What are the responsibilities and job description for the Legal Audit Counsel position at Berkley?
Company Details
"Our Company provides a state of predictability which allows brokers and agents to act with confidence."
Founded in 1967, W. R. Berkley Corporation has grown from a small investment management firm into one of the largest commercial lines property and casualty insurers in the United States.
Along the way, we’ve been listed on the New York Stock Exchange, become a Fortune 500 Company, joined the S&P 500, and seen our gross written premiums exceed $10 billion.
Today the Berkley brand comprises more than 60 businesses worldwide and is divided into two segments: Insurance and Reinsurance and Monoline Excess. Led by our Executive Chairman, founder and largest shareholder, William. R. Berkley and our President and Chief Executive Officer, W. Robert Berkley, Jr., W.R. Berkley Corporation is well-positioned to respond to opportunities for future growth.
The Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.
Responsibilities
Join our dynamic Legal Management Services department as a Legal Audit Counsel. In this role, you'll focus on validating legal bill charges using attorney guidelines and industry standards through an electronic billing system. Your responsibilities will include resolving billing disputes, handling legal bill review appeals, educating law firms and staff on the bill review process, and analyzing billing discrepancies to assess law firm performance and billing trends. This unique position reports to the AVP of Litigation Management Services at W.R. Berkley Support Services as part of a new team established to provide centralized legal bill review and outside counsel guidance to multiple independent operating units within the W.R. Berkley Corporation.
Responsibilities:
• Ensure prompt, accurate and efficient auditing of submitted legal fee and expense invoices pursuant to applicable litigation and billing guideline.• Legal Audit Counsel will: • Conduct line by line review of invoices to determine accuracy, reasonableness and compliance with agreed upon fee structure between company and law firm.• Identify and group tasks to evaluate the progression of activities from start of case to closure.• Collect information needed via contact with law firm and claims’ staff to determine the reasonableness of time spent on tasks for completion of bill review process. • Identify billing discrepancies based on knowledge of litigation and billing guidelines, industry standards and litigation history, and reduce invoices accordingly. • Discuss, explain and educate attorneys and claims’ staff on reasons for invoice reductions, bill review process and compliance with litigation and billing guidelines. • Advise and work closely with claim managers, adjusters, and attorneys on billing discrepancies to determine the reasonableness of time spent and best course of action for resolution. • Develop and maintain extensive knowledge related to determining the likely legal necessity for specific insurance defense and coverage related law firm work.• Make quick, sound decisions and negotiate resolution of billing issues or disputes.• Utilizes claim file and document review to obtain claim strategy information and apply during review process.• Ensure prompt, accurate and efficient auditing of submitted legal fee and expense invoices and amends as appropriate.• Engage in written and/or verbal communications with law firms and/or the Berkley operating unit employees managing the claim, serving as the technical resource for appeal oversight and/or discretionary reviews.• Participate in calibration and consultation with the Litigation Management Services team.• Collaborate with claims department for more effective litigation cost control.• Serve as a technical resource to other claim professionals and various stakeholders, providing consultation and training regarding legal bill review and related best practices where appropriate.• Drive and influence compliance with partnering law firms based on W.R. Berkley Corporation’s retention and billing policies and philosophy through building a trusted and strategic business partnerships.• Assist and provide input to identify improvement or innovative opportunities and aids in the understanding, assessment and removal of barriers to success of this newly formed team.
Qualifications
Skills and Competencies:• 5 years’ experience working with litigation and legal billing practices, civil court rules and procedures and the state and federal court systems• 3 years bill review experience with exposure to multiple lines of business and varying billing complexity• Experience with various eBilling systems in particular Bottomline’s Legalx and Legal Exchange• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF• Excellent computer skills• Function independently and multi-task in a dynamic, changing environment that encourages an entrepreneurial spirit.• Possess and promote a culture of diversity and intellectual curiosity.• Exceptional organizational skills• Ability to exercise legal judgment• Strategic thinking• Professional demeanor• Team-oriented• Ability to work with minimal supervision• Exceptional attention to detail
Education Requirement
JD in good standing
