Underwriting Counsel

This is an opportunity to join Ascot Group
—one of the world’s pre‑eminent specialty risk underwriting organizations. We are a modern era insurance group operating through an ecosystem of interconnected global operating platforms, bound by a common mission and purpose.

The Underwriting Counsel position is an attorney role that works with the Senior Underwriting Counsel and underwriting leaders to draft all policy wordings and related documents for all lines of business written by Ascot in the United States, including Professional Liability, General Liability, Management Liability, Crime, Cyber, Environmental, Inland Marine, Property, Ocean Marine, and Trade Credit. The Underwriting Counsel serves as the legal subject matter expert for Ascot insurance products, monitoring evolving insurance coverage caselaw, developing policy wording, and counseling the Business on underwriting intent, coverage, alternative risk structures, and product compliance matters.

This role also assists in the maintenance, filing, and implementation of all Surplus Lines and Admitted products. It is an exciting opportunity for a go‑getter able to thrive in a fast‑paced environment, balance multiple daily priorities, and engage with all aspects of commercial specialty insurance.

• Work independently and with the Senior Underwriting Counsel to collaborate with underwriters and draft clear and accurate new and amended insurance policy wordings, forms, endorsements, applications, and related documents.
• Oversee and manage legal aspects of the product filing process, including responding to state Department of Insurance objections and drafting state‑specific endorsements and wordings.
• Review alternative distribution and program opportunities from a product standpoint and advise on necessary changes to or creation of policy documents in line with Ascot’s underwriting appetite.
• Advise underwriters with risk analysis by offering coverage and wording analysis and other legal‑related advice.
• Stay up‑to‑date on current and emerging underwriting risk and coverage trends.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to adopt plain‑English wordings that are easy for customers and brokers to understand without detracting from legal precedence, meaning, or significance.
• Work closely with the Actuarial, Operations, Reinsurance, Underwriting, and Claims departments to implement new products in Ascot’s IT systems, including drafting and reviewing business and technical requirements for policy form implementation and behavior.

• Juris Doctor from an ABA‑accredited law school and Bar admission in good standing.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant insurance coverage, wording, and/or claims experience, including direct interaction with clients and/or internal stakeholders.
• Background in US commercial casualty and specialty insurance markets.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, organizational, and time‑management skills.
• Proven skills managing/participating in cross‑departmental efforts and the knowledge to collaborate until a matter is resolved.
• A self‑starter comfortable working independently and “rolling up their sleeves” or taking a leading role in collaborative teams.
• Ability to quickly adapt and learn new areas that might fall outside current scope of experience.
• Strong desire to learn and gain exposure to other legal and business areas.
• Location near one of our office locations for a hybrid working model is required; preference for the New York‑tri‑state area.

Annualized base pay range: $170,000 – $190,000. The base pay is one component of Ascot’s total compensation package, which may also include annual cash bonus and other discretionary compensation.

Ascot Group provides a competitive benefits package that includes (eligibility applies):

• Health and Welfare Benefits:
  Medical (including prescription coverage), dental, vision, Health Savings Account, commuter account, health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts, life insurance, AD&D, work/life resources, and more.
• Leave Benefits:
  Paid holidays, annual paid time off (including required state/local paid leave), short‑term disability, long‑term disability, and other leaves (e.g., bereavement, FMLA, adoption, maternity, military, primary & non‑primary caregiver).

Mid‑Senior level.

Full‑time.

Legal.

Insurance.