Chief Liability Trial Attorney

Zurich is currently looking for an experienced Chief Liability Trial Attorney to join our Staff Legal Office in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. This litigator will be responsible for representing the commercial insureds of a prestigious and financially stable commercial insurance carrier, by preparing and trying high exposure complex General Liability, Auto BI and property and premises liability cases from a challenging and varied caseload.

 

If you are ready for a career move, consider working for a company with a global footprint that offers terrific benefits including an incentive plan, 401K match and a second 401K company contribution, hybrid work schedule, flexible work options and a great culture.

 

This is an exciting opportunity to work for a well-respected Company and represent its insureds in all phases of litigation, while being part of a high-performing law office.  The ideal candidate will engage in the practice of law at all times in compliance with the ethical standards established by the Pennsylvania State Bar and associated federal courts.

 

Duties of this position encompass all aspects of insurance defense, including initial investigation, legal analysis and advice, evaluating damages, preparing and filing legal pleadings and documents, performing legal research, preparing for and conducting pre-trial discovery, preparing for and aggressively handling hearing and trials, and conducting post-trial activities where appropriate. 

 

The candidate will demonstrate strong case analysis ability and have a track record of effective settlement and trial skills, as well as the ability to work independently without substantial supervision.  In addition they will be expected to mentor less experienced attorneys and provide leadership and training across the organization.

 

At Zurich North America we acknowledge that work life-balance and flexibility are a priority when it comes to choosing your next career move. Designed with our employees' needs in mind, the ZNA hybrid work model emphasizes flexibility, allowing claims employees to conduct individual work in their preferred location, while facilitating in-person connections and collaborative activities when meaningful and valuable. While the model provides a high level of flexibility and autonomy, the candidate selected for this opportunity should be able to report into our Pittsburgh, PA office on a hybrid schedule.

  

Basic Qualifications: 

 

• Juris Doctor and 10 or more years of high exposure commercial liability trial experience
  AND
• Member in good standing with the Pennsylvania State Bar and appropriate federal court(s)
• Experience with Microsoft Office suite and Adobe
• Experience with Lexis or Westlaw
• Knowledge of the insurance industry, claims and the insurance defense litigation legal environment
• Knowledge of the law and procedure
   

Preferred Qualifications:

 

• Experience with insurance industry claims and general commercial litigation, including but not limited to wrongful death, commercial motor vehicle torts, products and premises liability, catastrophic personal injury and property damage
• Member of the West Virginia State Bar and appropriate federal court(s)
• Employment law experience
• Must be well organized with good analytical skills, excellent oral and written communication skills, proactive approach to file handling and caseloads, and able to work independently as well as within a team environment.
• Recent first chair jury trial experience
• Demonstrates effective negotiating skills.
• Ability to budget costs and calculate exposure for clients.
• Efficient work habits, knowledge of billables and diary review with substantive and procedural legal knowledge.
• Understands the staff counsel function and role in overall business.
• A functional and extensive knowledge of the law and procedure
• Prior experience in an insurance defense environment
• Effective problem solving skills
• Experience working in a team-based environment
• Strong collaboration skills
• Strong time management skills
• PC literate, preferably with experience working in a paperless environment and with a case management system.

 

At Zurich, compensation for roles is influenced by a variety of factors, including