Senior Counsel - Excess & Surplus/Specialty

Nationwide Mutual Insurance; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 149,000 - 279,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/dental/vision

Life insurance

Short and long term disability

Paid time off

Nine paid holidays

401(k) with company match

Pension plan

Business casual attire

Job summary

Nationwide Mutual Insurance seeks a Senior Counsel to independently advise on highly complex legal matters for a Fortune 100 insurance and financial services company. The role requires strong expertise to deliver outstanding counsel, risk assessments, and strategic recommendations to senior leaders.

You will lead cross-functional teams, draft critical documents, and influence decision-making while overseeing outside counsel budgets and talent development.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Associates must be licensed and in good standing with continuing legal education requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on highly complex legal matters to senior leaders.
• Identify and assess potential legal risks and draft risk mitigation recommendations.
• Interact with senior leaders and influence company decision-making on legal matters.
• Lead complex projects and negotiations, developing creative legal solutions.
• Manage outside counsel budget and hire/develop talent within the team.

Skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Analytical thinking

Risk assessment

Cross-functional leadership

Negotiation

Project management

Stakeholder influence

Education

Juris Doctorate (ABA-accredited law school)

Bar license in applicable state

Job description

If you're passionate about being part of a diverse organization that enables a Fortune 100 company with nearly $70 billion in annual sales to deliver innovative business solutions with excellence, then Nationwide's Legal team could be the place for you! At Nationwide®, “on your side” goes beyond just words. Our customers are at the center of everything we do and we’re looking for associates who are passionate about delivering extraordinary care.

Job Description Summary

Would you thrive in an environment where you can deliver top-quality legal services to support the goals and objectives of a Fortune 100 insurance and financial services company? If you possess the legal education, skills and expertise needed to provide outstanding service, advice, and counsel, we want to hear from you!

Job Description

As Senior Counsel, you'll independently provide expert advice and counsel on highly complex legal matters to senior-level leaders. We'll count on you to create valuable risk management recommendations by actively identifying and logically assessing potential legal risks in ambiguous, unique and/or the most complex business situations which have the greatest potential for significant impact to the company.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides the highest level of subject matter expertise for legal specialties on significant, high-risk, or highly complex legal matters. Regularly attends business partner meetings to better understand business processes and needs.
• Identifies and logically assesses potential legal risks. Creates risk management/mitigation recommendations using sound risk assessment information to further achievement of business objectives. Drafts necessary legal documents and develops conclusions and recommendations.
• Regularly interacts with senior leaders in Office of the Chief Legal Officer (OCLO) or the company on legal matters within area(s) of legal expertise. Has input into or influence on company decision-making.
• Creates practical and effective solutions to the most complex legal issues with no established precedent; develops creative solutions to unique legal problems; has significant interaction with persons outside of the company.
• Takes the lead role in matters that are highly complex, strategic, or sensitive in nature. Understands the business partner's position and needs.
• Keeps senior leaders and appropriate management of company informed of case law and new legislation, as appropriate. Considers the long-term business and strategic consequences of possible outcomes. Delivers difficult messages or news, and challenges business partners when necessary; responds to challenges to advice and counsel directly and effectively.
• Brings a broad network of established relationships, both internal and external, to the organization, particularly in recognized areas of subject matter expertise.
• Works independently and may lead teams to resolve highly complex legal and organizational issues.
• Makes recommendations about and ensures compliance with approved outside counsel budget.
• Hires and develops talent, provides consistent coaching and feedback

May perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to Vice President/Associate Vice President/Managing Counsel; may lead a team of Legal professionals.

Typical Skills and Experiences:

Education: Juris Doctorate from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.

License/Certification/Designation: Associates reporting within Nationwide’s OCLO who are functioning in attorney roles must be fully licensed in accordance with OCLO policy, in good standing and in compliance with all continuing legal education requirements at all times in the state(s) in which they practice.

Experience: Typically has 15 or more years of relevant legal experience. May have management experience. Has significant experience with or knowledge of one or more areas of law, complex legal practices and procedures, project management concept and techniques. Considered a subject matter authority within his or her areas of legal expertise. Sound business acuity and knowledge of the business goals and objectives as they relate to the matter at hand.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Strong verbal and written communication skills for contacts interacting with all levels within OCLO and with business partners. Analytical ability to interpret statutes, regulations, insurance policies and other contracts. Decision-making ability to set work priorities and make recommendations. Ability to lead cross-functional projects. Ability to lead, initiate, organize and coordinate highly complex projects and/or cases. Takes the lead role in negotiations that are complex, strategic, or sensitive in nature. Supervisory skills useful. Significant professional and/or civic involvement.

Other criteria, including leadership skills, competencies and experiences may take precedence.

Staffing exceptions to the above must be approved by the hiring manager’s leader and Human Resources Business Partner.

Values:

Regularly and consistently demonstrates Nationwide Values.

Job Conditions:

Overtime Eligibility: Not Eligible (Exempt)

Working Conditions: Normal office environment. Some travel may be required.

ADA: The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of this job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some people assigned to the job to perform a somewhat different combination of duties.

Credit/Background Check: Due to the fiduciary accountabilities of this job, a valid credit and/or background check will be required as part of the selection process.

Benefits

• medical/dental/vision
• life insurance
• short and long term disability coverage
• paid time off with newly hired associates receiving a minimum of 18 days paid time off each full calendar year pro-rated quarterly based on hire date
• nine paid holidays
• 8 hours of Lifetime paid time off
• 8 hours of Unity Day paid time off
• 401(k) with company match
• company-paid pension plan
• business casual attire
• and more

To learn more about the benefits we offer.

Nationwide is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive culture where everyone feels challenged, appreciated, respected and engaged. Nationwide prohibits discrimination and harassment and affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to any characteristic (or classification) protected by applicable law.

This position could be filled within any of the lower 48 U.S. states.

For NY residents please review the following state law information: Notice of Employee Rights, Protections, and Obligations LS740 (ny.gov) https://dol.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/02/ls740_1.pdf

NOTE TO EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES:

We value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. Nationwide does not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies. All resumes submitted by employment agencies directly to any Nationwide employee or hiring manager in any form without a signed Nationwide Client Services Agreement on file and search engagement for that position will be deemed unsolicited in nature. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is subsequently hired as a result of the referral or through other means.

Nationwide pays on a geographic-specific salary structure and placement within the actual starting salary range for this position will be determined by a number of factors including the skills, education, training, credentials and experience of the candidate; the scope, complexity and location of the role as well as the cost of labor in the market; and other conditions of employment. If a Sales job, Sales Incentives, based on performance goals are possible in addition to this range. Note on Compensation for Part-Time Roles: Please be aware that the salary ranges listed below reflect full-time compensation. Actual compensation may be prorated based on the number of hours worked relative to a full-time schedule.

The national salary range for Senior Counsel - 651000 : $149,000.00-$279,000.00The expected starting salary range for Senior Counsel - 651000 : $149,000.00 - $249,000.00