UK Insurance And Data Privacy Legal Counsel

As a leading provider of insurance and reinsurance with worldwide operations and employees in Bermuda, U.S., U.K., Continental Europe and Asia, we recognize that our success is derived directly from those who matter the most: our people. At Sompo International, our values of integrity, collaboration, agility, execution and excellence underpin our culture and our commitment to providing an employee experience that attracts and engages the best talent in the industry. Our compensation and benefits programs are market driven and competitive, with excellent family friendly policies and flexible working provisions.

Job Description

The Sompo Legal Department seeks a Legal Counsel to support the General Counsel, UK & Europe and the broader UK and European legal team in relation to insurance contract, distribution and insurance regulatory questions and data privacy and data protection matters.

The Legal Counsel will be expected to provide support on a wide range of European insurance, reinsurance, contractual and regulatory matters impacting Sompo’s European operations.

Responsibilities

• Advise business colleagues, underwriters and legal and compliance colleagues on a broad range of legal and regulatory topics.
• Stay up to date on emerging law and regulation in insurance and financial services in addition to other areas.
• Draft and negotiate contracts required by the business teams, including distribution framework agreements and agreements with Brokers, commercial services agreements, data transfer agreements, binding authority agreements with managing agents, vendor agreements and other service agreements.
• Provide legal advice and support on data protection questions and be a key adviser to the Global Data Protection Officer.
• Assist in the build out of a data protection advisory framework.
• Assist on a range of insurance and reinsurance matters and corporate matters as required.
• Conduct legal and regulatory research to help ensure compliance with applicable requirements in the UK and various other European jurisdictions.
• Provide legal advice to various internal stakeholders such as underwriting, claims, finance and operations.
• Assist in the preparation of materials for Management and Board of Directors meetings.
• Draft and revise corporate policies and procedures, and assist with corporate training initiatives.
• Assist with research and undertake monitoring of relevant legal and regulatory developments across various jurisdictions, including the UK and EEA, relevant to the operations of a global insurance company.
• Communicate with data protection agencies as necessary.

Desired Skills & Experience

• Qualified solicitor (England and Wales) with a strong background in insurance law and regulatory compliance.
• Post qualification legal experience ideally in a non-life insurance company, broker or a law firm insurance practice.
• Proven track record of providing legal support in the insurance sector, ideally in an in-house setting or a leading law firm.
• Deep insurance contract and regulatory legal knowledge and knowledge of consumer lines insurance desirable.
• In-depth knowledge of UK and EU data protection laws, including GDPR and the UK Data Protection Act.
• Experience advising on data breaches, regulatory investigations, and privacy impact assessments.
• Extensive data protection and privacy knowledge and be up to date on privacy developments.
• Knowledge of key EU directives and regulations in respect of insurance (such as Insurance Distribution Directive, Digital Operational Resilience Act and Solvency II).
• Strong understanding of the commercial and operational needs of the business, with the ability to balance legal risks against business objectives.
• Ability to draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including data processing agreements and insurance-related agreements.
• Excellent communication skills to effectively advise senior management, stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• Experience in delivering training and awareness programs on data protection and legal matters.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment and meet strict internal and external deadlines.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to provide practical and creative, solution-focused advice in time-sensitive situations.
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Strong work ethic with an ability to work independently as well as being team oriented and able to work collaboratively with our business partners and fellow team members.
• High levels of integrity, discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive matters.

Our Benefits

We continuously evaluate and update our benefit programs to ensure that our plans meet the needs of our employees and their dependents. Below are a few highlights of our inclusive benefit programs:

• Expansive Health & Wellness Benefits.
• Generous Retirement & Savings Plans.
• Global Parental Leave & Adoption Assistance.

In today’s world, what do we stand for?

We strive to create exceptional value for our clients and shareholders while maintaining Sompo as an attractive place to work. We foster an environment of ongoing, open dialogue between managers and their direct reports, and believe in an organizational environment where everyone belongs. We proudly are a multi-racial, multi-cultural, global enterprise. We reject all forms of racism, bigotry, prejudice and injustice and continue to invest in building out an inclusive and diverse work environment.

About Us

Expert Partners.

Clarity in complexity.

Unwavering commitment.

We’re Sompo, a global provider of property, casualty, and specialty insurance and reinsurance. Building on Sompo Holdings’ 130 years of innovation, we’re committed to applying all of our experience to simplify yours. Our dedication to you shows up in the care we put in every detail, working to create a frictionless risk management journey for everyone we serve. Because when you choose Sompo, you choose the ease of expertise.

Sompo is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse workforce.

To learn more about visit our website at www.sompo-intl.com