Senior Surety Counsel at Liberty Mutual

The typical starting salary range for this role is determined by a number of factors including skills, experience, education, certifications and location. The full salary range for this role reflects the competitive labor market value for all employees in these positions across the national market and provides an opportunity to progress as employees grow and develop within the role. Some roles at Liberty Mutual have a corresponding compensation plan which may include commission and/or bonus earnings at rates that vary based on multiple factors set forth in the compensation plan for the role.

Liberty Mutual Surety™ is seeking an experienced Sr. Surety Claims Counsel to support our Core Commercial and Commercial Transactional Claims team.  This position is primarily responsible for managing domestic commercial surety claims across the United States. This is an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneurial and analytically minded attorney with significant surety experience. In this role, you will be responsible for managing some highly complex commercial surety claims involving multiple bonds as well as insolvency issues. 

As Sr. Surety Claims Counsel, you will be responsible for contributing to technical processes that optimize planned business results by working independently and within a team. In this role, you will apply advanced level knowledge of commercial surety claims to a portfolio of cases varying in size and scope, with a focus on the largest and most complex claims in the region. You will investigate, evaluate, and respond to higher complexity Commercial Surety and Fidelity claims in a fair and efficient manner. You will also manage, analyze, negotiate, and resolve surety claims, manage outside consultants and attorneys to assist in the investigation, evaluation and resolution of bond and indemnity disputes.  You will communicate with all related parties to the claim, including, but not limited to, principal, indemnitors, attorneys, obligees, claimants, courts and any internal and external professionals ensuring customer satisfaction and loss mitigation.

Liberty Mutual Surety, a business unit of Liberty Mutual Insurance, is the world’s largest global Surety, including in the United States. Conducting business worldwide through fronting relationships and Liberty-owned subsidiaries, we provide bonds in over 60 countries for construction firms, manufacturers and suppliers, and commercial enterprises on an account and transactional basis. We are committed to building mutually profitable relationships by providing smart business solutions, ease of doing business, and consistent, responsive service.  Liberty Mutual Surety is dedicated to the communities we serve and highly values a diverse workforce.

Responsibilities: 

• Demonstrate and exercise an understanding of surety bonds and the surety industry, including the structure, terms, and conditions of Liberty Mutual's obligations under bonds and applicable laws and regulations, by investigating and negotiating claims; analyzing financial data and contractual obligations; making reserve recommendations; determining an appropriate course of action and managing the case to successful resolution.
• Utilizes expert analytical skills, experience and interdisciplinary knowledge of Surety, financial operations, statutory interpretations, and insolvency laws to Investigate, negotiate, analyze, resolve, and manage surety claims cases to ensure customer satisfaction and loss mitigation.  Work may include attending and participating in legal proceedings, as appropriate. 
• Direct claims and recovery efforts, both directly and through assignment to outside vendors and legal counsel.
• Claim duties may include some or all of the following:

• investigating defaults and making strategy recommendations,
• setting accurate reserves and recommending adjustments as warranted,
• implementing default strategies,
• handling all financial aspects of the claim, including, but not limited to, recommending adjusting and maintaining reserves, issuing payments, and identifying and collecting salvage recovery; and
• analyzing recovery prospects and implementing appropriate action.
• Review legal documents (e.g., contracts, insurance policies, leases) and sometimes draft documents involving surety claims; manage outside counsel in connection with litigation; represent the Company before regulatory and administrative bodies; provide advice regarding the implications of new laws substantially impacting the company's business; and anticipate legal issues and encourage practices to prevent problems from arising.
• Identify and escalate potential high exposure claims and provide recommendations.
• Stay abreast of state statutes and regulations regarding surety claims. Maintain current knowledge of legal issues and developments in the law.
• Maintain appropriate communication with key internal stakeholders, including underwriting and legal.
• Works collaboratively and builds relationships with internal and external stakeholders/parties.
• Independently analyzes technical and legal related issues, as needed for fact gathering, investigating, researching, drafting and resolving claim situations. 
• Identify the need for, create and analyze reports to provide to management for business purposes, and participation on special projects, as directed.  May mentor others.   
• Participate in operational, development, training projects, initiatives, and presentations as requested or assigned.
• Fulfill other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Juris Doctorate degree and active membership of bar in at least one state required.
• Minimum of 5 years, preferably 10 years, working for a surety or as a practicing attorney (or a combination thereof) with a diverse caseload required, with an emphasis in commercial surety matters strongly preferred.
• Experience managing the most complex surety claims involving multiple bonds with losses in excess of $5 million with a preference of $10 million or more highly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge and experience working at a surety company or surety law firm representing surety companies specifically highly preferred.
• Knowledge of private, state, and federal laws that are applicable to surety claims and transactional matters.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities and meet applicable deadlines.
• Willingness to travel on short notice.
• Current claims adjuster license in Texas and Florida (or ability to obtain requisite license) along with the ability to secure and maintain all required state adjuster licenses. 

**This position may have in-office requirements depending on candidate location.**

At Liberty Mutual, our purpose is to help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. That's why we provide an environment focused on openness, inclusion, trust and respect. Here, you'll discover our expansive range of roles, and a workplace where we aim to help turn your passion into a rewarding profession.

Liberty Mutual has proudly been recognized as a "Great Place to Work" by Great Place to Work® US for the past several years. We were also selected as one of the "100 Best Places to Work in IT" on IDG's Insider Pro and Computerworld's 2020 list. For many years running, we have been named by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers for New Graduates as well as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity. To learn more about our commitment to diversity and inclusion please visit: https://jobs.libertymutualgroup.com/diversity-inclusion

We value your hard work, integrity and commitment to make things better, and we put people first by offering you benefits that support your life and well-being. To learn more about our benefit offerings please visit: https://LMI.co/Benefits

Liberty Mutual is an equal opportunity employer. We will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, veteran's status, pregnancy, genetic information or on any basis prohibited by federal, state or local law.

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