Senior Counsel

Nautilus Insurance Group (a Berkley Company); Scottsdale (AZ); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Parental leave

Medical Insurance

Dental coverage

Vision coverage

401(k) plan

Volunteer day

Tuition assistance

AI initiatives

Flexible work arrangements

On-site fitness center

Job summary

Nautilus Insurance Group in Scottsdale seeks a Senior Counsel to join our hybrid team. This role delivers thoughtful counsel to the Claims Department and oversees complex coverage issues across the United States, guiding claims staff and leadership on high-severity exposures while supporting other departments as needed.

The successful candidate will independently manage litigation and extracontractual exposures, draft and review coverage letters, and work with vendors.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree with admission to practice in at least one US jurisdiction.
• Minimum of seven years managing litigation and/or providing coverage advice.
• Experience in Excess and Surplus Lines insurance preferred.
• Strong interpersonal communication and ability to work across teams.
• Proficient research skills and sound judgment in complex scenarios.

Responsibilities

• Provide counsel and strategic guidance on high severity, complex claims.
• Review and approve coverage letters and letters of denial or disclaimer.
• Ensure consistency in coverage positions across the organization.
• Present legal issues clearly to staff and leadership.
• Assist with outside vendor relationships and discovery coordination.
• Leverage AI and emerging tech within regulatory boundaries.
• Draft, interpret, and update policy forms with business partners.
• Attend mediations, trials and depositions as needed.

Skills

Litigation management

Insurance coverage expertise

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Company Details

As an elite Excess and Surplus Lines market, Nautilus Insurance Group offers commercial property and casualty insurance solutions to appointed wholesale surplus lines producers countrywide. We have specialized in providing these solutions for more than 40 years.

Company Details

As an elite Excess and Surplus Lines market, Nautilus Insurance Group offers commercial property and casualty insurance solutions to appointed wholesale surplus lines producers countrywide. We have specialized in providing these solutions for more than 40 years.

We have more flexible policy terms and premium rates on a non-admitted basis. Our focus is small to medium Property and Casualty risks on both an admitted and a non-admitted basis.

Our offerings are distributed through partnerships with appointed wholesale surplus lines producers. Our relationships are defined by mutual success, speed to market, customer-centric focus and an expanded appetite.

Coverage placed by Nautilus Insurance Group is provided by Nautilus Insurance Company and Great Divide Insurance Company, both W. R. Berkley Corporation members with A.M. Best (Superior) A+ XV ratings.

Benefit Highlights

• Paid Parental Leave! At Nautilus, we offer Childbirth Recovery Leave as well as Primary Caregiver Leave, for up to a maximum of 12 weeks of paid leave.
• Nautilus offers Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage options, along with Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) choices
• We help our employees feel secure by providing a 401(k) program, profit sharing, stock purchase plan, life insurance, and travel accident insurance options.
• One of our core values is 'Committed to Serve' and these aren’t idle words. We provide every employee one paid day off per year to volunteer at a local charity. That's serving with a smile!
• We take risk management excellence and your professional growth seriously by offering Tuition Assistance and Industry-Related Education and Exam programs.
• Can you hear us now? Employees are eligible for special cell phone service discounts with Verizon and AT&T. We've got a plum position for you! We participate in the Plum Benefits program offering employees cost-free access to thousands of exclusive travel and entertainment discounts.
• Flexible work arrangements
• On site newly renovated fitness center - free to use for employees. Yoga and other classes available for a nominal fee.

Responsibilities

Nautilus Insurance is seeking a Senior Counsel to join their team. This role will be located in our Scottsdale office on a hybrid basis.

The Senior Counsel role is responsible for thoughtful and effective counsel to the Claims Department, as well as efficient management of extra-contractual exposures arising in relation to property and casualty claims in all jurisdictions of the United States. This role includes guidance for, and review of, certain coverage positions recommended by Claims staff and leadership. This role requires providing guidance and counsel to Claims staff and leadership concerning severe and sensitive exposures. The role also provides general legal support to other departments in the organization as needed. Facilitation of, and participation in, projects and training is expected.

The successful candidate is able to work autonomously and as part of a team. Effective communication and professionalism with internal and external business partners is essential. Strong insurance coverage and litigation management skills are crucial for the role. The candidate must exercise sound professional judgment and process, must have strong practice and time management skills, and must effectively prioritize inquiries and matters.

The role will also participate in developing opportunities to leverage artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies in a manner that meets legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements.

• Provide thoughtful counsel and strategic guidance concerning high severity, complex and sensitive claims.
• Review and approve coverage correspondence, including select reservation of rights, tender denial and disclaimer letters.
• Facilitate consistency in coverage positions.
• Effectively communicate and present legal and business issues to staff and leadership throughout the organization.
• Provide thoughtful counsel concerning risk management.
• Proactively manage extra-contractual litigation based on experience.
• Facilitate the coordination and collection of information and documentation for discovery.
• Assist Claims Department staff and leadership with outside vendor relationships.
• Responsibly leverage AI and other technology tools.
• Maintain awareness of developments and trends in case law, statutes, regulations and judicial climate.
• Work with business partners to draft and interpret policy forms.
• Provide thoughtful and timely training to Claims Department staff.
• Attend mediations, trials and depositions, as necessary.
• Other duties, as required.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree.
• Admission, in good standing, to practice law in at least one jurisdiction of the United States.
• Minimum of seven years of experience managing litigation and/or providing coverage advice, at least three of which must be related to property and casualty insurance coverage, claims and coverage litigation.
• Excess and Surplus Lines insurance experience preferred.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and the ability to successfully work with all personality types to achieve desired results.
• Working knowledge of privacy and confidentiality laws and regulations and ability to handle confidential information.
• Proficient research skills; excellent ability to analyze and resolve complex situations, and sound judgment and decision-making skills; attention to detail, and above-average prioritization and organizational skills are required.
• Good knowledge of computer applications in a Windows environment, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and email.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Reasonable, regular, predictable attendance is expected.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Additional Company Details

The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Only solicited resumes/candidate profiles that are submitted by a Berkley Preferred Agency Partner that have been requested by Berkley Internal Recruiting to engage in a particular search will be subject to the payment of Agency fees as defined in the formal agency agreement. Any unsolicited resumes/candidate profiles are not subject to payment of the agency fees.

The company offers a competitive compensation plan and robust benefits package for full time regular employees.

The actual salary for this position will be determined by a number of factors, including the scope, complexity and location of the role; the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; and other conditions of employment.