Jobs:

Updated Sept. 8:

Well, our little system seems to work. I sent out the announcement Monday morning and by Tuesday afternoon I'm told resumes were already going over the airwaves (or however e-mail gets to where it goes...) and being received.   If you are interested in any of these positions, I wouldn't wait too long to apply!

15 New POSITIONS OPEN as of July 18 in Chicago and CA:

Just added since e-mail went out:

Howrey LLP is seeking litigation associate with 1-4 years  experience in preparation of matters for trial, including taking and defending depositions, drafting and arguing substantive and procedural motions, and familiarity with state and federal civil procedure.  Must be interested  in concentrating on the representation of corporate policyholders in insurance coverage litigation and working with small insurance group in Chicago within a large international firm.  Some knowledge of insurance law a plus.  Good writing, research and analytical skills and excellent educational credentials a necessity.  Please send resumes to Todd McLawhorn or Jill Berkeley at Howrey LLP, 321 N. Clark St., Suite 3400, Chicago, IL  60610.

California:
Orange County, CA office of Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess is looking to hire a mid-level associate with insurance coverage and litigation experience. Please contact Linda Bondi Morrison at 714-429-2939 or lmorrison@tsmp.com for further details.

Gordon & Rees LLP, a growing law firm with an expanding insurance coverage litigation and advice practice, spanning 5 of its 11 offices, is looking for a lawyer for their San Francisco office interested in the "advice" side of the practice (i.e., predominantly, but not exclusively, coverage evaluations). Some experience necessary. Will train. Can be part-time. Please send resumes to sthorpe@gordonrees.com.

Chicago:

Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess, an established loop law firm, is looking for coverage litigation associate with 3-6 years experience - with focus on commercial liability and excess and surplus policies. Strong writing and analytical skills are essential. Writing sample is required. Competitive salary, benefits. Please send resume and writing sample to:

Shaun McParland Baldwin
Tressler, Soderstrom, Maloney & Priess
233 S. Wacker Dr., 22nd FLR
Chicago, IL 60606
Direct line: 312-627-4014
Fax: 312-627-1717
sbaldwin@tsmp.com

Kerns, Pitrof, Frost & Pearlman, LLC, another  established Chicago law firm with an office in the northern suburbs is seeking an attorney with 8 - 10 years experience to join our dynamic and growing insurance and reinsurance coverage group.  Directors and officers liability and professional liability experience essential.  Strong writing and analytical skills are also essential.  Position offers full benefits and an excellent opportunity for advancement.  Send resume to:

Tracey Hendler
Kerns, Pitrof, Frost & Pearlman, LLC
Three First National Plaza
70 West Madison, Suite 5350
Chicago, IL 60602
Direct: (312) 261 6336
Main: (312) 261 4550
Fax: (312) 261 4585

CHICAGO & CALIFORNIA

Fireman's Fund is hiring! NOW

Nancy Caron is pleased to announce that after reviewing its coverage operation.  Fireman's Fund has decided to grow its in-house coverage operation in its Chicago and Glendale, CA offices.  FF currently has openings in the Chicago office for a  Claim Coverage Senior Director who will serve as a managing attorney for the Chicago staff and a Legal Services Attorney who will act as a relationship manager with the outside coverage portfolio firms as well as a coverage expert  within claims.  Job descriptions and application contacts are set forth below.

In addition, Nancy will be hiring  4  coverage attorneys in Chicago.   Two of these attorneys will be hired for the Senior Claims Coverage counsel position and  2  in the Claims Coverage Counsel position.   They will also be hiring 3 attorneys  in their Glendale, CA office . One attorney will be in the Senior Claims Coverage position and  2 will be in the  Claims Coverage

Counsel position.  Job descriptions and application contacts are set forth below.

The Claims Coverage Senior Director and Legal Services Attorney are currently posted on the FF website.  The attorney positions should be posted within one week.  To apply before posting , please contact Laura Miller via email or telephone.

Nancy requests that you please share this information  with any experienced coverage attorneys who may be interested in handling challenging coverage cases at an in-house pace.  

Nancy K Caron
Caron , Constants & Wilson
33 W. Monroe
Suite 1530
Chicago, IL 60603
Telephone: 312-629-2010
Fax: 312-629-8220
Email: ncaron@ffic.com

Claims Coverage Senior Director

Job Description:
Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company has an immediate need for a Managing
Attorney with proven progressive professional and managerial experience.
The ideal candidate will have a Juris Doctorate from accredited law school,
admission to the bar from one or more states and 8+ years of experience as
attorney.  We are looking for in-depth knowledge and understanding of the
legal climate, particularly with regard to insurance coverage matters.
Additionally, trial and appellate experience is required.

