Senior Technical Litigation Claims Specialist

BP&C•Albany, NY

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Farm Family is seeking a Senior Technical Litigation Claims Specialist to handle highly complex litigated claims across personal and commercial lines of business. The position reports to the VP of P&C Claims Litigation in Albany and is responsible for negotiating lawsuits and directing defense counsel, including reviewing litigation strategy and actions for claims involving litigation or complex injuries. The specialist handles investigation, coverage and exposure evaluation, negotiation, and resolution with advanced technical proficiency, and works to achieve strong outcomes for clients and insureds. The role handles high-severity, multiline litigation, including property and liability claims, first- and third-party exposures, errors and omissions claims, direct action lawsuits, commercial agriculture and construction litigation, and extra-contractual exposure actions against the company. It includes managing claims from inception or transfer, investigating and evaluating claims, setting and maintaining reserves, developing cost-effective litigation plans, negotiating settlements, attending legal proceedings, reviewing defense expenses, and communicating claim status to relevant parties. The specialist also mentors and trains colleagues and may present matters to management. This is a full-time, exempt, 100% in-office position. Employees may apply from any Clearbrook office and remain at their current location; candidates must work on-site at a designated company office during standard business hours. The role may require overnight travel to attend depositions, mediations, trials, arbitration, or settlement meetings.

Requirements

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school.
At least 5 years of experience managing litigated claims, including bodily injury experience in determining liability, negotiating settlements, reviewing estimates, and using medical terminology.
Ability to obtain required state licenses and maintain continuing education requirements as needed.
Good business acumen, including an understanding of how an insurance company operates and makes money and how the role affects profitability for the company and its customers.
Ability to regularly exercise discretion and independent judgment on matters of significance and to address problems involving a broad set of issues.
Strong execution and results orientation, including the ability to achieve results through adversity and maintain a solution-focused, global mindset.
Client focus and ability to identify client needs and provide value-added solutions.
Flexibility, resourcefulness, and ability to thrive amid change in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Ability to develop productive relationships with clients, business partners, and organizational peers through timely, meaningful exchanges of information.
Excellent communication skills and ability to build lasting relationships.
Effective time management, workload prioritization, and ability to handle multiple tasks and deadlines.
Curiosity and openness to considering options beyond conventional approaches.
Excellent claim evaluation and strategic skills.
Strong claim negotiation skills and a proactive, pragmatic approach to negotiation.
Understanding of mechanisms for resolving settlement disputes, including arbitration and mediation, and when they are used.
Sound judgment when working under technical direction, with the courage and inner strength to do the right thing.
Proficiency in MS Office Suite and other business-related software.
Ability to use listening and questioning techniques to gather information from insureds and claimants.
Polished, professional written and verbal communication; ability to present information clearly, concisely, and accurately.
Fluent in reading and writing English.
Desire for continued professional development through continuing education and self-development.
Legally authorized to work in the United States; the company is unable to sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas.
Ability to work on-site at a designated company office during standard business hours.

Nice To Haves

Insurance and/or litigation designations such as ACLA, AIC, CCLA, CPCU, FCLA, LPCS, PCLA, or SCLA.

Responsibilities

Adjudicate highly complex litigated claims under limited technical direction and within broad limits and authority.
Provide strong customer service and pursue superior claims outcomes while building lasting relationships with insureds and brokers.
Review coverage in depth and determine whether claim information is sufficient to make a correct coverage decision.
Review and conduct investigations, including interviewing involved parties, to evaluate exposure and ensure accurate assessments.
Coordinate litigation plans with defense counsel that balance cost-effective defense with the insured’s best interests, when applicable.
Handle high-severity multiline litigation claims across personal and commercial lines, including property, liability, first- and third-party exposures, errors and omissions, direct action lawsuits, commercial agriculture and construction litigation, and extra-contractual exposure actions.
Receive and handle claims from inception or transfer; review notices of loss, determine coverage, and establish and maintain appropriate reserves.
Review venue-specific case law and complete case evaluations in accordance with the company’s reserving philosophy.
Make daily decisions on claim file actions, considering insured and company exposure and cost factors.
Attend depositions, court-ordered mediations, trials, arbitration, and settlement meetings as required; overnight travel may be involved.
Negotiate timely and effectively within assigned authority, using appropriate negotiation approaches and cost-effective solutions.
Consider alternative dispute resolution and creative solutions where appropriate.
Manage diaries and complete tasks on time to move cases toward favorable financial outcomes and timely resolution.
Review legal expenses incurred in litigation defense.
Report matters to the Claims Committee when appropriate and present items to management.
Evaluate bodily injury claims by reviewing medical records, reports, and bills; calculate applicable medical expenses and wage loss; and assess personal injury claim values.
Confirm or perform permanency ratings according to AMA guidelines to assess claim exposure and value.
Identify and handle recoveries involving subrogation, salvage, liens, loss transfers, and related claim areas.
Handle litigation-file correspondence and communicate claim status professionally with insureds, claimants, agents, attorneys, vendors, and management.
Mentor lower-level litigation and claims employees and assist with company training as needed.