Claims Manager, Complex Liability (JD Required)

Overview

Good Things Start Here.

Good things are happening at Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies—an A+ (Superior) rated, nationwide Property & Casualty insurer backed by Berkshire Hathaway. With supportive leadership, collaborative teams, and opportunities to grow, GUARD is a place where people build meaningful, long‑term careers.

Good Things You Can Count On.

 

• Hybrid schedule: 2 days remote / 3 in‑office
• Predictable hours (no nights, weekends, or holidays)
• Competitive pay + generous PTO
• Medical, dental & vision starting day one
• 401(k), tuition reimbursement & longevity bonuses

Responsibilities

The Claims Manager will provide leadership and oversight in the Complex Liability Claims Unit, with a primary focus on California‑based claims. This role is responsible for ensuring consistent, compliant, and financially sound claim outcomes across a complex, highly litigated portfolio within one of the most challenging jurisdictions in the country.

As a key leader within the claims organization, this position partners closely with internal stakeholders to manage severity, reserving discipline, litigation strategy, and regulatory compliance, while developing a high‑performing team aligned with carrier best practices and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead, manage, and develop a team of claims professionals handling Complex Liability claims nationwide, with a significant concentration of California exposure.
• Provide advanced technical and legal oversight on California litigated claims, ensuring alignment with carrier guidelines, risk appetite, and severity management objectives.
• Review, analyze, and approve claim reserves to ensure accuracy, consistency, and actuarial integrity, with particular attention to California loss drivers and litigation exposure.
• Ensure claim files reflect timely investigation, sound legal evaluation, and well‑documented decision‑making in compliance with California statutory, regulatory, and case law requirements.
• Partner closely with California panel counsel to establish litigation strategies, evaluate liability and damages, manage budgets, and drive disciplined resolution practices.
• Attend and participate in mediations, trials, and settlement conferences, as needed, to support resolution strategy and mitigate legal and financial risk.
• Conduct regular file audits focused on legal compliance, documentation quality, reserving practices, and adherence to carrier standards.
• Develop and implement training initiatives to strengthen the team’s California legal expertise, litigation analysis, and judgment.
• Collaborate with Underwriting, Legal, SIU, Actuarial, and Finance partners to support portfolio performance, loss trend analysis, and enterprise risk management.
• Prepare and deliver reporting on California claim trends, KPIs, severity drivers, litigation outcomes, and operational metrics to senior leadership.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, cost containment, defensible claim outcomes, and service excellence.
• Manage and evaluate preferred vendors, including California defense counsel, independent adjusters, and other service providers, ensuring performance, accountability, and cost control.

 

 

Qualifications

Qualifications

 

• Juris Doctor (JD) required.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and managing complex, litigated liability claims within a carrier or similar claims organization.
• Deep working knowledge of California liability law, litigation practices, and regulatory compliance.
• Proven ability to evaluate legal exposure, manage high‑severity California claim portfolios, and drive sound financial outcomes.
• Experience partnering with Actuarial, Underwriting, and Legal teams on reserving strategy, litigation approach, and portfolio performance.
• Strong leadership and talent‑development capabilities within a structured claims environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present legal and claim analysis to executive‑level audiences.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and technical skills with a disciplined, detail‑oriented approach to litigation management.
• Ability to balance legal judgment, operational discipline, and business objectives in a fast‑paced claims environment.

Salary $115,000 - $170,000 + bonus

In accordance with applicable pay transparency laws, this range represents a good‐faith estimate. Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, credentials, geographic location, and