Responsibilities:

• Together with peer, Claims Coverage Managing Attorney; plan, direct and

develop a countrywide legal program.

• Develop recommendations and claims legal management guidelines, policies,

and procedures to improve quality and efficiencies of legal services within
the regional operation

• Implement metrics to monitor performance; develop recommendations and

guidelines to improve performance, efficiency and file quality within the
region

• Serve as "Point of Contact" for critical and/or high exposure issues
• Evaluate, monitor, and review Declaratory Judgment and coverage matters

handled by assigned office

• Keep abreast of legal changes as well as precedent setting case law in the

coverage area  Provide Claims Coverage Senior Director with information,
trends and ideas regarding the legal climate in geographic region
Implement Claims Coverage policies, programs and objectives in assigned
office

• Manage budget and expenses within office
• Establish professional and/or management development plans for attorneys,

paralegals and legal support staff that will ensure achievement of
corporate, departmental and personal goals

• Review and approve salary actions
• Ensure all Claims Coverage Counsel complies with timekeeping/billing

policies

• Counsel and advise Claims Coverage Counsel in the handling of critical or

problem cases where a high level of expertise and/or authority is necessary
for resolution

• Review attorney and office performance to ensure compliance with processes,

and procedures

• Manage staff development, evaluation, and retention

Requirements:

• Knowledge of insurance claims and how their policies and procedures work
• Superior communication, negotiation and influential skills
• Ability to think and act strategically
• Experience in successful relationship building and management of people and

procedures

• Vendor management skills
• Excellent analytical skills
• Ability to prioritize work to ensure timely completion
• Experience with database management, automated litigation management

systems, benchmarking, and reporting of leading indicators

Apply via the Fireman's Fund website.  Any questions, contact Laura Miller
at lmiller2@ffic.com   or 415-899-5546.

Legal Services Attorney:

Job Description:
This experienced coverage attorney will act as the dedicated relationship
manager for all external coverage portfolio firms.  The Legal Service
Attorney will be the primary point of contact with the coverage portfolio
firms to resolve day-to-day issues and overall management of the retention
agreements.  Legal Service Attorney will also serve as an advisor and
subject matter expert for the Claims department on coverage matters.
Additionally, will provide expertise for development of training, audits,
and knowledge management strategy for coverage issues.  The Legal Service
Attorney will also keep abreast of regulatory and legal changes as well as
precedent setting case law.

Responsibilities:

• Oversee the performance of coverage portfolio firms and their attorneys
• Resolve billing issues
• Monitor and implement operational processes
• Develop and implement improvements to the coverage portfolio network

program

• Track metrics and oversee Service Level Agreements (SLA’s)
• Comply with and/or enforce general service requests made by the law firms

or FFIC

• Manage and monitor case assignments to align with retention agreements
• Conduct periodic surveys with Claims adjusters to validate service levels

and network satisfaction

• Suggest and develop new processes to ensure continued quality of Claims

Coverage operations

• Administer training, quality surveys and audits Coverage Portfolio Firms
• Provide quick answers to Claims staff
• Monitor trends associated with coverage questions and create action plans

to address findings

• Review top-level coverage cases and regularly participate in roundtable

discussions on coverage issues

Requirements:
Ideal candidate will have JD from an accredited law school and 10+ years
experience of proven insurance coverage experience.  Must be able to handle
all aspects of insurance coverage issues arising out of a variety of
insurance policies including general liability, professional liability and
claims-made policies.  Ability to identify issues, analyze strategies and
recommend future course of action.  Demonstrated mental agility including the ability to make difficult decisions quickly based on an assessment of risk.  Candidate must have

demonstrated ability to accomplish results through leadership, influence
management, and effective negotiation skills in a large organization.  Superior interpersonal skills are essential.

• Admission to the bar in one or more states
• Comprehensive knowledge of insurance coverage
• Experience with investigating, analyzing and evaluating complex issues
• Adept at influence management
• Create and maintain productive working relationships
• Innovative and analytical
• Detail oriented with a “Big Picture” view
• Skilled at negotiation and conflict resolution
• Embrace change with a flexible attitude
• Possess strong oral and written communication skills
• Remain cool under pressure
• Demonstrate leadership and administrative abilities
• Communicate effectively with all departments and staff within FFIC as well

as personnel at Coverage Portfolio Firms

• Demonstrate ability to think and act strategically
• Delegate work to assure timely completion
• Successfully build and manage relationships

 Apply via the Fireman's Fund website.  Any questions, contact Laura Miller
at lmiller2@ffic.com   or 415-899-5546.

