Corporate Counsel

Location(s)

Details

Kemper is one of the nation’s leading specialized insurers. Our success is a direct reflection of the talented and diverse people who make a positive difference in the lives of our customers every day. We believe a high-performing culture, valuable opportunities for personal development and professional challenge, and a healthy work-life balance can be highly motivating and productive. Kemper’s products and services are making a real difference to our customers, who have unique and evolving needs. By joining our team, you are helping to provide an experience to our stakeholders that delivers on our promises.

Position Summary:

At Kemper, the Corporate Counsel manages extra-contractual, direct-action, and class-action litigation against the company, as well as provides legal support for any company department. The position works out for our Birmingham, AL office.

Position Responsibilities: 

• Conducts thorough legal research and analysis of all matters referred. Conducts and/or directs further investigation as needed and makes recommendations to appropriate personnel.
• Effectively manages assigned litigation including selecting appropriate defense counsel, monitoring developments in discovery, approving the use of outside vendors and monitoring expenses. Evaluates the settlement potential of each case, requesting authority from management when required.
• Reviews adequacy of reserves for both extra-contractual indemnity and extra-contractual expenses. Recommends reserve adjustments to management.
• Attends settlement conferences, mediations, arbitrations, depositions, and trials when required by the courts or by management.
• Monitors, and may direct, third-party claims and lawsuits in Litigation that meet specified criteria for Corporate Litigation referral and/or create potential extra-contractual exposure to the insured and to the company.
• Adheres to reporting requirements dictated by Corporate guidelines and State Codes and regulations. Prepares reports outlining potential extra-contractual exposure, and case resolution relied upon by senior financial officers and General Counsel for accounting, reserving and reporting to the SEC and shareholders.

Position Qualifications: 

• A Law degree and a license to practice law in at least 1 state in the United States of America
• Ability to perform complex legal analysis and research, and thoroughly and expeditiously analyze, with attention to detail, complex claims and legal issues, and provide legal and coverage analysis, advice, risk assessment, guidance and oversight to members of the Field Claims organization, including Casualty, and the Claims Litigation Department.
• Ability to effectively communicate such legal and coverage analysis, advice, risk assessment, guidance and oversight, both orally and in writing, to Field Claims, including Casualty, and Claims Litigation employees, management, executives and other internal company customers at all levels.
• Experience and expertise in providing comprehensive written analysis, opinions and strategic guidance to Claims Staff at all levels is preferred, but not required.
• Understanding of good-faith claim-handling practices and extracontractual obligations is preferred, but not required.
• Familiarity with and understanding of insurance law and practices, and with insurance coverage and form policy provisions is preferred, but not required.
• Understanding of legal issues, and familiarity with caselaw, legislation, and regulations in states in which the company conducts insurance business is preferred, but not required.
• Experience and demonstrated skills with legal research tools such as LexisNexis, WestLaw, and other available legal-research resources.
• Licensure by a state bar
• CPCU designation preferred
• Ability to complete extensive, complex written reports, legal opinions, and letters. Verbal skills to effectively communicate with multiple parties on complex issues.
• Ability to handle bad faith cases, theft and fraud cases, class actions, and other complex litigation involving the company directly and/or giving rise to actual or potential extra-contractual exposure to the company.
• The selected candidate will be required to complete 4-6 weeks of training in office, post training the selected candidate will convert to a hybrid schedule out of our Birmingham, AL office.
• Sponsorship is not accepted for this opportunity.

Kemper is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, disability status or any other status protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate. We are committed to supporting diversity and equality across our organization and we work diligently to maintain a workplace free from discrimination.  

Kemper does not accept unsolicited resumes through or from search firms or staffing agencies. All unsolicited resumes will be considered the property of Kemper and Kemper will not be obligated to pay a placement fee. 

Kemper will never request personal information, such as your social security number or banking information, via text or email.  Additionally, Kemper does not use external messaging applications like WireApp or Skype to communicate with candidates.  If you receive such a message, delete it.