Sr. Coverage Counsel

As Senior Coverage Counsel, you will be a key member of the Legal team providing support to the Claims Department and helping to deliver an outstanding customer experience. Your principal responsibility will be to provide timely and appropriate legal advice and opinions about coverage provided under Selective’s insurance policies, manage the day-to-day activities of the Coverage unit within the Legal Department, and manage outside counsel as appropriate. You will work collaboratively with other members of the Legal and Compliance team, Claims, and outside counsel.

• Provides timely and appropriate legal advice, counsel, and written opinions to the Claims Department on coverage issues under insurance policies issued by Selective, including, but not limited to:
   The application and compliance of policy provisions to the facts of a claim in accordance with a jurisdiction’s statutory or common law;
   The review, revision, and drafting of reservations of rights and/or declination letters to insureds or any other parties.
   The appropriateness of declaratory judgment actions for judicial determination of coverage issues.
• Provides timely and appropriate legal advice on the defense, management, and resolution of coverage and extra-contractual claims/litigation, including attendance at court proceedings as appropriate or necessary.
• Stays abreast of state and federal court decisions on coverage issues and provides timely and appropriate legal advice to inform Selective’s claims coverage analysis, claims handling practices, and underwriting coverage grants.
• Provides timely and appropriate legal advice on issues involving the duty to defend insureds and/or putative additional insureds as well as related claims for indemnification.
• Responsible for correspondence form library to ensure that Claims department communications are in Plain English, meet policy and regulatory requirements, and further enhance the customer experience.
• Provides timely and appropriate legal advice on panel counsel selection for defense, coverage, and extra-contractual matters. Works in collaboration with the Claims Legal Administrator/Compliance Officer in maintaining the approved coverage counsel list.
• As requested, provides training to the claims and underwriting departments on matters of legal interest.

• JD required.
• Minimum of 10 years’ of experience practicing law with an extensive background providing insurance coverage advice to insureds or an insurance carrier.
• Superior written and oral communication skills must be demonstrated.