HealthNow New York Inc. is an innovator in providing quality healthcare services to companies and individuals. As the parent company of BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, BlueShield of Northeastern New York, and Brokerage Concepts, Inc., HealthNow provides a full spectrum of healthcare services and innovative funding arrangements for more than 13,000 client companies throughout the US.
Position Summary
Our Senior Internal Counsel will provide and arrange legal services for the company at the direction of the VP General Counsel & Corporate Secretary including supporting the Corporation's insurance, HMO, TPA and government program operations, managing the Company's litigation, providing legal research and guidance to the company's management and Directors, and interacting with legislative and regulatory authorities ensuring compliance with applicable Federal and State Laws and Regulations.
Primary Responsibilities
· General Legal Service and Advice: provide all manner of legal services and advice associated with the company's operations as a not-for-profit health service corporation, health maintenance organization, third party administrator and government contractor. Provide legal services and advice associated with the company's relationship with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and other BCBSA Plans. Ensure that legal services are provided to the company in a timely, professional and efficient manner to develop and conduct training programs as necessary to ensure that the company's management and personnel are aware of the legal rights and obligations of the company and its staff.
· Contract Negotiation Development and Implementation: provide and arrange for value-added legal services to management in the structuring, negotiation and implementation of transactions related to the company's insurance, health maintenance organization and third party administrator operations and government contracts. Provide assistance with strategic alliances for commercial, financial and real estate matters that are designed to support the company's core operations. Includes drafting and reviewing coverage plans and riders, and facilitating the submission of these documents to appropriate regulatory agencies.
· Risk Management Litigation and Compliance: manage and pursue any administrative complaints and adjudication as well as judicial and appellate litigation or potential litigation in which the company is involved. Assist outside counsel in the development of litigation strategies, ensuring that discovery requests are responded to accurately and efficiently and assisting in the preparation of employee witnesses for depositions and trials. Develop a budget for each case
· and review invoices submitted by outside counsel, to ensure that all statements accurately reflect the work performed. Develop and implement risk management techniques that are designed to avoid unnecessary litigation and disputes and to ensure that the company's insurance coverage is adequate given the identified potential liabilities of the company. Provide legal services associated with the company's compliance program including handling internal investigations as requested by the Compliance Officer, providing legal guidance to the Compliance Officer and assisting in any disclosures, audits or investigations made to or conducted by State and Federal Agencies.
· Legislation, Monitoring and Implementation: review and comment on proposed legislation and rules and government relations initiatives to the Company's Director of Government Relations. Provide support and advice related to the implementation of new statutes and regulations and review and develop corporate policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
· Corporate Document Preparation and Review: prepare any Corporate documents necessary to support the General Counsel's function as Corporate Secretary including Articles of Incorporation, Articles of Amendment, By-Laws, Board Minutes and Resolutions, and make any related filings with the New York State Secretary of State or other Regulatory Agencies. Review advertising, marketing and communications to ensure that they are in compliance with applicable regulations, statutes or laws and comply with the standards maintained in the BCBSA License Agreements.
· Additional services: provide legal services and advice to the Corporation regarding employment law matters including, but not limited to, investigating and responding to complaints from the NYS Division of Human Rights, EEOC and the Department of Labor and ensuring compliance with all federal and state employment and labor laws and regulations.
· Supervision: monitor and supervise the work performed by Paralegals on matters assigned to Legal Counsel for handling.
Demonstrated Competencies
Our ideal candidate will possess a strong academic background, and excellent communication, analytical, and negotiation skills. S/he must be action-oriented, and focused on outcomes needed to support the organization. A high degree of business maturity, demonstrated confidentiality, and the ability to represent the organization in a proactive, strategic, and assertive manner are crucial.
Required Experience and Education
· A Juris Doctor, license to practice law in New York State
· At least 10 years of broad corporate/commercial and finance experience as a practicing attorney
· A demonstrated record of providing substantive/technical legal advice and support to a board of directors, senior management team and business leaders, as well as a history of building strong relationships and exhibiting a collaborative working style
· Demonstrated deep commercial experience leading and closing various transactions (e.g., strategic alliances, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures), negotiating large scale contracts, and devising pragmatic, creative solutions for problems, opportunities, and business strategies
· A successful track record of providing advice and support to business operations as well as infrastructure functions
· Experience representing a company within the healthcare sector preferred
For more information, please contact Patti Nardone, executive recruiter, at: