General Counsel Insurance Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

The Liberty Company is a producer-focused, family-owned, and fiercely independent insurance services firm founded in 1987. Licensed to operate in all 50 states, Liberty has grown consistently and, in recent years, exponentially by attracting talented and entrepreneurial people into an energetic and collaborative culture which focuses on our colleagues’ happiness, well-being, and growth. Liberty has expanded nationally by partnering with agency owners and experienced producers who fit our culture, are driven by our mission of Promoting Peace of Mind with Great Care and demonstrate our core values of Integrity, Excellence, Caring, Kindness, Fairness, Teamwork, Good Feelings and Fun! Liberty has consistently been recognized as one of the most dynamic, fastest growing companies as well as one of the best places to work in the insurance industry.

We are entrepreneurial, positive, team oriented, collaborative, creative, and wellness focused. Employees here can expect a competitive compensation, generous benefit package, PTO/holiday pay, paid training, continued education support, company sponsored stress management programs/activities, opportunities to give back to your local community, and more!

We are looking for our next dynamic General Counsel to lead our legal team! If you’re ready to find your JOB- Joy of Being that is- we are eager to speak with you!

Position Summary:

The General Counsel (“GC”) serves as the Company's senior legal executive and strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Managers, and executive leadership team. The GC is responsible for leading all legal, regulatory, compliance, governance, risk management, litigation, and transactional matters across the organization and its subsidiaries.

The GC provides practical, business-oriented legal guidance that enables growth while protecting the Company's assets, reputation, and long-term strategic objectives. This position oversees the Legal Department and manages outside counsel, supporting all areas of the business, including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, employment matters, contracts, data privacy and security, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution.

Essential Functions:

 Executive Leadership and Legal Strategy

• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team and provide strategic legal counsel to the CEO and Board.
• Develop and execute the Company's legal strategy in alignment with business objectives.
• Advise leadership on legal, regulatory, operational, financial, reputational, and compliance risks.
• Partner with business leaders to proactively identify risks and develop practical solutions.

Corporate Governance

• Advise the Board and executive management on governance, fiduciary duties, and corporate best practices.
• Oversee corporate governance activities, board materials, resolutions, and entity management.
• Ensure maintenance of corporate records, organizational documents, and subsidiary governance requirements.
• Support board committees and perform corporate secretary functions.
• Advise on matters related to the Company’s privately held ownership structure, including buy-sell and unit/equity holder agreements, equity incentive plans, and reporting to and coordination with investors or sponsors, as applicable.

Transactions and Corporate Development

• Lead legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic investments.
• Direct legal due diligence efforts and negotiate transaction documents.
• Structure transactions to manage risk while supporting business growth initiatives.
• Advise on financing arrangements, strategic partnerships, and other complex commercial transactions.

Commercial Contracting

• Oversee enterprise-wide contracting processes.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and approve significant commercial agreements.
• Develop templates, policies, and controls to improve contract management and efficiency.
• Ensure contractual commitments align with regulatory and business requirements.

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

• Design, implement, and oversee compliance programs and internal controls.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting the organization.
• Oversee multi-state insurance producer/agency licensing and appointments, and monitor compliance with applicable laws, contingent commission and compensation disclosure requirements, and MGA/wholesale broker agreements.
• Provide guidance regarding insurance, lending, employment, privacy, and other applicable laws and regulations.
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures that mitigate legal and operational risk.
• Lead enterprise legal risk assessments and mitigation initiatives.

Litigation and Dispute Resolution

• Oversee internal legal staff responsible for:
  • Litigation, arbitration, administrative proceedings, and investigations
  • Managing internal and outside counsel and litigation budgets.
  • Developing dispute resolution strategies consistent with business objectives.
  • Advising business leaders regarding litigation exposure and risk management.
  • Oversee management of errors & omissions (E&O) claims arising from coverage placement or advisory services, including coordination with the Company’s E&O carrier and defense counsel.

Employment and Labor Matters

• Provide strategic guidance on employment-related issues, including workforce management, restrictive covenants, investigations, discrimination claims, wage and hour matters, and executive compensation.
• Support Human Resources and executive leadership on sensitive personnel matters.
• Review and negotiate employment, separation, and restrictive covenant agreements.

Data Privacy and Information Security

• Partner with Information Technology and Security teams to develop and maintain privacy and cybersecurity compliance programs.
• Advise on data governance, information security incidents, and emerging privacy regulations.
• Review and update privacy, security, and records management policies.

Legal Department Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop members of the Legal Department.
• Establish departmental goals, performance expectations, and budgets.
• Allocate legal resources efficiently and manage outside counsel relationships.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and service excellence.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Active license and good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

Experience

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant legal experience.
• Significant in-house legal leadership experience, preferably as Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, or senior law firm partner.
• Experience overseeing mergers and acquisitions, litigation, employment law matters, regulatory compliance, and commercial transactions.
• Experience leading and developing legal teams.
• Insurance industry experience required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Exceptional business judgment and strategic thinking.
• Proactive and hands-on approach.
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Superior legal research, drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities.
• High ethical standards, integrity, and professionalism.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Other Requirements:

This position may require occasional travel to corporate offices, corporate events, board meetings, regulatory proceedings, industry conferences, and acquisition-related activities.

Promoting Peace of Mind for All

At Liberty, we take great care to promote peace of mind for all. We create a safe space to find your Joy of Being as your most authentic self. Being uniquely YOU, with your unique experiences and ideas, we will continue to strengthen our company as we grow together.

HABU has nothing to do with age, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, or ethnicity. We pursue people who value: Integrity, excellence, caring, kindness, fairness, teamwork, good feelings, and fun! Liberty empowers our team with tools and knowledge to support the purposeful spread of positive energy, kindness, and good feelings with others.

We recognize that our industry has more work to do in advancing diversity and inclusion. Our dream is to become the north star others can look to for direction as we advance together.

*Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records WILL be considered for employment. For positions in our organization that require a state insurance license to perform the duties described herein, applicants must meet the state licensing requirements as required by the applicable DOI, must not have been disqualified or barred from licensure, and must not have been prohibited from conducting the business of insurance under Title 18 U.S. Code, §§1033 and 1034 to qualify for that role