Associate or Deputy General Counsel – U.S. Retail Brokerage

Howden • New York, NY

1d • $275,000 - $350,000

About The Position

Who are we? Howden is a global insurance group with employee ownership at its heart. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mindset, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 24,000 employees spanning over 56 countries. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work / life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden. Associate or Deputy General Counsel – U.S. Retail Brokerage Location: New York, NY or Miami, FL Who are we? Howden is a collective – a group of talented and passionate people all around the world. Together, we have pushed the boundaries of insurance. We are united by a shared passion and no-limits mind-set, and our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team comprised of 20,000 employees spanning over 100 countries. Our people are our biggest asset as well as our largest shareholder group and are everything that makes us unique; our inclusive culture, the quality service we offer our clients, and our continued growth, all come from our people-first approach. There’s no such thing as individual success. We all need to play our part, contributing our skills and experience to make a true difference. That’s Howden. Why work at Howden? We have always been employee-owned and driven by entrepreneurial spirit. Right from the beginning, we've focused on employing talented individuals and empowering them to make a real difference to the company, whilst building successful and fulfilling careers at the same time. Simply put, we hire talented specialists and give them what they need to make a difference for clients. Always have, always will. People join Howden for many different reasons, but they stay for the same one: our culture. It’s what sets us apart, and the reason our employees have been turning down disappointed head- hunters for years. Whatever your priorities – work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, volunteering – you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden. Role Overview We are seeking an Associate or Deputy General Counsel to serve as a trusted second-in-command to the General Counsel supporting our U.S. retail insurance brokerage operations. This is an exceptional opportunity to help shape a high-growth business, working closely with senior leadership in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment. The Associate/Deputy General Counsel will take on significant day-to-day responsibilities and partner with the General Counsel to build a high-impact legal presence within the U.S. operations. This role requires a highly capable legal professional who can operate independently, step in for the General Counsel when required, and collaborate cross-functionally with global teams in M&A, Finance, and Litigation through our matrix structure.

Requirements

• The ideal candidate will hold a Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited U.S. law school and an active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• The candidate should have a minimum of 10 years of post-qualification experience (PQE), with meaningful in-house counsel experience preferred.
• A strong background in U.S. insurance, commercial, and regulatory law is required with strong preference for those with experience from the broking or intermediary side.
• The candidate should possess deep knowledge of the insurance retail insurance brokerage landscape, especially regulatory frameworks for specialty and broking.
• The candidate should demonstrate strategic and operational leadership, excellent communication and negotiation skills, high integrity and sound judgment, the ability to work independently and collaboratively across time zones, and strong organizational and project management capabilities.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in private equity-backed businesses or similarly dynamic, fast-paced environments is highly valued.
• Experience working in a multinational or matrixed environment is also desirable.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Legal Partnership. The Associate/Deputy General Counsel will support the General Counsel in serving as a legal advisor to the U.S. retail insurance brokerage business, covering both specialty and retail insurance broking lines. This individual will act as a trusted advisor to the U.S. leadership team, contributing to business strategy, governance, and operational planning. The Associate/Deputy General Counsel will participate in executive-level discussions as appropriate, providing legal insight on commercial, regulatory, risk mitigation and structural matters.
• Legal Operations & Governance. The Associate/Deputy General Counsel will assist in developing and implementing legal policies, procedures, and frameworks tailored to high-growth business model. This is a unique opportunity to create the practices, procedures and guardrails that will form the foundation for a newly stood up US insurance brokerage enterprise. This role will support U.S. governance structures and help ensure alignment with global standards. The individual will advise on regulatory, brokerage, licensing, and compliance across multiple states and lines of business.
• Regulatory & Compliance Expertise. The Associate/Deputy General Counsel will help ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, as well as industry-specific regulations. This includes providing expertise in NAIC guidelines, state Departments of Insurance (DOIs), and relevant federal regulatory bodies. The individual will monitor evolving regulatory landscapes and proactively manage legal risk.
• Litigation & Risk Management. The Associate/Deputy General Counsel will assist in managing U.S.-based litigation and disputes, coordinating with external counsel as needed. This individual will identify legal risks and develop mitigation strategies in partnership with business leaders. Deep understanding of operational risk of a US licensed insurance broker are required as this role will partner closely with the Chief Risk Officer, Chief Data Privacy Officer, and IT for the US business to build compliant systems that allow for fast, disciplined growth while remaining compliant with a complex web of legal and regulatory operational mandates.
• Team Collaboration & Development. The Associate/Deputy General Counsel will work closely with the General Counsel to help build and mentor the U.S. legal team over time. This role will collaborate with existing legal colleagues in the region and leverage the broader Howden Group legal function.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including healthcare savings and reimbursement accounts
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Flexible Paid Time Off and paid parental leave
• Life and Disability insurance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree