Legal Audit Counsel

Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation has grown from a small investment management firm into one of the largest commercial lines property and casualty insurers in the United States. Today, the Berkley brand comprises more than 60 businesses worldwide, divided into two segments: Insurance and Reinsurance and Monoline Excess.

Responsibilities

• Validate legal bill charges using attorney guidelines and industry standards through an electronic billing system.
• Resolve billing disputes and handle legal bill review appeals.
• Educate law firms and staff on the bill review process.
• Analyze billing discrepancies to assess law firm performance and billing trends while supporting multiple independent operating units within W. R. Berkley Corporation.
• Ensure prompt, accurate, and efficient auditing of submitted legal fee and expense invoices pursuant to applicable litigation and billing guidelines.
• Conduct line-by-line review of invoices to determine accuracy, reasonableness, and compliance with agreed-upon fee structures between the company and law firms.
• Identify and group tasks to evaluate the progression of activities from the start of a case to closure.
• Collect information via contact with law firms and claims staff to determine the reasonableness of time spent on tasks for completion of the bill review process.
• Identify billing discrepancies based on knowledge of litigation and billing guidelines, industry standards, and litigation history, and reduce invoices accordingly.
• Discuss, explain, and educate attorneys and claims staff on reasons for invoice reductions, the bill review process, and compliance with litigation and billing guidelines.
• Advise and work closely with claim managers, adjusters, and attorneys on billing discrepancies to determine the reasonableness of time spent and the best course of action for resolution.
• Develop and maintain extensive knowledge related to determining the likely legal necessity for specific insurance defense and coverage-related law firm work.
• Make quick, sound decisions and negotiate resolution of billing issues or disputes.
• Utilize claim files and document reviews to obtain claim strategy information and apply it during the review process.
• Engage in written and/or verbal communications with law firms and/or Berkley operating unit employees managing the claim, serving as the technical resource for appeal oversight and/or discretionary reviews.
• Participate in calibration and consultation with the Litigation Management Services team.
• Collaborate with the claims department for more effective litigation cost control.
• Serve as a technical resource to other claim professionals and various stakeholders, providing consultation and training regarding legal bill review and related best practices where appropriate.
• Drive and influence compliance with partnering law firms based on W.R. Berkley Corporation’s retention and billing policies and philosophy through building trusted and strategic business partnerships.
• Assist and provide input to identify improvement or innovative opportunities and aid in the understanding, assessment, and removal of barriers to the success of this newly formed team.

Requirements

• Five (5) years of experience working with litigation and legal billing practices, including civil court rules and procedures and state and federal court systems.
• Three (3) years of legal bill review experience with exposure to multiple lines of business and varying levels of billing complexity.
• Proficient in the use of eBilling platforms, including Bottomline’s LegalX and Legal Exchange.
• Experience utilizing AI-enabled legal billing and analytics tools to support accurate bill review, identify billing irregularities, and ensure compliance with outside counsel billing guidelines.
• Ability to analyze AI-generated insights and apply legal judgment to validate billing exceptions, cost trends, and efficiency opportunities.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Adobe PDF.
• Excellent computer and technical aptitude, with the ability to adapt quickly to new systems and technologies.
• Ability to function independently and successfully multi-task in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Exceptional organizational skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong legal judgment with the ability to make sound, well-reasoned decisions.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to leverage data and technology to optimize legal spend.
• Professional demeanor with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, and intellectual curiosity.
• Team-oriented, collaborative, and able to work effectively with minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• JD in good standing.

Skills

• Accountability
• Communication
• Customer Focus and Teamwork
• Innovation and Initiative
• Flexibility

Additional Requirements

Primary location: Urbandale, IA. Additional locations: Jacksonville, FL; Irving, TX; Glen Allen, VA; West Hartford, CT; Atlanta, GA; Chesterfield, MO; Scottsdale, AZ. Minimal travel required. Remote opportunity available.

Sponsorship not offered for this role.