Legal Counsel - Credit & Surety - Hybrid

Locations: Kansas City, MO, US | Chicago, IL, US We are looking for a Legal Counsel to join our Corporate Solutions (CorSo) Legal Team to provide transactional, regulatory and legal support to our North America (NA) Credit & Surety business unit, which underwrites insurance primarily in surety, as well as in trade finance, project & infrastructure finance, commodity finance and political risk. In this role, you will work closely with Credit & Surety business stakeholders, including the Head Commercial Surety NA and the Head Contract Surety NA, to help the Credit & Surety business grow, move fast and manage risk intelligently. You will be part of a collaborative, high‑performing global legal team that values pragmatism, sound judgement, and strong relationships. You will report to the Head of Credit & Surety Legal. About the Role In this role you will act as the principal legal advisor to the CorSo Credit & Surety business in the US and Canada and will: Provide pragmatic legal advice designed to enable and support Credit & Surety business growth in NA in compliance with applicable state and insurance laws and regulations, while clearly articulating legal risks and opportunities. Be a subject‑matter expert in NA Contract and Commercial Surety, including drafting and negotiating bond forms, indemnity agreements, co‑surety agreements and agency agreements. Support underwriters at every stage of the transaction life cycle, facilitate the closing of transactions, and also advise on any restructuring and unwinding of transactions. Advise on relevant licensing and regulatory issues in relation to Credit & Surety transactions and work closely with other internal experts in the management of regulatory relationships. Provide legal support for internal group projects and strategic initiatives with key constituencies (Finance, Tax, Operations, Underwriting, Sales). Support legal entity management and corporate governance related issues, working closely with other regional legal team members. Partner and collaborate with various regional and functional stakeholders within the company (such as other Legal teams, Compliance, Actuarial, Contracts and Wordings, Finance, Internal Audit, Operations, Risk and Underwriting) to ensure holistic assessment and mitigation of risks. Apply legal practices and controls that comply with Group guidelines, local corporate governance practice, statutory requirements and applicable regulatory agencies for CorSo regional entities. About the Team In this position, you will be a part of the CorSo Credit & Surety Legal team, which consists of eight lawyers located across North America, Europe, and Asia. This is a largely transactional role providing legal support to underwriters, product managers, risk managers, and claims specialists in a highly commercial way. The legal team works closely with the C&S business unit as trusted advisors; balancing growth ambitions with regulatory discipline and reputational protection. You will be close to decision makers and directly see the results of your work. As an NA‑based Credit & Surety counsel, you will also work closely with the CorSo NA Legal team, which consists of ten lawyers. About You You’re a proactive legal professional with an ability to meet competing deadlines and work effectively in a demanding, fast‑paced environment. You combine technical excellence with commercial awareness, enabling you to provide pragmatic solutions that balance legal risk with business objectives. Your strong communication skills allow you to explain complex legal concepts clearly to diverse stakeholders, and develop strong relationships with clients, stakeholders and colleagues. You bring Admitted to the bar of at least one state in the United States, preferably Illinois, Kansas, or Missouri, depending on hiring office. Minimum of 6 years’ legal experience in a large law firm setting or financial services organization; specific experience with credit insurance, surety bonds/guarantees or banking/finance is highly preferred. Ability to identify, research and analyse difficult issues in ambiguous circumstances and to concisely summarise complex issues for senior leaders is a key requirement. Experience in advising on insurance or financial services licensing and regulatory aspects. An understanding of direct and excess lines domestic and international insurance, as well as distribution networks, broker and agency relationships. Experience in negotiating, drafting, and amending contractual agreements, specifically bond forms, indemnity agreements, co‑surety agreements, agency and distribution. High personal integrity, with ability to apply highest ethical standards and maintain independence as a lawyer. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment. "Can‑do" mindset with dedication to continuous learning and development. Comfort working independently while collaborating with a global team. Why Join Us? Swiss Re Corporate Solutions is the commercial insurance arm of Swiss Re Group. Our Legal team plays a critical role in enabling innovation, supporting growth, and safeguarding the franchise. We offer A highly collaborative, international working environment. Exposure to complex Surety transactions and commercial contracting models. Flexibility and a hybrid working approach. The opportunity to shape how legal support is delivered in a modern insurance business. The estimated base salary range for this position in Chicago, IL and in Kansas City, MO, is $156,000 to $210,000. The specific salary offered for this, or any given role will take into account a number of factors including but not limited to job location, scope of role, qualifications, complexity/specialization/scarcity of talent, experience, education, and employer budget. At Swiss Re, we take a "total compensation approach" when making compensation decisions. This means that we consider all components of compensation in their totality (such as base pay, short‑and long‑term incentives, and benefits offered), in setting individual compensation. Our company has a hybrid work model where the expectation is that you will be in the office three days per week. About Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Swiss Re is one of the world’s leading providers of reinsurance, insurance and other forms of insurance‑based risk transfer. We anticipate and manage risks, from natural catastrophes and climate change to cybercrime. Swiss Re Corporate Solutions is the commercial insurance arm of the Swiss Re Group. We offer innovative insurance solutions to large and midsized multinational corporations from our approximately 50 locations worldwide. We help clients mitigate their risk exposure, whilst our industry‑leading claims service provides them with additional peace of mind. Our success depends on our ability to build an inclusive culture encouraging fresh perspectives and innovative thinking. Swiss Re Corporate Solutions embraces a workplace where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and develop professionally regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, skillset, thought or other characteristics. In our inclusive and flexible environment everyone can bring their authentic selves to work and their passion for sustainability. If you are an experienced professional returning to the workforce after a career break, we encourage you to apply for open positions that match your skills and experience. Swiss Re is an equal opportunity employer. It is our practice to recruit, hire and promote without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, pregnancy, sexual orientations, marital status, military status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Decisions on employment are solely based on an individual's qualifications for the position being filled. During the recruitment process, reasonable accommodations for disabilities are available upon request. If contacted for an interview, please inform the Recruiter/HR Professional of the accommodation needed. Make an impact Start your career journey with Swiss Re. #J-18808-Ljbffr