Claim Counsel - Environmental / Professional Liability

Overview

This role is within the Claims Administration & Adjusting department and is based in the United States with a remote work option. The annual compensation ranges from $110,000 to $135,000.

The position involves managing and resolving high-severity, complex insurance claims with a focus on Environmental Liability and Professional Liability. Responsibilities include coverage analysis, policy interpretation, and strategic claim resolution related to pollution events, site contamination, and professional services exposures.

This role serves as a subject matter expert on coverage issues, advising internal teams and carriers on complex liability matters while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, environmental regulations, and company guidelines. It is suitable for an attorney with insurance coverage experience or a senior claims professional with expertise in environmental and professional liability lines.

Responsibilities

Coverage Analysis

• Review and interpret Environmental/Pollution Liability, Professional Liability (E&O), and related insurance policies, including manuscript forms and endorsements.
• Analyze coverage issues such as pollution conditions, gradual vs. sudden releases, remediation costs, third-party bodily injury and property damage, and professional services exposures.
• Evaluate applicability of exclusions, known conditions, prior acts, and allocation issues between covered and uncovered loss.
• Draft and issue coverage position letters, including reservations of rights and denial letters.
• Provide input on policy forms, wording, and emerging environmental coverage issues.

Claims Investigation & Strategy

• Oversee complex claims involving site contamination, environmental cleanup, regulatory actions, natural resource damages, and professional services errors or omissions.
• Coordinate with environmental consultants, engineers, remediation experts, and legal counsel to evaluate liability, causation, and damages.
• Analyze exposures related to remediation costs, business interruption, bodily injury, property damage, and long-tail environmental liabilities.
• Develop and implement strategic approaches for claim resolution, including oversight of litigation and regulatory proceedings.
• Provide carriers with independent, well-reasoned claim evaluations supported by expert analysis and investigation findings.

Negotiation & Settlement

• Evaluate exposure and make settlement recommendations, including complex cost allocation between remediation, defense, and indemnity components.
• Set and manage reserves reflecting long-tail and evolving environmental exposures.
• Negotiate settlements and participate in mediations, regulatory negotiations, and multi-party resolutions.

Regulatory Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all claims handling complies with Department of Insurance regulations and applicable environmental regulatory frameworks.
• Maintain thorough documentation of coverage analyses, remediation strategies, and regulatory developments in the claims management system.

Collaboration & Communication

• Serve as a trusted advisor to internal teams and carriers on environmental and professional liability coverage issues and trends.
• Act as the primary liaison with coverage counsel, environmental consultants, defense counsel, insureds, brokers, and regulatory bodies.
• Provide clear reporting to carriers, including coverage analysis, exposure evaluation, and remediation strategy updates.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) with active bar membership in good standing, or
• 7–10+ years of senior-level experience handling Environmental Liability, Pollution Liability, Professional Liability, or similar complex claims.
• Active adjuster licenses and willingness to obtain and maintain additional licenses as needed.
• Demonstrated expertise in coverage analysis and policy interpretation for environmental and/or professional liability lines.
• Experience issuing or advising on coverage positions, including reservations of rights and denials.
• Strong understanding of environmental exposures, remediation processes, and associated damages.
• Ability to evaluate long-tail claims, allocation issues, and multi-party liability scenarios.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple high-severity, complex claims independently.
• Proficiency with claims management systems and related tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience handling pollution/environmental claims, including site remediation and regulatory matters.
• Familiarity with contractor pollution liability, environmental consultants E&O, or combined environmental/professional programs.
• Experience working closely with environmental consultants, engineers, and specialized defense counsel.
• Background in program business, specialty lines, or manuscript policy environments.

Compensation & Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision plans for employees and their families.
• 401(k) plan with employer matching.
• Time-off policies including Discretionary Time Off (DTO) for exempt employees and Paid Time Off (PTO) for non-exempt employees.
• Paid holidays.
• Life insurance and short-term and long-term disability coverage.

Benefit offerings, eligibility, and employer contributions may vary based on role, classification, and applicable federal, state, and local laws, including those tied to an employee’s primary work location. Where required by law, paid sick leave, paid family and parental leave, and other mandated benefits are provided in accordance with applicable state and local requirements.

Location

Remote within the United States.