HDI Global SE and HDI Global Specialty SE is represented in Australia by HDI Global SE, Australia (HGA) and HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia (HSAB). Both branch entities are headquartered in Sydney with offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, HDI Global Specialty SE also has a branch office, HDI Global Specialty – New Zealand (HSNZB) located in Auckland. Our team of local and empowered underwriting experts provide a commercial and flexible underwriting approach, allowing to consider innovative ideas across all lines of our general insurance business, distribution channels and markets.
HDI Global SE (HGA) is Germany’s leading industrial insurer and has been servicing German and European companies in Australia and New Zealand since 995. As an industrial lines insurer, HDI Global SE meets the needs of SMEs, industrial companies and corporate customers with insurance solutions that are specifically tailored to their requirements for Property, Construction, Liability/ Casualty, Accident & Health, Marine, Cyber and Motor Fleet. The company also has operations in more than 175 countries through foreign branch offices, subsidiary companies, carrier offices and network partners.
HDI Global Specialty SE (HSAB) is wholly owned by HDI Global SE, being a strong and established player in the insurance market. By housing the specialty activities of the Talanx Group in HDI Global Specialty SE, we have created an excellent platform for putting together cross-business segment expertise and network reach. In Australia and New Zealand, HSAB and HSNZB also uses distribution channels including delegated authority agents.
The Role of Legal Counsel can be based in either Melbourne or Sydney.
As Legal Counsel you will be responsible for assisting the Legal Team to provide legal advisory services such as providing legal advice, drafting and negotiation of contracts (such as, Agency Agreements/binders, TPAs, TOBAs, and other supplier agreements), undertaking insurance policy wording reviews (such as product wordings, PDS and TMD
reviews, clause and endorsement libraries) and responding to coverage advice requests, providing legal research and analysis, drafting responses to regulatory queries, assistance with the preparation of litigation matters on behalf of HDI, managing obligations, litigation and breach registers and ensuring they are up-to-date, assisting with the preparation of legal templates and undertaking other general legal support as required from the wider HDI business including HDI teams in Underwriting, Dispute Resolution, Compliance and Claims for both HSAB and HGA. You will also be required to support other HDI support teams such as P&C, Finance, IT and Operations with legal
advisory and other legal support as required. You will report to the Senior Legal Counsel.
In addition to HSAB and HGA, you will also be required, to provide legal support to HSNZB other HDI Global branches, Singapore, Hong Kong, Labuan, and Dubai (as required).
Key Responsibilities:
- To act as a trusted legal advisor and to provide legal support (drafting, advice, research etc) as required for HGA, HSAB, HSNZB, and HDI Global SE branches in Singapore, Labuan, Hong Kong and Dubai (as required) for the Single Risk and Delegated Authority business and other support functions such as Claims, P&C, Finance, IT, Market Management and Operations.
- To assist with policy reviews and drafting and to provide legal advice on policy wording questions such as UCT compliance and coverage queries.
- To undertake contract drafting, negotiation and review of contracts (e.g. Agency Agreements, Claims TPAs, TOBAs, supplier agreements, employment related agreements and leases) for HGA, HSAB, HSNZB, and HDI branches in Singapore, Hong Kong, Labuan and Dubai (as required).
- To undertake HDI internal policy reviews to ensure compliance with laws and regulations.
- To assist with review and drafting HDI agreement templates to ensure compliance with legal and regulation updates.
- To prepare and manage litigation, obligations and breach registers and to ensure these are all kept up-to-date.
- To assist with instructing external legal counsel (from HDI Global legal panels) and to help the Legal Team manage and ensure oversight over legal spend.
- To provide support and assistance to the Legal Team on legal projects including coordination and management of timelines as required e.g. Legal Policy Wording Review Project, Lunch and Learn training sessions, Legal Playbook, Legal AI Project etc
- To develop and provide relevant training to help build knowledge and understanding of relevant legal topics such as regulatory updates for HGA, HSAB, HSNZB, and HDI
branches in Singapore, Hong Kong, Labuan and Dubai (as required).
- To work closely with the Legal and Risk, Assurance and Compliance teams at HGA, HSBA and all other HDI branches + Home Office and participate in relevant international legal team meetings with Home Office and engage in relevant discussions as and when required.
- Oversee and provide mentorship and guidance to graduates and trainees as required.
- To assist with Legal admin tasks such as monitoring the Legal inbox and to ensure that all Legal Team matters are recorded in line with legal processes and policies and meet Legal Team SLAs.
Proven competencies:
- Must have current Australian practising certificate and a minimum of 5+ years Post Qualification Experience (PQE), with previous private practice and/or in-house legal team essential.
- Excellent understanding of General Insurance and contract/commercial law experience in Australia (essential) and New Zealand (preferred).
- Working experience, technical knowledge and/or exposure to General Insurance, either in general insurance contracts, policy wordings drafting/coverage counsel or claims essential.
- Prior experience in the review and drafting of contracts and negotiation experience essential.
- Experience with managing legal litigation/dispute resolution matters preferred.
- Prior experience in policy wording review and drafting preferred.
- Able to work diligently, efficiently and manage own matters to meet demanding deadlines.
- Must have excellent attention to detail.
- Legal presentation training skills preferred.
- An excellent working knowledge with Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Outlook.
HDI offers a values-based dynamic working environment, a flexible approach to work, and a learning framework to support your continued development.
This is a great opportunity to pursue your career within an established international insurance company with scope for long term career development. We provide equal opportunity to all qualified individuals and believe that diversity and inclusion are critical to our future.
You will need to already have permanent rights to work in Australia (either citizen or permanent residency).
If you would like to become a member of the HDI Legal team, please click on the apply now button.
