AVP & Counsel, MBU - Eatontown, NJ or Remote

Crum & Forster Company Overview

Crum & Forster (C&F) provides market leading property & casualty, accident & health, specialty and standard commercial lines insurance solutions. A true underwriting company, we have a 200-year history of helping our customers manage risk with laser-focused expertise, integrity and discipline. Our people are empowered to make decisions and problem-solve with you smartly and swiftly. Our annual gross written premium is 6.2 billion. C&F enjoys a financial strength rating of "A+" (Superior) by AM Best.

Our most valuable asset is our people. We have 3000 employees, and locations throughout the United States and India. With our employee-first focus, the Company is consistently recognized as a great place to work, earning multiple workplace and wellness awards, including the Great Place to Work® Award, Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, Fortune Best Workplaces for Parents, Fortune Best Workplaces for Millennials, and many others.

C&F is part of Fairfax Financial Holdings. For more information about C&F, please visit our website: www.cfins.com

Job Description

Since 2000, Crum & Forster’s Accident & Health division (A&H) has offered a diverse portfolio of specialty insurance and reinsurance products nationwide. We place a strong focus on product development and creative distribution methods, along with excellent client service and support.

In addition to our robust domestic portfolio, which spans both special risk and medical solutions, A&H works on an international basis through various partnerships. Our global capabilities provide our partners with even broader flexibility in underwriting solutions.

The qualities and capabilities of Crum & Forster Accident & Health demonstrate our philosophy of building meaningful, long-term partnerships and our dedication to providing alternative strategies in an ever-changing insurance market.

Information about the Role, Line of Business and Team:

The A&H Legal Department is responsible for the various legal functions of Crum & Forster’s Accident & Health division, including high-volume contract development, management, and negotiation, litigation management, support to various disciplines within Accident & Health division as needed, oversight of legal support staff and interns.

What you will do:

• Manage high-volume drafting, review, and negotiation of program and administrative agreements, reinsurance and retrocessionaire agreements, vendor and SaaS agreements, NDAs, and other commercial agreements as requested, ensuring compliance with company standards, best practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Manage the contract negotiation process with internal and external parties, driving the agreement delivery process; enlist review from senior team members as needed.
• Monitor and stay informed of contract portfolio metrics to identify opportunities for process improvements and provide strategic input on enhancements to contract management systems and AI contract review tools.
• Assist the team with championing the adoption of AI tools by developing and implementing best practices for AI-assisted contract review, mentoring team members, and providing ongoing guidance and training to ensure effective integration of AI technology into contract management workflows.
• Participate in the Legal Team’s template development process to ensure A&H contract clause requirements, risk mitigation provisions, and regulatory compliance standards are met.
• Support claim and cost containment audit review requests from Claims and Cost Containment teams, including reviewing attorney demand letters, drafting substantive legal responses, evaluating coverage positions, and coordinating with claims personnel on resolution strategies.
• Manage and coordinate complex claims litigation, including preparing case summaries and legal analysis, leading settlement negotiations, drafting releases and settlement agreements, coordinating with outside counsel, and providing strategic litigation guidance to claims and business teams, ensuring proactive and cost-effective handling that minimizes risk to the Company.
• Serve as a strategic business partner to internal business units, providing practical legal counsel that balances business objectives with risk mitigation and regulatory compliance, including compliance with ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ACA, NSA, and applicable insurance laws and regulations related to welfare plans and accident and health insurance.
• Advise on the handling of group benefit and insurance solutions, third party self-funded plan claim administration, and regulatory compliance matters, and proactively identify solutions that enable the business to achieve its goals while protecting the Company's interests.
• Lead and participate in special projects as required, including process improvement initiatives, policy development, and cross-functional business initiatives requiring legal expertise.
• Provide direct supervisory oversight of legal interns and administrative staff, including work assignment and prioritization, performance management and evaluation, professional development guidance, and day-to-day management of workflow and deliverables.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive training programs and materials on legal topics and processes directly relevant to the specific needs of legal department staff, underwriting teams, claims personnel, and other business disciplines within Company.
• Actively participate in and represent the Company at relevant industry trade associations and professional organizations related to Accident and Health insurance, reinsurance, and insurance law to stay current on industry developments, build professional networks, and support business objectives.

