Underwriting Counsel

Underwriting Counsel

Requisition ID 20557BR
Position Title Underwriting Counsel
Job Family Legal/Compliance/Underwriting
Job Location TX-Houston
Employment Category fulltime-regular
Job Description First American Title Insurance Company's National Commercial Services division provides single-point service for simple to multi-property/multi-state national commercial real estate transactions. One of the largest title insurers in the nation, First American offers title services through its direct operations and an extensive network of agents throughout the United States and
abroad. For more information, visit .

The position requires a high-output leader capable of also playing the role of transaction manager and directing other personnel in large, complex multi-state transactions. The position shall efficiently exploit existing company technology platforms to render exceptional underwriting service to customers. Utilizing the company's FAST production and escrow platform, Underwriting Counsel is expected to personally underwrite a significant workload of customer issues --- from title comments/objections to endorsement coverages to global, transactional risk analysis --- ensuring that both commercial closing personnel and customers possess efficient access to the most proactive, skilled commercial underwriting talent in the industry.

Primary responsibilities include:
. Competent, proactive resolution of title policy and endorsement underwriting queries from three main constituent groups: customers, commercial closing personnel, and production/underwriting subordinates.
. Assists all closing personnel with title comments, survey reads, underwriting, etc. on commercial transactions.
. Collaborates as needed to fulfill strategic directives and assures that all production/underwriting personnel and processes synergistically complement and support the provision of best-in-class closing services to our customers
Job Qualifications . 3-5 years experience as primary underwriting counsel in a national commercial title and closing operation; or 3-5 years in a transactional real estate practice
. Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaborative skills necessary to work in a professional services team environment
. Well-rounded knowledge of commercial title principles and practices
. Confidence and comfort working under pressure and with deadlines
. Willingness to commit the time necessary to meet commercial customer/law firm agent demands; including significant working hours during peak pre-closing/closing periods
. Customer service oriented to the highest degree; must possess professional written and verbal communication skills that would be respected by members of the legal communities around the country
. Strong behavioral leadership, capable of leading by example, and exceptional organizational skills
. Knowledge and comfort in making or crafting proactive underwriting decisions that protect the company's interest and simultaneously find solutions to allow transactions to proceed
. Familiarity with bankruptcy, mechanic's liens and lien priority disputes are a plus
. Knowledge of reading surveys, ALTA/ACSM standards and reading legal descriptions
% of Travel Required <10%