Senior Counsel, Global Auto

Primarily supporting Assurant Global Auto’s Third-Party Administrator and Strategic Accounts business, this position will serve as business counsel for an innovative ever-changing business line operating in over 21 countries and partnering with some of the largest companies in the world. Assurant Global Auto provides vehicle protection products/services and similar risk transfer products to consumers and commercial clients through a wide range of distribution channels.

The Senior Counsel, Business Legal for Global Auto will serve as strategic legal advisor to the Global Auto Business, advising on innovative, game changing initiatives while enabling sustainable growth and proactively managing legal risk. This position will work on a team of skilled lawyers and other professionals in providing general and contractual legal advice to the Auto business, including in the context of strategic initiatives, product development and commercial negotiations. This is a remote opportunity.

What will my duties and responsibilities be in this job?

• Advice and Counsel: Serve directly as transactional and product counsel for the Assurant Global Auto Third-Party Administrator business.  Support the Lead Counsel in providing sophisticated legal analysis and strategic and technical advice to the business, business legal attorneys, and compliance professionals with respect to transactional and product-related legal issues. Assist in developing new insurance and non-insurance protection products (both domestically and internationally), including service contracts, contractual liability insurance policies (CLIPs), GAP protection and ancillary programs and assist in structuring compliant sales and distribution models for various partner clients to market and promote protection products and service contract programs.

• Draft and Negotiate Contracts and Legal Documents: Draft, review, and directly negotiate complex agreements materially impacting the business to reflect current and changing business/legal needs, specifically administration agreements, program agreements, reinsurance agreements, trust agreements, and participation agreements and marketing agreements with dealers, third party administrators, producer owned reinsurance companies, manufacturers, brokers and other entities in the automobile, power sports, and vehicle industry. 

• Research and Analyze:  Provide heightened and sophisticated legal consultation and analysis in the interpretation of contracts, application of relevant laws and regulations which include researching and performing analysis impact of federal and state statutes, recent court opinions and administrative interpretations on business practices and procedures particularly regarding service contracts and vehicle protection products.

What are the requirements needed for this position? 

• Bachelor’s degree and Law Degree (JD) from an accredited law school

• Membership in good standing in the bar of at least one state

• A minimum of 8 years of experience practicing in a law firm or corporation providing legal counsel on general business and contractual issues.

• Experience in directly representing clients in contractual negotiations.

• Prior experience in property & casualty insurance and reinsurance; background in service contracts (and related protection products) a benefit.

• Prior experience dealing with internationally based business and legal counterparts preferred.

• Accounting/Finance/Reinsurance/Risk Management experience or education preferred.

• Understanding of the laws governing the products and operations of Assurant Global Auto including insurance, service contract, warranty, reinsurance, and similar risk transfer products and methodologies.

• Highly autonomous and self-motivated work ethic; demonstrating sound judgment, initiative, and an ability to manage multiple priorities with a sense of urgency.

• Ability to understand business strategy and basic financial aspects of business ventures.

• Ability to quickly evaluate complex legal and regulatory issues and recommend appropriate and defensible courses of action.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization internally and externally.

• Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, MS Office, Word), Westlaw experience.

• Ability to influence without direct authority.

• Ability to communicate and negotiate with senior leaders.

• Ability to evaluate complex facts, identify legal issues and risks, loca