Description:

Description and Requirements
About the role:
Reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer, the Chief Litigation and M&A Counsel will lead and manage the Litigation Section of A Life Insurance Company's Law Department and serve as a senior legal advisor to executive and senior management, including the CEO and Board of Directors of A Life Insurance Company, as well as business leaders across all functions and regions of the enterprise. This executive will have responsibility for all commercial litigation matters and processes, including the strategic management of commercial litigation outcomes and risks, maintenance and disclosure of the company's contingent liability reserves, and management of key outside counsel relationships. He or she will also oversee the legal matters surrounding all M&A transactional work for A Life Insurance Company. The successful candidate is expected to quickly grasp A Life Insurance Company's diverse key business drivers, including their impact relevant to the company's commercial litigation and M&A transactional portfolio, which contains impactful strategic activity for the enterprise.

They will join a Senior Leadership Team that is passionate about talent development and committed to best-in-class service delivery, and integrated, efficient operation in the Legal Affairs organization.

How You'll Help Us Build a Confident Future (Key Responsibilities):

Lead, oversee and set strategy for A Life Insurance Company's portfolio of commercial litigation globally, as well as oversee the M&A legal team.
Provide leadership and professional guidance to a team of approximately 20 attorneys, which includes attracting, retaining, and advancing top talent.
Provide an independent, strategic point of view concerning commercial litigation management for the Company and serve as a senior legal advisor on all commercial litigation matters to the Chief Legal Officer, CEO, Board of Directors, and other members of executive and senior management.
Provide the highest quality litigation, pre-litigation and preventative litigation service to A Life Insurance Company in an efficient, cost-effective manner across three key practice areas: Corporate & International Litigation, Financial Products & Insurance Litigation and Litigation Risk.
Provide strategic and tactical leadership on litigation matters and overall litigation risk mitigation, maintaining best practices in litigation management and avoidance, and counsel and advice on managing litigation costs and risks.
Manage a large inventory of a range of litigation, including routine customer disputes, a range of commercial and investment matters and significant cases with potential companywide impact.
Accurately forecast anticipated litigation costs, raising any trends or matters expected to adversely impact budget in a timely manner.
Manage and oversee outside counsel relationships.
Represent A Life Insurance Company in industry and professional organizations and in litigation-related legislative and regulatory lobbying activities as appropriate.
Provide thought leadership on Legal Affairs and enterprise strategy priorities, especially talent strategy, customer-centric service delivery and efficient operation.

What You Need to Succeed (Required Qualifications):

Significant litigation and corporate transactional experience, reflecting a strong record of success and accomplishment, preferably within a well-respected law firm, a large cap public company and/or federal or state law enforcement or regulatory agency. SEC and NY DFS experience is a plus.
Proven track record of excellence in counseling and advising senior management and business leaders on sophisticated commercial litigation cases and in managing complex litigation and regulatory matters.
Proven leadership skills combined with a strong commitment to diversity, team empowerment and motivation. Confidence and ability to attract/identify top talent and provide significant mentoring and advancement opportunities while driving successful results.
A highly collaborative team player capable of developing and maintaining strong, trusted relationships throughout the organization, upholding and protecting A Life Insurance Company Success Principles.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a track record of building relationships and effective partnerships across the highest levels of the organization and with key external stakeholders, including outside counsel and regulators.
Independent, self-directed, creative, and strategic thinker who is both collaborative and decisive, uses sound judgment, exhibits a high degree of professionalism, establishes priorities, adheres to deadlines, works independently, and motivates others.
Proven track record implementing and delivering on litigation strategy.
Intellectual curiosity about changing business priorities and circumstances, legal climate, and litigation dynamics around the globe, and how these impact A Life Insurance Company and the financial services industry.
Impeccable integrity and ethical behavior with a strong commitment to transparency. An excellent listener with high sensitivity to different cultures and backgrounds. Sound judgment and a strong moral compass.
Knowledge of ERISA and state insurance laws and regulation a plus.
Experience with technology and operations contracting is a plus.
JD and state bar admission required.