Director, Counsel Management

Overview

This role is responsible for managing all aspects of outside counsel to optimize claim outcomes and ensure high-quality legal services in representing policyholders. The position oversees the entire process of counsel selection, engagement, onboarding, and performance evaluation.

Key responsibilities include negotiating and managing hourly and alternative fee arrangements with outside law firms, administering quality assessment measures, and utilizing legal spend analytics to support spend-optimization strategies.

The role reports to an office on a hybrid schedule, requiring presence four days per week.

Responsibilities

Counsel Engagement and Management

• Ensure agreements with outside firms comply with litigation, billing, and related guidelines.
• Communicate updates regarding approved panel law firms to claims business lines.
• Provide training and communication to internal partners on best practices for working with outside counsel.
• Act as the primary contact to coordinate and resolve issues with outside counsel.
• Collaborate with internal partners to implement third-party risk management strategies aligned with enterprise objectives.

Expense Management

• Negotiate and manage all outside counsel rate agreements.
• Identify and evaluate opportunities for alternative fee arrangements.
• Develop analytics to identify trends, cost drivers, and opportunities for improvement across legal spend categories.

Outside Counsel Performance Management

• Define and measure performance expectations for outside counsel, including understanding of objectives, technical expertise, communication, efficiency, cost predictability, and results.
• Implement procedures to capture claim feedback on counsel performance at file closing.
• Create performance scorecards for use by the claims department.
• Establish and conduct regular file reviews for top panel firms.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Licensed attorney in good standing with a State Bar.
• Minimum of 7 years practicing law, including at least 5 years in leadership roles supervising attorneys and legal staff.
• Prior experience handling insurance defense litigation for insurance carriers.
• Strong communication skills across multiple leadership levels, customers, and internal partners.
• Experience working with multiple applications and technologies.
• Ability to analyze data and present business insights to non-technical audiences.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• In-depth understanding of claim and claim legal operations.
• Advanced knowledge of litigation strategy and execution across multiple insurance lines and jurisdictions.
• Openness to change, constructive feedback, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated collaboration skills with internal stakeholders, business partners, external customers, and vendors.
• Commitment to ethics, integrity, and transparency.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive compensation package.
• Medical and dental insurance plans.
• Life insurance coverage, including eligible spouses and children.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) savings plans.
• Paid time off.

Location

This position operates on a hybrid model, requiring presence in the office four days per week.