Senior Underwriting Product Counsel

Oliver James Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Oliver James Group is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel for P&C Underwriting & Product, combining legal expertise with strategic business impact across underwriting, product development, and regulatory matters.

The role involves advising senior leadership on complex coverage solutions, shaping policy wording, and negotiating key commercial agreements within a leading specialty insurance platform.

Qualifications

• JD and active admission to a U.S. state bar.
• 10–20 years in the insurance industry, preferably in commercial P&C.
• Extensive experience advising on commercial insurance products, policy wording, and coverage interpretation.
• Strong understanding of manuscript policies, endorsements, and MGA/program arrangements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Advise on underwriting strategy, product development, and complex coverage matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate policies, endorsements, and commercial agreements.
• Partner with underwriting leadership to shape coverage philosophy and product innovation.
• Provide strategic legal guidance to senior underwriting leadership.
• Navigate regulatory and compliance developments affecting P&C products.
• Collaborate with internal teams and external partners.

Skills

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Legal advisory

Commercial acumen

Communication

Education

JD & Bar Admission

Job description

Senior Legal Counsel - P&C Underwriting & Product

Specialty Insurance | Commercial P&C | Product Development & Underwriting

Are you an experienced insurance attorney looking to play a pivotal role in shaping underwriting strategy, developing innovative insurance products, and advising on complex coverage matters?

We are partnering with a leading global specialty Property & Casualty insurance organization seeking an accomplished Senior Legal Counsel to join its established legal function.

This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded insurance lawyer to work at the intersection of Legal, Underwriting, Product Development, and Business Strategy, providing strategic legal guidance to senior underwriting leadership across a diverse portfolio of commercial P&C insurance products.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to make a tangible impact on the business, helping develop new products, negotiate complex coverage solutions, and support the continued growth of a highly regarded specialty insurance platform.

The Opportunity

Working closely with senior underwriting leaders, product teams, and legal colleagues, you will serve as a trusted legal advisor on a broad range of underwriting, coverage, product development, and commercial matters.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Product Development & Policy Wording: Advise on the development, drafting, and negotiation of commercial P&C insurance policies, new products, manuscript endorsements, and bespoke coverage solutions.
• Underwriting & Coverage Advisory: Partner directly with underwriting teams to navigate complex coverage questions, assess emerging exposures, and develop commercially practical solutions that support business growth.
• Strategic Business Partnership: Collaborate with senior underwriting leadership to shape coverage philosophy, underwriting strategy, and product innovation in response to evolving market conditions.
• Commercial Agreements: Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of insurance-related commercial agreements, including MGA/program administrator agreements, broker and producer agreements, agency agreements, and other strategic contracts.
• Regulatory & Compliance: Provide guidance on insurance regulatory developments, underwriting compliance, and emerging legal issues impacting commercial P&C products.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with internal business leaders, underwriters, external partners, and clients, providing practical legal advice on complex commercial insurance matters.
• Training & Development: Support the development of underwriting teams by sharing legal expertise, market insights, and guidance on evolving coverage and regulatory considerations.

About You

We are particularly interested in speaking with experienced insurance attorneys who combine deep technical knowledge of commercial P&C insurance with strong commercial judgment and a collaborative approach.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• A Juris Doctor (JD) and active admission to at least one U.S. state bar.
• Approximately 10-20 years of experience within the insurance industry, ideally gained within a commercial P&C carrier, specialty insurer, or insurance-focused legal practice.
• Significant experience advising on commercial insurance products, underwriting matters, policy wording, and coverage interpretation.
• A strong understanding of insurance product development, including the drafting and negotiation of manuscript policies and endorsements.
• Experience with MGAs, program business, and insurance distribution agreements.
• A solid understanding of insurance regulatory and compliance requirements, particularly as they relate to underwriting and product development.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, commercially focused advice.
• A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset and the confidence to partner with senior business leaders in a fast-paced environment.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This position offers a compelling opportunity for an experienced insurance lawyer seeking a role with genuine business influence and a broad commercial remit.

You'll benefit from:

• Strategic Influence: Play a meaningful role in shaping underwriting decisions, product development, and coverage strategy.
• High-Level Exposure: Partner directly with senior underwriting executives and business leaders across a sophisticated commercial insurance platform.
• Technical Variety: Work on complex, intellectually stimulating matters spanning specialty insurance products, manuscript wordings, regulatory considerations, and commercial transactions.
• Business Impact: Move beyond traditional legal advisory work and become an integral part of the commercial decision-making process.
• Established Platform: Join a highly regarded insurance organization with a strong market presence and a diverse portfolio of commercial P&C products.

All inquiries will be treated with the strictest confidence.