Director & Senior Counsel - Complex Claims
About the job
- Must have or be eligible to receive a claims adjuster license.
- Minimum of 10+ years of claims handling and management experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Superior claims technical skills and a strong understanding of the product lines being directed.
- Strong understanding of insurance policy types across product lines, with particular expertise in Casualty wordings and coverages.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent organization and time-management skills.
- Ability to deliver outstanding customer service to internal and external customers.
- Ability to work collaboratively and in a team environment.
- Ability to work autonomously with minimal direction or oversight.
- Ability to take initiative and think strategically and creatively.
- Ability to excel under pressure and in high-intensity situations.
- Leadership abilities and willingness to assist in developing and mentoring other associates in Casualty Claims.
- Strong desire for continuous improvement.
- Intermediate skills in Microsoft Office products, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.
- U.S. work authorization is required; Markel does not provide visa sponsorship for this position now or in the future.
- Manage a full caseload of the most complex and high-exposure claims within Casualty Claims with minimal oversight and direction.
- Analyze coverage, communicate coverage positions, and manage related coverage litigation.
- Proactively manage outside counsel to control legal strategy and expense spend.
- Perform legal functions such as jury verdict research, negotiations, and coverage analyses to reduce reliance on outside counsel for monitoring and coverage.
- Conduct, coordinate, and direct investigations into underlying litigation and develop strategies for resolution.
- Evaluate information on coverage, liability, and damages to determine the extent of insureds’ exposure and set or propose reserves in line with the analysis.
- Negotiate and settle claims where appropriate, or provide supported recommendations for trying claims where appropriate.
- Prepare reports as required for underwriting, claims, and senior management.
- Assist in training and mentoring claims examiners and managers in Casualty Claims.
- Support underwriting by advising on contractual wordings and legal issues related to policy issuance.
- Regularly present to underwriting and claims on pertinent topics regarding developments in coverage and the U.S. litigation landscape.
- Serve as a technical resource to subordinates and others in Markel Claims.
- Participate in special projects or assist other team members as requested.
- Work with Claims Vendor Management, Actuarial, Underwriting, Finance, IT, and Risk Management as an official representative from Casualty Claims.
- Travel to mediations, trials, and conferences as required.
- Manage more junior associates on the Casualty Claims team, where required.
- Adhere to Fair Claims Practices regulations and internal Claims Quality Performance Objectives.
- A law degree is preferred.
About the company
Markel provides insurance, reinsurance, and investment solutions for complex risks through its global network of specialty divisions. The company works by underwriting tailored coverage plans and using insurance-linked securities to transfer risk to capital markets for its clients. Markel distinguishes itself by operating under a specific set of values called the "Markel Style," which emphasizes long-term partnerships and a people-first approach over short-term gains. Its goal is to provide creative, reliable solutions for difficult risks while serving as a consistent partner for brokers and policyholders worldwide.
Company Size
1,001-5,000
Company Stage
IPO
Headquarters
Glen Allen, Virginia
Founded
1930
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Simplify's Take
What believers are saying
- Q2 2026 adjusted operating income rose 40% at Markel Insurance to $376 million.
- Markel repurchased $237 million in Q2 2026, showing continued capital discipline.
- International insurance growth stayed strong, and first-half 2026 operating income reached $1.287 billion.
What critics are saying
- State National booked a $205 million Q2 2026 bad-debt charge tied to a bankrupt capacity provider.
- Global Re exit and Hagerty transition cut 2026 gross written premiums by $2 billion.
- Persistent equity drawdowns overwhelm underwriting profits and pressure book value.
What makes Markel unique
- Markel's three-engine model blends insurance, industrials, and investments, unlike pure-play specialty carriers.
- In July 2026, Markel launched Cortex to underwrite hard-to-place U.S. casualty risks with AI.
- Management completed ClaimCenter deployment across U.S. operations in 2026, strengthening claims and data control.
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Benefits
Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Insurance
401(k) Retirement Plan
401(k) Company Match
Paid Vacation
Hybrid Work Options
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Company News
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Markel promotes Ben House to Director of Energy & Power. London, 15 January 2026 - Markel Insurance, the insurance operation within Markel Group Inc. (NYSE:MKL), today announced the promotion of Ben House to Director - Energy & Power, effective immediately. In his newly expanded role, House will oversee Markel's Renewable Energy and Power portfolio across the organisation's International division, alongside his existing responsibilities as head of Markel's Upstream, Midstream and Downstream Energy team. This strategic move unites these areas under a single Energy & Power team, enhancing ease of trading for customers through a more holistic underwriting approach. Leading this newly unified team, House will focus on managing an integrated group of experienced underwriters, analysts and risk engineers - driving product innovation, nurturing long-term customer relationships and optimising underwriting processes. The convergence of Markel's Energy teams reflects the organisation's commitment to supporting energy clients with tailored coverage and providing more effective identification, mitigation and transfer of risks throughout the entire value chain - from production and transportation through to processing, generation and distribution. House is based in London and will report to Rohan Davies, Managing Director - London Market. Davies commented: "The global power sector is experiencing significant growth, primarily driven by renewables and the rising electricity demand, which is expected to increase by 25% by 2030. Concurrently, heightened geopolitical risks - from trade wars to advanced cyber-attacks - threaten critical infrastructure, further underscores the important role of insurance in helping these businesses transfer and mitigate the associated risks. "Our clients' risks, capital structures and technologies are increasingly converging. Combining Energy and Power will allow us to underwrite portfolios more holistically, use our specialist expertise more efficiently and provide a simpler service, more coordinated experience for brokers and clients - all while better positioning us to support the energy transition across the value chain." He continued: "Ben's experience of delivering bespoke solutions for clients across the energy sector, together with his strong track record of leading global underwriting teams, makes him ideally suited for this consolidated role. His expertise will play an important part in helping to elevate our leadership profile across the renewable, traditional energy and power generation sectors." House said: "I'm delighted to step into my new position as Director of Energy & Power at Markel International. Bringing together our Energy and Power underwriters, analysts and risk engineers will further strengthen our technical underwriting capabilities, enhance innovation and enable us to make even more effective and empowered underwriting decisions - reaffirming clarity of coverage, particularly for complex risks." House started his career at Markel as an upstream underwriter in the Marine & Energy Division, progressing into new energy markets and providing lead capabilities across the upstream and midstream market. In 2018, he was promoted to Head of Upstream - a position he held for five years - before progressing to Director of Energy in 2023. In the latter position, House has played a leading role in developing bespoke energy insurance solutions for clients and building a strong-performing global P&L across multiple international underwriting teams. International press contacts. Director of Communications [email protected]
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