What YOU will bring to C&F:

• Exceptional written communication skills, particularly in drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, reinsurance agreements, and administrative agreements
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team player while maintaining the capacity to independently manage and execute duties and responsibilities assigned
• Proven ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple tasks, projects, and deadlines simultaneously while maintaining high-quality work product
• Excellent oral communication and presentation skills, with the ability to effectively communicate complex legal concepts to diverse audiences including business partners, senior management, and external parties
• High level of follow-through and dedication to detail and timely delivery
• Proven negotiation and influencing skills with demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-party negotiations with internal business units and external partners while balancing business objectives with legal and regulatory requirements, exercising excellent judgment in assessing risk and determining appropriate courses of action
• Demonstrated ability to assess ambiguity and risk and counsel internal business clients' daily needs
• Analyze and apply the law against current business goals and challenges, and effectively deliver appropriate solution-oriented advice in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrated experience in supervising and mentoring legal support staff, interns, or junior attorneys, including performance management, work delegation, and professional development
• Proven ability to design, develop, and deliver effective training presentations and educational programs to diverse audiences, including legal staff, business partners, and cross-functional teams
• Demonstrated experience with (i) ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ACA, NSA (No Surprises Act), and applicable federal and state insurance laws and regulations governing welfare benefit plans and accident and health insurance; and (ii) providing legal advice and counsel regarding an insurance company's or third-party administrator's handling of group benefit and insurance solutions, third-party self-funded plan claim administration, and regulatory compliance matters
• Demonstrated subject matter expertise in one or more of the following areas: (i) ERISA/accident & health insurance litigation or advisory work; (ii) Group insurance product development or administration; (iii) Stop-loss/Other insurance; (iv) Third-party benefit administration; or (v) Insurance and Reinsurance contract drafting and negotiation.

Requirements:

• J.D. degree, admitted to a State Bar, and eligible for or willing to obtain a NJ Limited-License In-House Counsel license within one year of employment commencement.
• 8+ years of overall legal experience, including a minimum of three (3) years of relevant in-house or law firm experience specifically related to Accident & Health insurance products and claims management.
• Prior experience with insurance regulatory matters preferred.
• Strong PC skills including Excel, Word, Outlook, Power Point.

What C&F will bring to you

• Competitive compensation package
• Generous 401K employer match
• Employee Stock Purchase plan with employer matching
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Excellent benefits that go beyond health, dental & vision. Our programs are focused on your whole family’s wellness, including your physical, mental and financial wellbeing
• A core C&F tenet is owning your career development, so we provide a wealth of ways for you to keep learning, including tuition reimbursement, industry-related certifications and professional training to keep you progressing on your chosen path
• A dynamic, ambitious, fun and exciting work environment
• We believe you do well by doing good and want to encourage a spirit of social and community responsibility, matching donation program, volunteer opportunities, and an employee-driven corporate giving program that lets you participate and support your community

At C&F you will BELONG

If you require special accommodations, please let us know. We are committed to equal employment opportunity and welcome everyone regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. If you require special accommodations, please let us know. Belonging at C&F, is a mindset. It’s about fostering a culture of inclusion and connection, where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to thrive and where our social impact efforts help strengthen the communities where we live and work.

For California Residents Only:  Information collected and processed as part of your career profile and any job applications you choose to submit are subject to our privacy notices and policies, visit https://www.cfins.com/onlineprivacypolicy/ca/noticeatcollection/ for more information.

Crum & Forster is committed to ensuring a workplace free from discriminatory pay disparities and complying with applicable pay equity laws.  Salary ranges are available for all positions at this location, taking into account roles with a comparable level of responsibility and impact in the relevant labor market and these salary ranges are regularly reviewed and adjusted in accordance with prevailing market conditions. The annualized base pay for the advertised position, located in the specified area, ranges from a minimum of $119,700.00 to a maximum of $225,100.00. The actual compensation is determined by various factors, including but not limited to the market pay for the jobs at each level, the responsibilities and skills required for each job, and the employee’s contribution (performance) in that role. To be considered within market range, a salary is at or above the minimum of the range. You may also have the opportunity to participate in discretionary equity (stock) based compensation and/or performance-based variable pay programs.

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