Manager - Litigation

General Description:

This individual is responsible for supervising, coordinating, and managing the Legal Manager, Litigation Specialists, administrative staff and litigation cases for the litigation team in a manner consistent with internal policies and procedures of the company and applicable state and federal regulations. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Responsible for supervising and managing, on a day-to-day basis, the litigation team including, Legal Manager (attorneys), litigation specialists and support staff.  Makes recommendations and assists the VP of Legal & Compliance in the hiring of litigation personnel. 

Responsible for recommending strategic actions and plans to effectively manage the company’s Claims litigation.  Reviews and recommends establishment of legal strategies to the VP of Legal & Compliance for managing specific case types, trends, and hot topic issues on cases.

Implements approved recommended strategies relating to case types, trends and hot topic issues on cases with the litigation team.   Measures effectiveness of new strategies and recommends adjustments as necessary to achieve company goals.  

Responsible for measuring the litigation team’s operational productivity and effectiveness.  Recommends improvements in the structure of the company’s litigation process that will deliver efficiencies, and cost savings as appropriate.    

Responsible for recommending, negotiating and maintaining the Company’s Approved Outside Counsel vendor including review and negotiation with law firms and vendors of legal fees and billing guidelines.

Establishes and maintains good working relationships with outside counsel firms, including updating and enforcing policies, procedures and guidelines for outside counsel use.

Responsible for maintaining and presenting litigation team metrics relating to indemnity, frequency, legal fee spend and other substantive trending analysis as well as case update reports to the Vice President of Legal & Compliance, along with recommendations on any potential mitigating steps needed to control and manage negative trends.  

Establishes and maintains metrics on outside counsel spend.   Audits and provides feedback to outside counsel on legal fees and trends.

Coaches and provides managerial support and advice to litigation specialists, Legal Manager and administrative staff on specific case strategy, including settlement or trial opportunities. Recommends development opportunities for the litigation team. 

Provides guidance and advice to litigation specialists and Legal Manager in preparing for Large Loss Committee presentations and recommendations.

Attends Claims Large Loss Committee meetings providing input and advice relating to legal or compliance risks associated with cases presented.

Manages a caseload of complex corporate or claims litigation cases directly and/or through outside counsel. 

Maintains attorney – client and attorney work product confidential under the supervision of counsel.

Provide status updates on pending cases as required.

Serves as the responsible lead member for the Legal department in the Claims/Legal Committee meetings, providing input and steering the coordination of both departments for the betterment of the Company.

Regularly manages, monitors and provides oversight on any and all litigation performed by any Third Party Administrator.

Maintains industry knowledge and communicates changes relating to substantive or precedent setting court rulings and legislation that may affect the litigation of cases.  

Performs other duties as required.

Supplementary Information:

This job description has been prepared to indicate the general nature and level of the work that the employees perform within their classification.  This description is not to be interpreted as an inventory of all the duties, tasks, responsibilities and qualifications required for the employees assigned to this job.

Education and / or Experience:

JD from an ABA accredited law school.

Minimum 5 years of experience directly litigating or managing litigation relating to property & casualty insurance defense. Must have extended skills in court procedures,   investigating, negotiating, and closing litigation to a company’s benefit.  

Five years’ experience in the management and supervision of legal personnel, including attorneys and administrative staff.

Broad understanding of insurance operations, lines of business and industry products.

Broad technical and computer skills for the office, including Outlook, Word, Powerpoint, and Excel.  

Ability to manage large workloads within established deadlines.

The ability to manage multiple projects and establish priorities.

Ability to work with a team and to collaborate with others, effecting positive change as required for the benefit of the company.

The ability to define issues, collect information, establish facts, reach logical and valid conclusions and communicate those effectively within the organization.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with the public. 

Licenses and / or Certifications:   

Must be licensed to practice law in the state of Florida or ability to become a member of the Florida In-house program within 3 months of hire.