EVP, Associate General Counsel

About the role

The Executive Vice President, Associate General Counsel - Corporate is joining Palomar Holdings, a rapidly growing and innovative insurer focused on providing specialty insurance to residential and commercial customers. This role serves as the primary in-house counsel for Palomar's public company governance, securities law, capital markets, M&A, corporate insurance law, and public company litigation functions.

Responsibilities

• Public Company Governance, Securities Law & Federal Regulatory Obligations

• Support the CLO in her role as Corporate Secretary, including Board and committee governance, records management, and preparation of all Board materials
• Lead Palomar's SEC reporting obligations, including periodic filings, proxy preparation, and insider trading and Regulation FD compliance
• Advises on federal securities law requirements, including Exchange Act, Sarbanes-Oxley, and Dodd-Frank obligations applicable to a NASDAQ-listed company
• Serve as primary in-house counsel for public company-related litigation, including securities, disclosure, governance, and shareholder matters
• Mergers, Acquisitions & Strategic Transactions
• Lead M&A transactions as primary in-house legal counsel from diligence through signing and closing, directing outside counsel and advising the executive team
• Cook up and coordinate with internal legal partners on regulatory approval processes and post-closing integration handoffs
• Capital Markets - Catastrophe Bonds & Financing
• Serve as in-house legal lead for capital markets activity, including catastrophe bond issuances, credit facilities, and debt and equity transactions
• Monitor developments in insurance-linked securities and capital markets relevant to Palomar's risk transfer strategy
• Corporate Insurance Law & State Regulatory Affairs
• Provide strategic legal counsel on corporate insurance law matters, including holding company structure and regulatory matters intersecting with corporate transactions
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments at the state and federal level with potential impact on Palomar's corporate structure and specialty lines strategy
• General Corporate & Legal Operations
• Manage outside counsel relationships for transaction, securities, and capital markets matters in coordination with the CLO
• Oversee transaction-related contracts and strategic partnership agreements
• Support employee relations, executive matters, and cross-functional legal needs in partnership with HR and business leadership
• Mentor and develop junior legal team members

Requirements

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school; active admission to the California State Bar (or eligibility for Registered In-House Counsel status)
• 15+ years of legal experience combining Big Law training with in-house insurance or financial services experience
• Meaningful public company tenure with direct exposure to SEC reporting, SOX compliance, proxy processes, and Board governance, ideally at a NASDAQ- or NYSE-listed company
• Demonstrated M&A transaction experience in insurance or financial services, including deal execution and outside counsel management
• Capital markets experience with catastrophe bonds, ILS structures, credit facilities, or debt and equity offerings
• Strong corporate insurance law background with familiarity across federal securities regulations and multi-state insurance holding company frameworks; specialty lines experience a distinct advantage
• Experience with public company litigation and directing outside litigation counsel
• Proven ability to advise C-suite executives and Board members, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and lead high-performing legal teams
• Strong Microsoft Office skills including Excel, Outlook, and Teams
• Ability to be on-site in the La Jolla, CA office 5x/week

Qualifications

• Intellectually curious, think creatively, and pragmatic
• Thrives in a dynamic environment, with a resilient mindset to find creative solutions to challenges
• Collaborates and celebrates diverse perspectives, promoting inclusivity and equality
• Works autonomously and drives progress
• Desires to build strong relationships through transparency, trust, and respect for each other

Benefits

• Full Suite of Medical Benefits
• Long Term Financial Incentives – STOCK!
• 401k with 3.5% Automatic Fully Vested Employer Contributions
• Competitive PTO + Holiday Program
• Lifestyle Spending Allowance
• Professional Development Assistance
• Career Exploration Opportunities
• Regular company-wide social events (even virtually!)

Pay

$260,000-$320,000 + Bonus Potential & Participation in our Competitive Long-Term Incentive (LTI) Program