Job Description

SFM believes that our exceptional and motivated employees are our greatest strength and the reason we are successful. We offer an excellent benefit package that supports you as you navigate your work life journey. The Managing Counsel is a new role at SFM created to lead and direct all legal activities for the company’s in-house law department. In this role, you will act as a managing partner, maintain a small caseload, and direct the team to provide tactical defenses for workers’ compensation cases. You will work with key stakeholders within the organization ensuring the deliverance of strong legal advice to your internal and external clients.

This is a hybrid position.

Join our dynamic organization leading and overseeing SFM’s in-house insurance defense law firm overseeing a team of attorneys, paralegals, and administrative assistants inspiring a sense of service excellence and providing high-quality legal advice to all clients defending Workers’ compensation claims/lawsuits.  In this role, you will act as a managing partner handling all the responsibilities associated with running a law practice while carrying a reduced caseload defending work comp claims. 

The Managing Counsel will collaborate with key business partners, both within the organization and outside of the company.  You will partner with claim professionals by providing effective advice on strategies impacting related legal issues. As a leader of the in-house law firm, you will promote and initiate the development of innovative strategies, develop team members, work with existing technology and seek out new technology to manage daily operations to improve workflows. 

What You Will Be Doing 

1. Leads the in-house law firm (claims legal team) to provide the best possible legal representation and advice in a service-focused manner to the Company’s policyholders and claims representatives. Leads by example showing professionalism to internal and external customers.
2. Facilitates annual strategic goal setting for the team, and assists with monitoring performance to achieve successful results.
3. Manages the claims legal team's caseloads to ensure efficient workflow, timely completion of tasks, and balanced distribution of work.
4. Makes operating decisions needed to achieve business results, and effectively manages team budget.
5. Exhibits a continual growth mindset in developing and growing client service, litigation, and law firm leadership skills.
6. Participates and takes leadership roles in projects and inspires innovation and continuous quality improvement.
7. Collaborates with cross-functional business units and company leaders on long-term strategies, claims and litigation trends affecting the insurance industry to address issues that are impacted by workers’ compensation legal issues.
8. Raises litigation awareness and participates in educating the Company’s policyholders and agency force to promote the value of in-house counsel and collaborates with key business partners within the organization to provide such education.

  Legal Counsel

1. Handles a reduced caseload commensurate with leadership duties and provides legal defense on behalf of the Company and its policyholders related to workers' compensation and Coverage B claims.
2. Collaborates with the Company’s subrogation team to pursue and protect the Company and its policyholders’ interests in investigation, negotiation, and legal pursuit of subrogation claims.
3. Establishes and manages standards for best practices reflected by the partnership agreement with the Company’s Strategic Business Units.
4. Monitors developing case and statutory law, drafts legal advisories and advises policyholders and the Company on topics related to workers’ compensation defense, subrogation, Coverage B, and other related third-party claims.
5. Presents or participates in seminars and educational opportunities for Company personnel and the Company’s policyholders.
6. Promotes and facilitates pre-litigation resolution and efficient administration of claims through regular counseling with other teams and coordination with the Company’s claims tech and medical resources.
7. Manages caseloads and determines when referring files to outside counsel is appropriate. Works together with corporate legal and claims tech personnel in managing outside counsel relationships.

Leadership and Staff Development

1. Develops and communicates vision and expectation levels to team members and relates them to corporate vision and strategic direction. Maintains appropriate interactions with persons both within the organization and externally.
2. Provides team members with the tools needed for the team to accomplish stated objectives.
3. Consistently provides feedback and communication to staff members related to company and team performance.
4. Leads team members to make decisions based on established criteria/goals and monitors performance to achieve successful results.
5. Defines and develops team member’s job, responsibilities, and accountabilities, in both a physical and virtual environment.
6. Selects, coaches, and retains staff. Inspires team members to attain goals and pursue excellence. Identifies opportunities for improvement and makes constructive suggestions for improved performance.  Effectively utilizes each team member to their fullest potential.
7. Partners with and uses Human Resources as a resource for talent acquisition, training, and performance management.
8. Provides training and development opportunities. Identifies and develops future leadership within the team.  Challenges team members to develop professionally or as leaders while serving as a role model and mentor.

What We'll Love About You 

• Licensed to practice law in Minnesota, graduate of accredited law school.
• Minimum of ten years’ experience in private practice or as in-house counsel, working in the insurance litigation field, with substantial experience handling workers’ compensation claims, required.
• Minimum of 3 years in leadership roles and/or demonstrated informal or actual law firm or legal department management experience, required.
• Strong, effective leadership with a strategic focus and a track record of inspiring colleagues and team members to perform at their potential by fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture.
• Extensive knowledge of Minnesota workers' compensation statutes and rules.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully handle and resolve high-exposure, complex litigation, and workers’ compensation claims.
• Ability to work in a team environment and collaborate with multi-disciplinary business teams.
• Strong organizational skills including the ability to manage multiple projects, effectively delegating to ensure successful completion.
• Proficient in using current technology and in adopting new technologies to enhance job performance and service delivery.
• Experience using analytics tools and techniques to evaluate performance metrics, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent decision making and negotiation skills.
• Able to navigate difficult conversations effectively and professionally.
• Driven to create a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Strong, practical problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Exceptional customer service skills.
• Ability to work variable work schedules when needed.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.
• Must be willing to come into the office as needed.

Physical Requirements

Regular attendance is required. Work takes place in a semi paperless environment within an in or office home office setting, using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, and photocopiers, which requires being stationary for extended periods of time. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and maintain concentration and focus. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands and fingers, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms and work with close vision. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 20 pounds. Work is performed indoors with little to no exposure to extreme outdoor weather conditions. Travel as needed.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

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SFM Mutual Insurance Company and each of its parent companies, subsidiaries and/or affiliated companies are Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employers. SFM provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

SFM Companies, EEO/AA Employers. SFM is a participant of E-Verify. Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws. 

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