Associate/Senior Associate - D&O/Coverage

Associate/Senior Associate - D&O/Coverage

Department: Professional and Commercial Risk

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Newcastle

Description

You will play an active role in the continued growth and success of the professional indemnity team nationally.

The team is ranked in Tier 1 in both the Legal 500 and Chambers directories, with a number of leading individuals named.

Within the team, the service line specialising in advising on Directors' and Officers' (D&O) insurance is particularly active. This team acts for a number of the leading D&O insurers, both in advising insurers on coverage for a wide variety of claims as well as defending claims against directors and officers/insured companies. This often involves working with specialists from other teams in fields such as employment law and white collar crime. In addition, the team provide coverage advice under a wide range of insurance policies, including Crime and Financial Institutions insurance.

Key Responsibilities

• Handling a stimulating and often complex D&O caseload with an emphasis on advising on insurance coverage, but with opportunities to handle a wide variety of claims against directors and officers
• The opportunity to interact on a regular basis with leading insurer clients in this area
• Working collaboratively with other specialists across the firm
• Maintaining an awareness of the firm's strategies and plans
• Maintaining and develop technical knowledge through attendance at training sessions, reading appropriate publications and exceeding Law Society CPD requirements
• Ensuring full compliance with DAC Beachcroft billing and credit control protocols, while demonstrating strong financial management across own files and in supporting others

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• At least 3 years' PQE, ideally gained at a specialist insurance firm (or in house at a financial lines insurer)
• Good experience in advising on insurance coverage under financial lines policies and ideally including under D&O/Management Liability policies
• Excellent relationship and client handling skills; able to deal confidently and professionally with clients on day to day issues
• Experience on secondment with a leading financial lines insurer would be beneficial
• The ability to deliver clear, well written legal advice and reports on complex legal/coverage issues
• Able to demonstrate a reasonable level of self sufficiency, commensurate with experience
• The ability to take a client focused, commercial approach to legal issues rather than a purely academic one, with a strong grasp of emerging legal issues and a clear ability to learn quickly
• Change oriented with a positive, flexible approach towards the implementation of new initiatives.
• Team oriented and collegiate with a willingness to share knowledge and support other members of the team
• Willingness to work hard as part of a highly ambitious and driven team to help it continue to develop and achieve its objectives