Two Positions: Claims Coverage Counsel and Senior Claims Coverage Counsel

Job Description
Locations:  Chicago, Illinois or Glendale, California

Job Responsibilities:

This job consists of two levels of coverage attorneys.  Each level is
distinguished by the degree of proficiency within a defined legal
specialty.  The Senior Claims Coverage Counsel is a more experienced
position with a wide range of knowledge and expertise in all areas of
insurance coverage.  The Senior Claims Coverage Counsel will interface with
Claims Coverage Counsel on cases with major implications, higher complexity
and special circumstances.  The Claims Coverage Counsel is identified as an
experienced coverage attorney who is competent to serve as a legal resource
on coverage issues.  These experienced attorneys will perform a combination
of the following duties as assigned by the Claims Coverage Managing
Attorney:

• Represent FFIC Companies in complex insurance coverage litigation

through the United States.

• Provide coverage advice, including coverage opinions and position

letters, to the FFIC Claims organization.

• Work with Underwriting to draft policy language.
• Provide advice to Claims and management at all levels regarding

coverage matters.

• Participate as a subject matter expert in coverage roundtables and

provide training.

• Perform other essential duties in accordance with subject matter

expertise as assigned.

• Coverage counsel must keep abreast of regulatory and legal changes as well

as precedent setting case law in the coverage area.

Job Requirements:
Candidates must have a JD from an accredited law school, and be admitted to
the bar in one or more states.  Ideal candidates must have advanced
knowledge of insurance coverage in several lines, including general
liability, professional liability, personal and claims-made policies.
Successful candidates will have a demonstrated ability to handle all
aspects of declaratory relief litigation through trial and appeal.

Must be able to define alternatives and make recommendations to accomplish
business objectives with the least legal/business risk.  Will identify
major implications, special circumstances, and departure from guidelines.
Anticipates potential legal issues, which may affect multiple clients or
have multi-legal specialty implications.

Skills and Competencies:

·     Comprehensive knowledge of insurance coverage
·     Possesses strong oral and written communication skills
·     Skilled at negotiation and conflict resolution
·     Demonstrates ability to think and act strategically
·     Adept at influence management
·     Strong initiative
·     Remains cool under pressure
·     Organized and flexible to alternative opinions and work demands
·     Applies creative approaches to achieve desired business outcomes
·     Collaborates with team members, outside counsel and a variety of
business partners
·     Experienced at investigating, analyzing and evaluating complex
coverage issues
·     Creates and maintains productive working relationships

Claims Coverage Counsel

·     Must have 5+ years experience in handling insurance coverage matters
and declaratory judgment actions
·     Ability to exercise independent judgment and work independently on
matters with minimal supervision
·     Demonstrates ability to analyze issues with major implications and
special circumstances to refer to higher level  staff or manager or to work
under guidance of higher level staff or manager
·     Identifies multifaceted legal issues which may effect multiple claims
or policies
·     Ability to provide superior representation on coverage matters
through trial or appeal with guidance/input from      higher level staff or
managers

Senior Claims Coverage Counsel

·     Must have a minimum of 9 years experience in handling insurance
coverage matters
·     Ability to exercise independent judgment and work independently on
matters with minimal supervision
·     Identifies multifaceted legal issues which may effect multiple claims
or policies
·     Advanced knowledge of legal changes as well as precedent setting case
law in the coverage area
·     Ability to exercise independent judgment on multiple matters
·     Proven ability to identify and resolve potential legal issues which
may effect multiple claims or policies
·     Demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve issues with major
implications and special circumstances
·     Ability to provide superior representation on coverage matters from
inception through trial or appeal

Apply via the Fireman's Fund website.  Any questions, contact Laura Miller
at lmiller2@ffic.com  or 415-899-5546.

 More information about Fireman's Fund, our privacy policy, and our

relationship with Allianz Group can be found at

 http://www.firemansfund.com/about_ffic/careers.html. 

An equal opportunity employer.

 

Seeking Excellent Paralegal and Litigation Secretary:

Colliau Elenius is looking to hire both a litigation secretary and a paralegal. Resumes can be sent to Jon Elenius at Jon.Elenius@cna.com   Great working environment.