General Counsel

Role: General Counsel – Spinnaker

Location: Dallas, TX / Austin, TX / Bedminster, NJ

Reports To: General Counsel at Hippo

About Spinnaker:

Spinnaker is a national property and casualty insurance company rated A- VIII by A.M., that is a wholly owned and independently operated subsidiary of Hippo Insurance. With the capability to offer admitted and surplus lines insurance products in 50 states and jurisdictions, Spinnaker partners with program administrators and managing general agents to offer strategic insurance solutions. We target innovative product market leaders across both personal and commercial lines, specialty lines, and traditional and non-standard fronting opportunities.

About This Role:

We are currently looking for a General Counsel for Spinnaker Insurance Company with a strong insurance background in Property & Casualty program insurance; regulatory and compliance; reinsurance contracts including quota share and catastrophe; oversight of corporate and claims litigation; and ability to manage and audit key controls. The successful candidate will lead the insurance company’s legal and regulatory function. The successful candidate will be a hands-on attorney, willing to both manage and manage across multiple priorities. The General Counsel will proactively stay abreast of emerging areas of law in our industry, evaluate and mitigate risks, and provide legal advice to support the strategic direction of the company and its board of directors.

What You’ll Do:

• Regulatory:
• Lead Spinnaker Insurance Company compliance and regulatory initiatives including filing all annual and holding company filings
• License filings including COA expansions, notice filings, and oversight of company statutory filings
• Oversee the Statutory reporting function
• Advise Spinnaker and Hippo leadership on a complete array of regulatory and compliance issues and act as a subject matter expert on all facets of Spinnaker’s insurance products and applicable state and federal laws and regulations with strong emphasis on personal lines
• Oversight of rate, rule and form filings by Programs
• Formation of additional subsidiaries or insurance companies as determined by leadership
• Complaint oversight and management
• Regulatory audits including financial and market conduct
• Oversight of complaints and complaint reporting/management of complaints logs
• Insurance Product:
• Lead for Spinnaker insurance products reviews, approvals, and regulatory filings
• Contracts: Hands on responsibility for drafting within the corporate guidelines and support for
• Reinsurance contracts
• Program agreements
• Claims Agreements
• Other various contracts supporting the Spinnaker or Hippo organization
• Claims/Litigation:
• Claims compliance
• Oversight of Spinnaker Program’s in runoff
• Oversee claims litigation naming Spinnaker and maintain accurate litigation logs

• Audit:
• Oversee audit of Spinnaker programs
• Oversee implementation of remediation measures associated with the audit of Spinnaker programs
• General Counsel & Corporate Governance:
• ERM documentation and filings for Spinnaker
• Providing strategic legal guidance to Spinnaker’s executive team
• Align Spinnaker with Hippo’s legal organization by supporting Hippo legal initiatives
• Apply sound business acumen in providing timely, thoughtful and comprehensive legal advice in support of organizational strategies
• Demonstrate exceptional communication (oral and written), presentation and interpersonal skills and convey complex issues to legal and non-legal professionals at all levels
• Corporate Governance for the Spinnaker group of companies
• Set internal governance policies and manage the impact of external factors
• Evaluate and weigh multiple inputs and impacts of any decision or course of action
• Anticipate issues and estimate risks strategically
• Work with external parties (regulators, external counsel, politicians, clients)
• Draft agreements that minimize risks and maximize legal rights
• Report to Hippo General counsel for key risks and mitigation of key risks
• Spinnaker Board and Audit committee monthly reporting

Must Haves:

• 10+ years’ experience in insurance company operations including regulatory, regulatory filings, market conduct, financial exams, personal lines experience a must
• Experience working with insurance entities including insurance companies, reinsurers, managing general agencies, brokers, third-party administrators, claims companies and/or other insurance-related entities in connection with regulatory, corporate, compliance and transactional issues
• Experience in the formation, licensure and capitalization of insurers, business expansion activities, financial and market conduct examinations, reinsurance and alternate risk transfer mechanisms, product filings, as well as many other operational and regulatory issues applicable to insurance entities
• Overall broad legal knowledge (corporate law, litigations, labor law, etc.)
• Ability to develop and execute on legal strategy and objectives
• Well-versed in how business operate with financial acumen
• First class interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to anticipate legal issues or risks and to “see around the corner”
• J.D. degree

Nice to Haves:

• MA or BS in Business Administration will be considered an asset
• Program carrier experience 

Benefits and Perks:

Hippo treats its team members with the same level of dedication and care as we do our customers, which is why we’re fortunate to provide all of our Hippos with:

• Healthy Hippos Benefits - Multiple medical plans to choose from and 100% employer covered dental & vision plans for our team members and their families. We also offer a 401(k) retirement plan, short & long-term disability, employer-paid life insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for health and dependent care, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Equity -This position is eligible for equity compensation 
• Training and Career Growth - Training and internal career growth opportunities 
• Flexible Time Off - You know when and how you should recharge
• Little Hippos Program - We offer 12 weeks of parental leave for primary and secondary caregivers
• Hippo Habitat - Snacks and drinks available and catered lunches for onsite employees

Hippo is an equal opportunity employer, and we are committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Hippo’s applicants are considered solely based on their qualifications, without regard to an applicant’s disability or need for accommodation. Any Hippo applicant who requires reasonable accommodations during the application process should contact the Hippo’s People Team to make the need for an accommodation known.