Senior Paralegal in Minneapolis, Minnesota at Portico Benefit Services

Description

• The Senior Paralegal helps mitigate risk to Portico, which requires deep expertise in Portico’s status as a church plan.
• This position will or lead in providing legal support to inquiries and requests from various business groups supporting the retirement, health, survivor and disability benefits offered by Portico Benefit Services.
• Work collaboratively with internal business partners, external business partners and outside counsel to address legal issues while meeting business objectives. Function independently, exercising sound judgment on discretionary legal issues.
• Commitment to high standards in work product and strong business acumen.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, initiative, drive and self-confidence.
• Ability to collaborate effectively, manage multiple assignments and work independently.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: LRM works as a team, duties within the team include the following, in addition to assisting LRM lawyers, as needed. Other duties may be assigned.

• Assist with Corporate Secretary responsibilities.
• Manage appeals; track member appeals; prepare appeal summaries for various plans; hold committee meetings; assist with adjudication; prepare and ensure responses are provided within plan deadlines. Serve as staff liaison to the Board of Trustees Appeals Committee.
• Review and negotiate agreements. Use best practice contract management tools, templates, tracking mechanisms, methods and processes. Preparation, drafting, negotiation, and execution of contracts, consulting agreements, and RFI/RFPs.
• Support litigation management; respond to inquiries; discovery; maintain litigation files; etc.
• Assist with retirement, health, survivor, and disability plan and trust amendments; keep plan and trust documents up to date; respond to questions regarding plans and their ongoing maintenance.
• Oversee the trademark/copyright process; prepare documents and ensure correct application filling.
• Administer the records retention program; including identifying appropriate retention periods and ensuring schedule is up-to-date.
• Prepare and file annual documents as required; prepare and hold appropriate committee meetings.
• Prepare and file class action applications; ensure payments are correctly deposited.
• Manage compliance and coordinate responses to subpoenas and document requests.
• Provide governance oversight for the Augustana Annuity Trust.
• Review member-facing documents including summary plan descriptions, newsletters, web text, etc. and marketing communications.
• Assist in compliance with disclaimer and disclosure guidelines.
• Periodically review and revise policies, practices and procedures as necessary.
• Assist with preparation of additional research, data or correspondence as may be required by CLO, business partners, or the provisions of the contract
• Keep current with new and emerging regulations or best practice standards.
• Act as a liaison between the vendor, vendor relationship manager and/or business unit and General Counsel, ensuring that all legal and contractual matters are addressed efficiently and promptly.
• Other duties as assigned General Counsel.
• Administrative support as necessary

QUALIFICATIONS

EXPERIENCE (length in years and type)

• 10+ years paralegal experience in corporate or law firm environment.
• Prior experience in the retirement, insurance or financial services industry required.
• Prior experience supporting business operations, compliance and/or regulatory departments in a corporate environment.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Paralegal certificate required