Claims Counsel I

Sherwin-Williams•Cleveland, OH

9d•Onsite

About The Position

This role provides legal support to the claim and dispute resolution activity of the business. Support will regard, but not be limited to, management and resolution of litigation, claims, and disputes involving personal injury, property damage, warranty, and other matters. The position involves supporting the business through the timely and careful management of claims, litigation, and other disputes, meeting productivity goals and deadlines while maintaining the quality of legal support. Responsibilities include negotiating and drafting settlements, releases, and other documents to protect the company from future risk, effectively communicating and escalating issues with pending disputes, and obtaining necessary management approvals. The role requires interacting with the business to understand and implement its objectives while protecting the Company during the claims and dispute resolution process, and becoming proficient with systems, processes, and workflows attendant to claims activity to drive efficiency and quality. Developing positive relationships and systems to drive efficient and effective outcomes related to legal support to claims activity is also key. The Claims Counsel I will effectively handle a significant volume of dispute resolution activities for Risk Management partners, providing focused and practical legal advice respecting business operations and the impact of laws, rules, and regulations. This includes analyzing coverage issues, interpreting insurance policies, substantiating positions through research and coordination of legal solutions, and mitigating risk by identifying and analyzing existing and emerging legal risks and developing business-focused strategies to manage them. The role also assists in the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and control mechanisms to promote compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations, and provides proactive guidance by staying updated on new regulations and emerging legal risks. Furthermore, the position demonstrates the development of relevant function-based legal expertise and support for the legal affairs of business units or enterprise-wide functions, developing an understanding of the operational model of the supported business unit or function and supporting clients on a cost-effective basis, including managing outside counsel efficiently. Primary business partner engagement involves communicating with and advising mid-management and operational business levels on issues, risks, and exposures for assigned disputes, and developing a basic understanding of how legal support affects the objectives, risks, and returns of business clients. The role also performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Juris Doctor
License to practice law required (applicable jurisdiction)
Understanding of general business concepts and activities.
Strong knowledge of legal concepts related to litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
Strong communication and writing skills, in particular related to formal document and correspondence drafting.
Exceptional organizational skills.
PC skills; Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint); and other applications as required.
General working knowledge of legal software
Must be at least 18 years of age
Must be legally authorized to work in the country of employment without needing sponsorship for employment work visa status now or in the future

Nice To Haves

Claims adjuster’s license
1-4 years of relevant experience handling claims, lawsuits, or other disputes for an insurance carrier, third-party administrator, or a law firm that regularly defends insureds in personal injury, property damage, or other matters.

Responsibilities

Provides legal support to the claim and dispute resolution activity of the business, including management and resolution of litigation, claims, and disputes involving personal injury, property damage, warranty, and other matters.
Supports the business through the timely and careful management of claims, litigation, and other disputes, meeting productivity goals and deadlines while maintaining the quality of legal support.
Negotiates and drafts settlements, releases, and other documents that adequately protect the company from future risk.
Effectively communicates and appropriately escalates issues with pending disputes, including an assessment as to future potential risk.
Obtains and documents approvals from various levels of S-W management.
Interacts with the business to understand and endeavor to implement its objectives while protecting the Company during the claims and dispute resolution process.
Becomes proficient with systems, processes, and workflows attendant to claims activity to drive efficiency and quality of legal support.
Develops positive relationships and systems to drive efficient and effective outcomes related to legal support to claims activity.
Effectively handles a significant volume of dispute resolution activities for Risk Management partners.
Provides focused and practical legal advice respecting business operations as well as the impact of current or anticipated laws, rules, and regulations.
Analyzes coverage issues, interprets insurance policies and advises business partners.
Researches, develops, and coordinates implementation of legal solutions.
Identifies and analyzes existing and emerging legal risks and develops and implements business-focused strategies to manage risks.
Assists the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and control mechanisms to promote compliance with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
Keeps up to date with new regulations and emerging legal risks; provides proactive advice and counsel to business units and corporate functions that may be impacted.
Develops understanding of the operational model by which the supported business unit or enterprise-wide function operates.
Supports clients on a cost-effective basis.
Manages outside counsel in an efficient and cost-effective manner.
Engages, communicates with, and advises mid-management and operational business level of issues, risks, and exposures for assigned disputes.
Develops basic understanding of how legal support affects objectives, risks, and returns of business clients.
Performs other duties as assigned.