Surety Claims Lawyer

Liberty Specialty Markets Europe SARL is seeking an experienced Surety Claims Laywer supporting our European offices, with particular priority for the German office.

This is an excellent opportunity for an entrepreneurial, and analytical-minded Attorney with prior Surety experience that has managed highly complex claims involving multiple bonds in excess of $5-10MM in losses.

As Surety Claims Laywer, you will be responsible for contributing to technical processes that optimize planned business results by working independently and within a team.

In this role, you will apply advanced level knowledge of Surety claims to a portfolio of cases varying in size and scope.

You will investigate, evaluate and settle claims in a fair and efficient manner.

You will also negotiate, analyze, resolve and manage Surety claims, ensuring customer satisfaction and loss ratio goals.

The successful candidate should reside in Germany with preference for Frankfurt, Cologne or Hamburg where Liberty offices exist.

What you will be doing

• Demonstrate and exercise an understanding of Surety bonds and industry, including the structure, terms and conditions of Liberty Mutual's liabilities under bonds and applicable laws and regulations, by investigating and negotiating claims; analyzing financial data and contractual obligations; making a reserve recommendation; determining an appropriate course of action and managing the case to successful resolution.
• Investigate, negotiate, analyze, resolve, and manage Surety claims cases to ensure customer satisfaction and loss ratio goals.
• Direct the claims and recovery efforts, both directly and through the assignment to outside consultants, accountants, financial advisors, construction engineers and legal counsel.

• Claim duties may include some or all of the following

• investigating defaults and claims and making recommendations in determining which strategy would be appropriate for Surety to implement;
• setting accurate reserves and recommending adjustments as warranted;
• and analyzing recovery prospects from counter-guarantors, indemnitors, principals, owners and third parties and then recommends and implements appropriate action and then pursues vigorously until close out.
• Evaluate and settle complex Surety claims within delegated authority and aligned region.
• Draft and review legal documents (e. g. contracts, insurance policies, leases) involving Surety claims;
• Manage outside counsel in connection with litigation; identify and make recommendations to assigned outside counsel as appropriate.
• Manage and direct Third Party Administrators across the region.
• Interact and collaborate with regional peers and Senior Management to ensure consistency and efficient resolution of all procedural issues.
• Ensure Surety claims handling and documentation is compliant with applicable legal, regulatory, corporate and bond requirements.
• Identify and elevate potential high exposure claims and provide recommendations as appropriate.
• Stay abreast of laws and regulations regarding Surety claims. Maintain current knowledge of legal issues and developments in the law.
• Represent the Company before regulatory and administrative bodies; provide advice regarding the implications of new laws substantially impacting the Company's business; and anticipate legal issues and encourage practices to prevent problems from arising.
• Secure/maintain all required licenses and complete all required continuing education courses in a timely manner.
• Participate in industry-related conferences and/or events, and prepares and delivers presentations/training sessions to Surety and external industry audiences
• Participate on special projects as directed.
• Responsible for other duties as assigned.

What we’re looking for

• Legal degree required.
• Experience as a practicing attorney
• Surety claims experience strongly preferred.
• Experience managing the most complex surety claims involving multiple bonds with losses in excess of $5 million with a preference of $10 million or more highly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge and experience working at a Surety Company or Surety Law Firm representing Surety Companies specifically highly preferred.
• Knowledge of laws that are applicable to surety claims and transactional matters.
• Essential to success in the role is strong written and verbal communication as well as research skills.
• Experience handling complex litigation, claims, and general liability work.
• Solid understanding of financial documents.
• Displays entrepreneurial instinct and gets satisfaction in self-directing, willing to ask questions, works best in a fast paced environment, and creatively applying resources.
• Demonstrated ability to balance competing priorities and meet deadlines.
• Must be able to travel as required
• Must be able to work across multiple cultures and countries, taking into account cultural variances and norms
• Business bi-lingual skills required: German and English; other languages also a plus.
• About Liberty Mutual Surety

Liberty Mutual Global Surety, a business unit of Liberty Mutual Insurance, is the #1 Surety in the United States and the largest globally.

Conducting business worldwide through Liberty-owned subsidiaries and fronting relationships, we provide bonds in over 60 countries for construction firms, manufacturers and suppliers, and commercial enterprises on an account and transactional basis.

We are committed to building mutually profitable relationships by providing smart business solutions, ease of doing business, and consistent, responsive service.

Liberty Mutual Global Surety is dedicated to the communities we serve and highly values a diverse workforce in more than 18 countries.

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