Senior Counsel, Life Insurance
About The Position
This position is an existing vacancy. As a Senior Counsel at ivari, you will be working in a small, collegial legal department of a fast-paced financial services company, providing legal advice to internal customers in a timely and professional manner, with an opportunity to engage in both strategic and day-to-day business and compliance issues. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced life insurance lawyer with at least 10 years’ experience who is motivated to provide excellent service, is dedicated to continuous learning and enjoys applying knowledge and expertise to financial services in a culture that offers work/life balance. You will report directly to the Associate General Counsel and be responsible for the leadership, coaching and development of team members. This is a management position requiring strong leadership, mentoring and people development skills.
Requirements
- An LLB or JD degree.
- Called to the Bar in Ontario.
- Membership in good standing with the Law Society of Ontario.
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant working experience, including experience in the life and health insurance industry.
- Significant experience advising on insurance regulatory, market conduct and compliance matters.
- Experience supporting product development, including drafting policy contracts and reviewing marketing materials.
- Experience handling policyholder, insurance operations and other insurance-related legal matters.
- Knowledge of estates law and its application to life insurance products, beneficiary designations and death claims.
- Business-minded, with the ability to provide practical solutions that support business objectives while appropriately managing legal risk.
- Demonstrated leadership experience, including supervising, mentoring, coaching and developing team members.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Proven organizational skills with the ability to effectively manage multiple and changing priorities.
- Self-motivated and able to provide timely, practical legal advice to stakeholders at all levels in a professional and client-focused manner.
- Strong analytical skills to assess complex legal issues.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment and build strong working relationships.
Nice To Haves
- Bilingual reading and drafting skills are an asset.
Responsibilities
- Build strong relationships with business partners and provide practical, risk-based legal advice that supports business objectives.
- Lead legal support for policyholder matters and insurance operations.
- Lead legal support for product development initiatives, including the drafting, interpretation and revision of policy contracts and providing legal support throughout the product lifecycle.
- Lead legal review of marketing materials.
- Lead legal support for distribution matters.
- Work closely with the Compliance department on supporting and advising on market conduct matters and regulatory developments.
- Perform thorough legal research to support informed decision-making.
- Stay informed about industry trends and legal developments.
- Provide leadership, coaching and performance management for team members.
- Provide legal support for special projects as they arise.
- Represent ivari at industry association committees and working groups.
Benefits
- Competitive compensation and annual bonus opportunity
- Comprehensive health and dental benefits [for you and your family]
- Pension and employee savings plans with company matching contributions
- Hybrid work arrangement with dedicated in-office collaboration days
- Competitive vacation and paid time-off programs
- Professional development and continuous learning opportunities
- Collaborative culture where individual contributions have visible impact
- Wellness programs supporting physical and mental health
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
