Coverage and Specialty Claims Staff Attorney (hybrid; New Hartford, NY)

The Company  

At Utica National Insurance Group, 1,400 employees countrywide take our corporate promise to heart every day: To make people feel secure, appreciated, and respected.

Utica National Insurance Group is an "A" rated $1.5B award-winning, nationally recognized property & casualty insurance carrier.

Operating along the Eastern half of the United States, our Home Office is based in Central New York, with Regional Office locations including Buffalo, Boston, NYC, Atlanta, Dallas, Columbus, Richmond, and Chicago.

What you will do

With skills in analysis and evaluation, you will draft coverage position letters as needed for claims handled across the company's casualty departments. This role also includes direct management and resolution of complex casualty claims. For claims in litigation, this role requires the assignment and ongoing management of defense panel counsel to ensure a quality work product and that claims are efficiently and fairly resolved.

Key responsibilities

• Investigate, evaluate and resolve complex casualty claims. Claim responsibility includes direct management of coverage disputes, allegations giving rise to extra contractual exposure, and liability claims presenting with the highest exposures to the company.
• Analyze, evaluate and finalize coverage positions and draft and finalize coverage letters for claims handled across the casualty department.
• Provide guidance and direction to casualty claims staff on all technical areas, grant settlement, reserve and/or expense authority on cases, in accordance with Utica National’s claims leading practices.
• Directly handle bad faith claims made against the Company, as well as directly handle complex specialty claims including pollution, hazardous waste, bonds, cyber insurance, liquor liability, agents errors & omissions and other select claims.
• Manage and comply with reinsurance reporting practices on assigned claims.
• Analyzes claim activities; prepare and present reports to management and other internal business partners.
• Comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements in all applicable jurisdictions.
• Maintain timely and accurate claim reserves in accordance with Utica National's reserving philosophy. On-going review of reserves required through life of file.
• Responsible for analyzing and communicating changes in law, regulation, and custom to ensure consistent quality claim handling.
• Conduct, as assigned, claim reviews to ensure that technical standards are being met by Complex Liability Claims Unit and improvement opportunities are recognized and communicated.
• Provide Product and Underwriting teams with claim trends that impact underwriting decisions, and support on changes to existing products, the introduction of new products and/or entry into new state.
• Work is performed without appreciable direction. Able to exercise considerable latitude in determining objectives and approaches to handling pending claims and assignments.
• Applies knowledge to develop strategies and plans of action to manage and resolve claims consistent with established company claims handling procedures. Uses research and analysis to develop innovative and practical solutions.
• Analyze, evaluate and finalize coverage positions and draft and finalize coverage letters for claims handled across the casualty department.
• Provide guidance and direction to casualty claims staff on all technical areas; grant settlement, reserve, and/or expense authority on cases, in accordance with Utica National’s claims leading practices.
• Requires a minimal amount of travel to the claim offices and/or attendance at mediations, arbitrations or trials.
• Effectively manage litigation process including appropriate assignment of defense panel counsel, monitoring of defense counsel's work product and working with defense counsel to efficiently and fairly resolve claims.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Conforms with all corporate policies and procedures.

What you need

• JD required.
• 7-10 years' experience preferred in claim investigation, negotiation, settlement and extensive knowledge of claims litigation process.
• 5+ years preferred of direct handling of complex liability claims, including proven experience in evaluating and determining coverage of casualty liability claims. 

Licensing

Required to obtain your license(s) as an adjuster in the state(s) in which you are assigned to adjust claims. Licensing must be obtained within the timeframe set forth by the Company and must be maintained as needed throughout your employment.

 

Salary Range: $106,000 - $145,000

The final salary to be paid and position within the internal salary range is reflective of the employee’s work experience, their geographic location, education, certification(s), scope and responsibilities in the role, and additional qualifications.

 

Benefits                          

We believe strongly that talented people are core to our success and are attracted to companies that provide competitive pay, comprehensive benefits packages, career advancement and challenging work opportunities. We offer a Comprehensive Benefits Plan for full time employees that include the following:

• Medical and Prescription Drug Benefit
• Dental Benefit
• Vision Benefit
• Life Insurance and Disability Benefits 
• 401(k) Profit Sharing and Investment Plan (Includes annual Company financial contribution and discretionary Profit Sharing contribution based upon annual company financial results)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) 
• Flexible Spending Accounts 
• Tuition Assistance, Training, and Professional Designations
• Company-Paid Family Leave
• Adoption/Surrogacy Assistance Benefit
• Voluntary Benefits - Group Accident Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, Critical Illness, Legal, ID Theft Protection, Pet Insurance
• Student Loan Refinancing Services
• Care.com Membership with Back-up Care, Senior Solutions
• Business Travel Accident Insurance
• Matching Gifts program
• Paid Volunteer Day
• Employee Referral Award Program
• Wellness programs

Additional information

This position is a full time salaried, exempt (non overtime eligible) position.

Utica National is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Apply now and find out what it’s like to be a part of an amazing team, thrive in an exciting environment and work for a company you can be proud of. Once you complete your application, you can monitor your status in the hiring process by logging into your profile. A representative from our Talent Acquisition team will be in touch regarding any change in your candidacy. 

 

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Salary

• $106,000 - $145,000