AVP & Counsel, MBU - Eatontown, NJ or Remote

Crum & Forster (C&F) provides market-leading property & casualty, accident & health, specialty, and standard commercial lines insurance solutions. A true underwriting company, we have a 200-year history of helping customers manage risk with laser-focused expertise, integrity, and discipline. Our annual gross written premium is $6.2 billion, and we enjoy a financial strength rating of "A+" (Superior) by AM Best. With 3,000 employees across the United States and India, C&F is consistently recognized as a great place to work, earning awards such as the Great Place to Work® Award, Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For, and Fortune Best Workplaces for Parents and Millennials. C&F is part of Fairfax Financial Holdings.

About the role

Since 2000, Crum & Forster’s Accident & Health division (A&H) has offered a diverse portfolio of specialty insurance and reinsurance products nationwide, focusing on product development, creative distribution, and excellent client service. The A&H Legal Department handles legal functions for the division, including high-volume contract development, litigation management, and support for various disciplines within A&H.

Responsibilities

• Manage high-volume drafting, review, and negotiation of program and administrative agreements, reinsurance and retrocessionaire agreements, vendor and SaaS agreements, NDAs, and other commercial agreements, ensuring compliance with company standards, best practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Drive the contract negotiation process with internal and external parties, enlisting senior team members as needed.
• Monitor contract portfolio metrics to identify process improvements and provide strategic input on enhancements to contract management systems and AI contract review tools.
• Champion the adoption of AI tools by developing best practices for AI-assisted contract review, mentoring team members, and providing ongoing guidance.
• Participate in the Legal Team’s template development process to ensure A&H contract clause requirements, risk mitigation provisions, and regulatory compliance standards are met.
• Support claim and cost containment audit review requests, including reviewing attorney demand letters, drafting legal responses, evaluating coverage positions, and coordinating resolution strategies.
• Manage and coordinate complex claims litigation, including preparing case summaries, leading settlement negotiations, drafting releases and settlement agreements, and providing strategic litigation guidance.
• Serve as a strategic business partner to internal business units, providing practical legal counsel that balances business objectives with risk mitigation and regulatory compliance (e.g., ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ACA, NSA, and applicable insurance laws).
• Advise on group benefit and insurance solutions, third-party self-funded plan claim administration, and regulatory compliance matters.
• Lead and participate in special projects, including process improvement initiatives, policy development, and cross-functional business initiatives requiring legal expertise.
• Provide direct supervisory oversight of legal interns and administrative staff, including work assignment, performance management, and professional development.
• Develop and deliver comprehensive training programs on legal topics for legal staff, underwriting teams, claims personnel, and other business disciplines.
• Represent the Company at industry trade associations and professional organizations related to Accident and Health insurance, reinsurance, and insurance law.

Requirements

• J.D. degree, admitted to a State Bar, and eligible for or willing to obtain a NJ Limited-License In-House Counsel license within one year of employment.
• 8+ years of overall legal experience, including a minimum of three (3) years of relevant in-house or law firm experience specifically related to Accident & Health insurance products and claims management.
• Prior experience with insurance regulatory matters preferred.
• Strong PC skills, including Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Qualifications

• Exceptional written communication skills, particularly in drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, reinsurance agreements, and administrative agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively as a team player while managing independent responsibilities.
• Proven ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks, projects, and deadlines while maintaining high-quality work.
• Excellent oral communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts to diverse audiences.
• High level of follow-through, attention to detail, and commitment to timely delivery.
• Proven negotiation and influencing skills, with experience managing complex, multi-party negotiations while balancing business objectives and legal requirements.
• Ability to assess ambiguity and risk, providing solution-oriented advice in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and mentoring legal support staff, interns, or junior attorneys.
• Proven ability to design, develop, and deliver effective training programs for diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated experience with ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, ACA, NSA (No Surprises Act), and applicable federal and state insurance laws governing welfare benefit plans and accident and health insurance.
• Subject matter expertise in one or more of the following areas: ERISA/accident & health insurance litigation or advisory work; group insurance product development or administration; stop-loss/other insurance; third-party benefit administration; or insurance and reinsurance contract drafting and negotiation.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation package.
• Generous 401K employer match.
• Employee Stock Purchase plan with employer matching.
• Generous Paid Time Off.
• Comprehensive benefits focused on physical, mental, and financial wellbeing for you and your family.
• Tuition reimbursement, industry-related certifications, and professional training.
• Matching donation program, volunteer opportunities, and employee-driven corporate giving.

Pay

The annualized base pay for this position ranges from a minimum of $119,700.00 to a maximum of $225,100.00. Actual compensation is determined by factors such as market pay for the role, responsibilities, skills, and employee performance. Additional opportunities may include discretionary equity-based compensation and performance-based variable pay programs.