Top Expert Legal Counsel

Let’s care for tomorrow. 

Your ambitions.  Your dreams.  Your tomorrow 

Whether it’s aircraft, international business, offshore wind parks, or Hollywood film productions, Allianz Commercial has an extensive range of risks covered when it comes to protecting businesses.   

We are looking for a Top Expert Legal Counsel based in Zurich. 

Your Team  

Allianz Commercial’s dedicated Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) team is growing its presence in Zurich, to improve further our delivery of personalized solutions for our clients as they manage, control and reduce risk.  These solutions include multi-year, multi-line insurance products, as well as fronting and captive reinsurance services.  

The Impact You Will Have  

Based in Zurich and reporting directly to the Head of Legal Alternative Risk Transfer, you will be integrated into the global underwriting teams of ART LoB to co-construct bespoke solutions for our clients, at the intersection of risk transfer and financing structures. You will work closely with our Structured Insurance team in Zurich and other ART offices and will   provide innovative and complex solutions in a fast-changing environment, with a focus on the EMEA region and in particular German speaking markets.  

Some of your specific responsibilities could include: 

• Support the ART business teams in the negotiation and execution of transactions and other deal-related activities and proactively manage all relevant legal and regulatory aspects of international transactions, including cross-border counterparty credit risk mitigating structures and collateral management.  

• Draft and/or review documentation relating to the company's insurance and reinsurance business (binders, slips, contracts, I&L Agreements, trust agreements, assignments, LOCs, and NDAs) against ART’s internal standards and business requirements. 

• Promote and maintain relationships with brokers and key business partners including participating in regular conference calls/meetings with key clients to obtain feedback on outstanding contract issues. 

• Provide solution-oriented and practical legal advice & support as well as functional guidance for management and business teams and monitor legal, regulatory, compliance & internal developments affecting ART LoB’s business. 

• Actively participate and provide actionable guidance in legal practice group and underwriting meetings for the ART business teams, and perform required legal sign-offs in line with ART Legal’s internal standards.  

• Support good governance within the existing UW Governance framework and coach the UW community on legal, regulatory, and general compliance topics.  

• Manage internal and external customer expectations; anticipate issues and concerns of internal customers and address them proactively and directly. 

• Ensure good knowledge transfer of relevant issues to other members of the ART Legal team and the AGCS Legal department, e.g., material developments in laws and best practices.  

What You’ll Bring to the Role 

• At least 10 years experience and qualified to practice law, in Switzerland or another German speaking European country, at least 5 years experience in structuring and documenting complex, cross-jurisdictional financial transactions, with a focus on insurance and reinsurance transactions (involving multiple legal entities in multiple jurisdictions) under English law and other governing laws commonly used in international (re-) insurance.  

• Excellent understanding of regulatory implications of cross-border (re-)insurance  transactions and self-procured (non-admitted business), as well as familiarity with the principles of European regulations on financial instruments and capital markets (EMIR; MiFID). 

• Experience operating in regulated environments, including an understanding of internal control framework, as well as capital and compliance requirements under the Solvency II framework. 

• Able to work in an international matrix organization and cross-functional teams. 

• Ability to actively participate in client negotiations; solid understanding of key risk drivers and key economics typical for a complex /reinsurance transaction. 

• Solid business acumen and broad understanding of economic drivers and implications of structured insurance & reinsurance transactions and other alternative risk transfer instruments, like sidecars, ILS and hedging in derivatives form. 

• Strong personality, ability to think holistically and willingness to contribute beyond own technical area of expertise. 

• Able to negotiate and draft legal documentation in English and German  and proficient to communicate in another main European language.  

48242 | Risk Management | Management | Allianz Commercial | Full-Time | Permanent

What’s in it for you? 

Let’s care about everything that makes you, you 

We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong.  We offer a hybrid working model, which recognizes the value of striking a balance between in-person collaboration and remote working.  Please feel free to discuss flexible working arrangements with us. 

Let’s care for your financial wellbeing 

We believe in rewarding performance with a great compensation and benefits package (details vary by location), including a generous bonus scheme and pension. 

Let’s care for your opportunities to progress 

From career development and digital learning programs to international career mobility, we offer lifelong learning for our employees worldwide and an environment where innovation, delivery, and empowerment are fostered. 

Let’s care for life’s twists and turns 

From our support for flexible working, health, and wellbeing (including private healthcare and generous parental leave benefits), to helping people return from career breaks with experience that nothing else can teach. We've got your back.  

Let’s care for our society and our planet 

With opportunities to be engaged in shaping a future that is safe, inclusive, and sustainable, we care for the tomorrows of our people, our industry, and our clients. 

Care to join us? 

Allianz Commercial is the Allianz Group brand serving the world’s largest consumer brands and major industry players through to family-owned enterprises forming the backbone of nations’ economies. We bring together the corporate multinational business of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty and the commercial business of national Allianz Property & Casualty entities and provide both traditional and alternative risk transfer solutions, outstanding risk consulting and Multinational services as well as seamless claims handling.   

As a key strategic player in the Allianz Group network, Allianz Commercial is present in over 200 countries and in 2022 generated more than €19 billion gross premium.  

Learn more about careers at Allianz Commercial by clicking here. 

Learn more about Allianz Commercial by clicking here. 

Allianz is an equal opportunity employer and therefore welcomes applications regardless of ethnicity or cultural background, age, gender, nationality, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected characteristic. Diversity of thinking is an important part of our culture. 

People with disabilities: 
We want to give all our candidates the best opportunity to succeed.  If you need any adjustments to be made during the application and selection process, please email agcsglobalcareers@allianz.com 

Recruitment Agencies:  
Allianz Commercial has an in-house recruitment team, which focuses on sourcing great candidates directly.  Allianz Commercial does not accept unsolicited resumes from agency or search firm recruiters.  Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired.  When we do use agencies, we have a PSL in place, so please do not contact managers directly. 

#LI-NG1  

#LI-Hybrid