer or law firm.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on policy forms and endorsements.
• Engage with stakeholders to support new insurance products.

Skills

Legal drafting

Policy analysis

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Problem-solving

Education

Law Degree

Job description

Legal Counsel, Wordings

Stamford, CT I Hartford, CT I New York, NY I Exton, PA I USA

Our Legal team has an exciting opportunity for a technically minded and adaptable person to join them as Legal Counsel, Wordings. You will be an integral part of the dynamic Global Wordings team and the wider legal function supporting the underwriting business across all product lines in US, Canada and Bermuda, covering a wide variety of complex commercial risks. You will have the opportunity to demonstrate your technical drafting skills and advisory services to the underwriters, their clients and brokers in order to provide a service differentiator for AXA XL and play an integral role in shaping the future of the Wordings function in North America.

DISCOVER your opportunity

What will your essential responsibilities include?

• Providing Wordings/Legal advice and technical subject matter expertise to Underwriting across multiple business lines on policy forms and manuscript endorsements, including reviewing our existing products, new products and those of other insurers in order to provide thoughtful and timely review and advice regarding policy language with a focus on delivering a practical commercial solution to issues raised.
• Working closely with key stakeholders to support new insurance products or enhance existing products, steering innovation for the AXA XL brand.
• Proactive engagement with internal units including international Wordings colleagues, Claims, Compliance, and Global Corporate Underwriting in order to deliver on organizational projects and initiatives.
• Provide legal advice regarding coverage terms and conditions and assist in filing strategy and objection-handling.
• Assist the Regulatory and Compliance teams in communications with insurance department inquiries regarding product filings.
• Provide legal support and guidance to Regulatory and Compliance teams regarding rate and form filings.
• Assist with strategic projects within the Global Wordings team and other Legal teams.

You will report to the Legal Counsel - Products and Wordings.

SHARE your talent

We’re looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

Required Skills and Abilities:

• Qualifications: Law Degree from an accredited law school is required, and you must be a licensed attorney in at least one state.
• Experience: Moderate experience in-house at an insurer, or comparable law firm experience in coverage matters and policy drafting, in casualty and/or commercial property insurance space.
• Knowledge: Experience in Claims, Underwriting and/or coverage litigation. Knowledgeable in insurance laws and regulations.Experience in multiple lines of business (including Specialty and/or E&S) and hands-on product development preferred. Experience working as a trusted adviser to business clients. Cross-border experience (particularly Canada or Bermuda market) and bilingual or near-bilingual proficiency in French a plus.
• Skills: Ability to work without close supervision and solve complex problems in an efficient manner. Eagerness to learn about new products and processes. Ability to prioritize competing tasks under time pressure.
• Strategic Thinking: Proactive problem-solver who is able to facilitate discussions and engage with colleagues at different levels of seniority. Creative, outside-the-box thinker. Passionate about mentoring and developing others.
• Communication and Negotiation: Excellent verbal and written communication, collaboration, negotiation and presentation skills. Build rapport and credibility with business partners due to your ability to clearly communicate your Wordings and Legal guidance grounded in your subject-matter-expertise.

FIND your future

AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid-sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don’t just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.

How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business − property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.

With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.

Learn more at axaxl.com

Inclusion & Diversity

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce enable business growth and are critical to our success. That’s why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most diverse workforce possible, and create an inclusive culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and can reach their highest potential. It’s about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.

• Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe
• Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
• Enhanced family friendly leave benefits
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter

Learn more at axaxl.com/about-us/inclusion-and-diversity. AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our 2023-26 Sustainability strategy, called “Roots of resilience,” focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.

Our Pillars:

• Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We’re committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
• Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal-led solutions.
• Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We’re training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
• AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL’ s “Hearts in Action” programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.

For more information, please see Sustainability at AXA XL.

The U.S. pay range for this position is USD 104,000 – 182,000. Actual pay will be determined based upon the individual’s skills, experience, and location. We strive for market alignment and internal equity with our colleagues’ pay.

At AXA XL, we know how important physical, mental, and financial health are to our employees, which is why we are proud to offer benefits such as a competitive retirement savings plan, health and wellness programs, and many other benefits. Wealsobelieve in fostering our colleagues' development and offer a wide range of learning opportunities for colleagues to hone their professional skills and to position themselves for the next step of their careers. For more details aboutAXA XL’ s benefits offerings, please visit US Benefits at a Glance 2025.