Associate General Counsel

Associate General Counsel – Litigation, UK & Lloyd's – 12 month Fixed Term Contract

London, UK

We are looking for a lawyer with extensive experience of insurance coverage litigation to join our small and collaborative Litigation, UK & Lloyd's team. The team provides legal advice regarding first and third-party coverage related matters spanning a wide range of property and casualty and specialty lines of business and plays a pivotal role in AXA XL's in-house claims counsel capabilities. It also assists the claims teams with day-to-day legal questions and management of litigation.

As an Associate General Counsel – Litigation, UK & Lloyd's, you will provide a broad range of insurance law advice to claims handlers in respect of both contentious and non-contentious matters in a wide variety of jurisdictions. You will work on both pre-litigation and litigated claims, as well as managing coverage litigation together with the claims handling team. You will report directly to the Head of Litigation – UK & Lloyd's. You will be retained on a 12-month fixed term contract to commence from May 2024.

DISCOVER your opportunity

What will your essential responsibilities include?

· Developing comprehensive and high-quality coverage analyses, litigation and settlement strategies, keeping in mind both the particulars of each case as well as its impact on the entire book of claims and the business generally. Thinking strategically about and managing claims-related litigation.

· Outside of coverage and litigation advice, providing comprehensive general legal advice to the complex and multi-jurisdictional Claims organization of AXA XL, including regulatory and claims vendor contracting matters.

· Participating in the development of litigation management systems and processes in collaboration with other internal litigation units.

· Overseeing the selection and management of qualified, cost-effective outside counsel and other litigation vendors; managing, directing and actively partnering with outside counsel with respect to day-to-day file management, including the development and implementation of settlement, mediation, arbitration, or other dispute resolution strategies.

· Serving as a subject matter expert and resource to other units across our global insurance platform by providing comprehensive and timely legal advice and training to internal stakeholders including Claims.

· Reporting on significant case developments and litigation trends to senior management and other internal stakeholders; maintaining regular communication with internal clients and consulting on file strategy.

· Providing hands-on management for certain high-profile matters in addition to managing external counsel across a broad spectrum of claims-related litigation/arbitration matters.

· Focusing on individual and 'book of business' issues, including choice of law/venue and policy terms and conditions with a portfolio view of exposures and opportunities to change the law on appeal.

· You will work closely and collaboratively with the UK, US and Europe & Asia-Pac Claims teams. You will interact regularly with the Underwriting Legal and Policy Wordings teams to enhance the 'Underwriting and Claims feedback loop'.

You will report to the Head of Litigation – UK & Lloyd's.

SHARE your talent

We're looking for someone who has these abilities and skills:

• International coverage experience: track record of insurance coverage experience, including coverage litigation, arbitration and mediation gained at a top law firm.

• Legal credentials: Degree with high academic achievement and solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales or UK barrister.

• Preferred but not essential: Proficiency in another European language.

• Preferred but not essential: property and casualty and financial lines insurance coverage litigation expertise.

• Preferred but not essential: In-house experience with a specialty (re)insurer and experience of managing litigation inside and outside the UK.

• Able to understand all facets of claims and apply that knowledge to the global claims organization to assist in moving the technical and strategic agenda forward.

• Able to provide assistance with amending and drafting policy wordings from a legal perspective.

• Research and Analysis: Possessing the knack for complete and comprehensive researching while being able to deliver crisp, targeted and on-point analysis in a fast-paced environment.

• Strategic thinking: Visualize what doesn't exist and know how to get there. Can invent, design and build. Thought leader who is able to facilitate discussions and engage with subject matter experts.

• Leadership skills: Demonstrate courage. Coach, train, set expectations, evaluate and hold people accountable for delivering results in a highly matrixed environment. Change agent who can influence others across the organization.

• Drafting skills for both internal notes and external communications.

• Overseeing e-discovery as and when required.

• Cross Border Teamworking: ability to act independently as a number of the internal claims handler clients are based outside the UK.

• Mental Agility: Innovative thinker, willing to turn ideas on their heads. Capable of handling highly complex financial data and situations.

• Communication and negotiation: Excellent verbal and written communication, collaboration, negotiation and presentation skills. Able to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels of sophistication.

• Passion for Results: Work tenaciously to achieve outstanding results. A bias for action. Set high standards for self and others. Act with a sense of urgency and prudence.

FIND your future

AXA XL, the P&C and specialty risk division of AXA, is known for solving complex risks. For mid-sized companies, multinationals and even some inspirational individuals we don't just provide re/insurance, we reinvent it.

How? By combining a comprehensive and efficient capital platform, data-driven insights, leading technology, and the best talent in an agile and inclusive workspace, empowered to deliver top client service across all our lines of business − property, casualty, professional, financial lines and specialty.

With an innovative and flexible approach to risk solutions, we partner with those who move the world forward.

Learn more at

Inclusion & Diversity

AXA XL is committed to equal employment opportunity and will consider applicants regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, ethnicity and origins, marital status, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

At AXA XL, we know that an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce enable business growth and are critical to our success. That's why we have made a strategic commitment to attract, develop, advance and retain the most diverse workforce possible, and create an inclusive culture where everyone can bring their full selves to work and can reach their highest potential. It's about helping one another — and our business — to move forward and succeed.

• Five Business Resource Groups focused on gender, LGBTQ+, ethnicity and origins, disability and inclusion with 20 Chapters around the globe
• Robust support for Flexible Working Arrangements
• Enhanced family friendly leave benefits
• Named to the Diversity Best Practices Index
• Signatory to the UK Women in Finance Charter

Learn more at AXA XL is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Sustainability

At AXA XL, Sustainability is integral to our business strategy. In an ever-changing world, AXA XL protects what matters most for our clients and communities. We know that sustainability is at the root of a more resilient future. Our Sustainability strategy, called "Roots of resilience", focuses on protecting natural ecosystems, addressing climate change, and embedding sustainable practices across our operations.

Our Pillars:

• Valuing nature: How we impact nature affects how nature impacts us. Resilient ecosystems - the foundation of a sustainable planet and society – are essential to our future. We're committed to protecting and restoring nature – from mangrove forests to the bees in our backyard – by increasing biodiversity awareness and inspiring clients and colleagues to put nature at the heart of their plans.
• Addressing climate change: The effects of a changing climate are far reaching and significant. Unpredictable weather, increasing temperatures, and rising sea levels cause both social inequalities and environmental disruption. We're building a net zero strategy, developing insurance products and services, and mobilizing to advance thought leadership and investment in societal-led solutions.
• Integrating ESG: All companies have a role to play in building a more resilient future. Incorporating ESG considerations into our internal processes and practices builds resilience from the roots of our business. We're training our colleagues, engaging our external partners, and evolving our sustainability governance and reporting.
• AXA Hearts in Action: We have established volunteering and charitable giving programs to help colleagues support causes that matter most to them, known as AXA XL's "Hearts in Action" programs. These include our Matching Gifts program, Volunteering Leave, and our annual volunteering day – the Global Day of Giving.

For more information, please see