Senior Associate General Counsel – Insurance and Litigation Management

Hospital for Special Surgery•New York, NY

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Associate General Counsel – Insurance and Litigation Management supports and supplements the Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer in managing Hospital for Special Surgery’s sponsored captive insurance company, Medical Indemnity Assurance Company (MIAC). The role oversees hospital-wide litigation and reports to the captive’s Board, and is responsible for the organization’s insurance program, including strategy for insurance placements and renewals. The position reports to the Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, advises senior executives as requested, and regularly interacts with the MIAC Board. It oversees the Insurance Department and directly supervises the Director of Insurance. The role also works with Risk Management, Finance, brokers, insurers, actuaries, auditors, outside counsel, business leaders, and medical staff. This is a full-time position currently operating under a hybrid model. The position may require more frequent in-office presence depending on its demands, and the hybrid program is a pilot subject to change. The Legal Department is located at 777 3rd Avenue, New York, NY.

Requirements

Advanced degree (JD).
At least 15 years in practice.
Excellent communication skills, exceptional presence, and sound judgment.
Ability to contribute across the organization and manage numerous projects and competing priorities in a collaborative, results-oriented, mission-driven culture.
Ability to build relationships and use influence effectively across the organization, with a positive, professional, and collaborative demeanor and strong business acumen.
Passion and commitment to HSS’s mission and values.

Nice To Haves

Litigation experience.
Experience managing and directing medical malpractice and general liability insurance, either in-house or with a top insurance company.
Knowledge and experience with captive insurance programs.
Knowledge and experience with other lines of insurance.
Experience managing outside counsel, reviewing legal billing, and managing other external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Provide primary day-to-day oversight of the MIAC captive insurance company and report to the MIAC Board.
Serve as the primary contact for external stakeholders, including the insurance manager, auditors, and actuaries.
Prepare and lead biannual offshore captive Board meetings.
Prepare MIAC audit documents in coordination with Finance.
Work with the Chief Legal Officer to set initial case reserves and adjust reserves as litigation develops.
Prepare quarterly loss runs for submission to actuaries and excess markets.
Chair the MIAC Board Claims Committee twice annually.
Oversee the Insurance Department and directly supervise the Director of Insurance.
Work with external brokers on renewal applications, insurance strategy, and placements.
Place insurance for other organizational lines, including EPL, D&O, property, and cyber insurance.
Manage malpractice and general liability litigation with the AVP of Risk Management, including oversight of outside counsel, review of case reports, and setting case strategy.
Attend mediations, settlement conferences, and trials; negotiate cases directly with plaintiff’s counsel; and monitor trials.
Place excess malpractice and general liability insurance layers and the Workers’ Compensation insurance program in coordination with the broker.
Meet with excess underwriters throughout the year to discuss HSS’s risk and litigation management processes and support successful excess placements.
Report litigation risk, including financial and reputational risk, to the Board’s Audit and Corporate Compliance Committee at least twice annually.
Work with business leaders to prepare for renewals and report on insurance annually to the Chair of the Board Finance Committee.
Report insurance claims to the broker and carriers as warranted.
Assist senior and Board leadership with challenging situations, including Medical Staff quality issues involving reputational risk, and report directly to Board members where applicable.
Coordinate with the AVP of Risk Management on Employee Safety and Workers’ Compensation programs and day-to-day clinical risk issues.
Build trust and relationships across the Medical Staff in the management of complex malpractice litigation.