Head of Corporate Legal Counsel

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, the Head of Corporate Legal Counsel operates as the fulcrum between transactional legal operations and functional product and regulatory activities.  We're seeking a senior executive to orchestrate our Office of General Counsel and navigate the complexities of federal and state regulatory environments. You'll not only lead a team of legal experts, providing critical counsel to our Personal Lines business, but also forge and execute regulatory strategies that safeguard and propel our enterprise business interests. You'll be the architect of our product and regulatory defense, overseeing process excellence while simultaneously guiding transactional occurrences across all levels. This dual-faceted role, reporting directly to the General Counsel, positions you at the nexus of legal acumen and strategic influence. If you're ready to leverage your expertise to steer a multi-billion dollar enterprise through a dynamic regulatory landscape, and to directly impact the lives of millions, this is your opportunity to lead, innovate, and leave an indelible mark on our organization. 

Essential Job Functions

As leader of the broader Legal organization, the Head of Corporate Legal Counsel will provide strategic legal counsel to our business and shape the future of our operations. Imagine: orchestrating complex contracts, guiding pivotal M&A activities, ensuring seamless and compliant procurement processes, and safeguarding sensitive data through robust privacy strategies. You'll lead a team of talented attorneys, providing expert guidance on a wide range of critical business functions. This is your chance to leverage your deep legal expertise to navigate intricate legal landscapes, influence key business decisions, and ensure the strategic growth and protection of a major industry player. If you're ready to take on a challenge that demands both legal brilliance and strategic vision, and to become the driving force behind our legal and regulatory excellence, this is your moment to lead and innovate at the highest level.  The ideal candidate will thrive on working creatively and fostering innovative new ways of work to make a real impact on the business. 

Essential Functions Continued

The Head of Corporate Legal Counsel will be responsible, but not limited to: 

• Author the roadmap to improved delivery on transactional events for the enterprise, scaling our risk ability and enabling world-class operations. 

• Guide M&A, negotiation with our critical strategic vendors, review surplus notes for financing transactions. 

• Introduce new benchmarks to highlight exceptional work from the legal department and align activity to the most value-added activities.

• Drive improvements as the regulatory lens to Product for both updates and new releases. 

• Prepare and deliver presentations on property and casualty insurance law issues to officers and others in the organization and to Zurich Group Legal.  

Education Requirements

Candidates would ideally reflect the following professional qualifications and experiences: 

• Must be admitted to practice law in California.  LLB or JD in good standing. 

• Significant knowledge of individual insurance products, state insurance laws as well as federal securities laws related to certain products.  

• Significant knowledge of insurance operations and relevant legal and contractual requirements, and experience providing legal advice in connection with underwriting, customer and regulator inquiries.  

• Courage and confidence to challenge our current operations, while providing solutions to improved activity.  

Success Factors

Within the first 12 months, a successful candidate can expect to have achieved the following: 

• Establish OKRs and bring operations to a best-in-class level throughout the Legal functional area. 

• Re-align career pathing and investment in talent to materially impact career progression.  

• Partner directly with the General Counsel in new initiatives involving Boards and Senior Management. 

• Introduce new performance management philosophies to boost engagement and productivity.