Legal Counsel - Credit & Surety - Hybrid

Swiss Re•Chicago, IL

1d•$156,000 - $210,000•Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a Legal Counsel to join our Corporate Solutions (CorSo) Legal Team to provide transactional, regulatory and legal support to our North America (NA) Credit & Surety business unit, which underwrites insurance primarily in surety, as well as in trade finance, project & infrastructure finance, commodity finance and political risk. In this role, you will work closely with Credit & Surety business stakeholders, including the Head Commercial Surety NA and the Head Contract Surety NA, to help the Credit & Surety business grow, move fast and manage risk intelligently. You will be part of a collaborative, high-performing global legal team that values pragmatism, sound judgement, and strong relationships. You will report to the Head of Credit & Surety Legal. In this role you will act as the principal legal advisor to the CorSo Credit & Surety business in the US and Canada and will: Provide pragmatic legal advice designed to enable and support Credit & Surety business growth in NA in compliance with applicable state and insurance laws and regulations, while clearly articulating legal risks and opportunities. Be a subject-matter expert in NA Contract and Commercial Surety, including drafting and negotiating bond forms, indemnity agreements, co-surety agreements and agency agreements. Support underwriters at every stage of the transaction life cycle, facilitate the closing of transactions, and also advise on any restructuring and unwinding of transactions. Advise on relevant licensing and regulatory issues in relation to Credit & Surety transactions and work closely with other internal experts in the management of regulatory relationships. Provide legal support for internal group projects and strategic initiatives with key constituencies (Finance, Tax, Operations, Underwriting, Sales). Support legal entity management and corporate governance related issues, working closely with other regional legal team members Partner and collaborate with various regional and functional stakeholders within the company (such as other Legal teams, Compliance, Actuarial, Compliance, Contracts and Wordings, Finance, Internal Audit, Operations, Risk and Underwriting) to ensure holistic assessment and mitigation of risks Apply legal practices and controls that comply with Group guidelines, local corporate governance practice, statutory requirements and applicable regulatory agencies for CorSo regional entities About the Team In this position, you will be a part of the CorSo Credit & Surety Legal team, which consists of eight lawyers located across North America, Europe, and Asia. This is a largely transactional role providing legal support to underwriters, product managers, risk managers, and claims specialists in a highly commercial way. The legal team works closely with the C&S business unit as trusted advisors; balancing growth ambitions with regulatory discipline and reputational protection. You will be close to decision makers and directly see the results of your work. As an NA based Credit & Surety counsel, you will also work closely with the CorSo NA Legal team, which consists of ten lawyers. About You You're a proactive legal professional with an ability to meet competing deadlines and work effectively in a demanding, fast-paced environment. You combine technical excellence with commercial awareness, enabling you to provide pragmatic solutions that balance legal risk with business objectives. Your strong communication skills allow you to explain complex legal concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders, and develop strong relationships with clients, stakeholders and colleagues.

Requirements

Admitted to the bar of at least one state in the United States, preferably Illinois, Kansas, or Missouri, depending on hiring office
Minimum of 6 years' legal experience in a large law firm setting or financial services, organization; specific experience with credit insurance, surety bonds/guarantees or banking/finance is highly preferred
Ability to identify, research and analyze difficult issues in ambiguous circumstances and to concisely summarize complex issues for senior leaders is a key requirement
Experience in advising on insurance or financial services licensing and regulatory aspects
An understanding of direct and excess lines domestic and international insurance, as well as distribution networks, broker and agency relationships
Experience in negotiating, drafting, and amending contractual agreements, specifically bond forms, indemnity agreements, co-surety agreements agency and distribution
High personal integrity, with ability to apply highest ethical standards and maintain independence as a lawyer
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
"Can-do" mindset with dedication to continuous learning and development
Comfort working independently while collaborating with a global team

Responsibilities

Provide pragmatic legal advice designed to enable and support Credit & Surety business growth in NA in compliance with applicable state and insurance laws and regulations, while clearly articulating legal risks and opportunities.
Be a subject-matter expert in NA Contract and Commercial Surety, including drafting and negotiating bond forms, indemnity agreements, co-surety agreements and agency agreements.
Support underwriters at every stage of the transaction life cycle, facilitate the closing of transactions, and also advise on any restructuring and unwinding of transactions.
Advise on relevant licensing and regulatory issues in relation to Credit & Surety transactions and work closely with other internal experts in the management of regulatory relationships.
Provide legal support for internal group projects and strategic initiatives with key constituencies (Finance, Tax, Operations, Underwriting, Sales).
Support legal entity management and corporate governance related issues, working closely with other regional legal team members
Partner and collaborate with various regional and functional stakeholders within the company (such as other Legal teams, Compliance, Actuarial, Compliance, Contracts and Wordings, Finance, Internal Audit, Operations, Risk and Underwriting) to ensure holistic assessment and mitigation of risks
Apply legal practices and controls that comply with Group guidelines, local corporate governance practice, statutory requirements and applicable regulatory agencies for CorSo regional entities

Benefits

A highly collaborative, international working environment
Exposure to complex Surety transactions and commercial contracting models
Flexibility and a hybrid working approach
The opportunity to shape how legal support is delivered in a modern insurance business

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