Chief Legal Officer

Job description

About the Role Incline Insurance Group is seeking an accomplished Chief Legal Officer (CLO) to serve as the Company’s senior legal executive and a member of the executive leadership team. The CLO will advise the CEO, Board, and executive team on enterprise legal strategy, corporate governance, financing, strategic transactions, and the legal matters supporting a growing property and casualty insurance platform. This role combines strong insurance industry expertise with substantial experience advising private equity-backed businesses and leading complex corporate and financing transactions. The successful candidate will bring sound commercial judgment, credibility with directors and investors, and the ability to translate legal advice into practical business decisions. The CLO must be comfortable setting strategy while remaining directly involved in significant matters. About the Legal Team Incline’s Legal team partners with the business on insurance and reinsurance agreements, program relationships, regulatory matters, corporate transactions, and dispute resolution. The CLO will lead and develop the General Counsel and broader Legal team, establish clear responsibilities and escalation practices, and build the capabilities needed to support Incline’s growth. The role will work closely with Finance, Risk, Compliance, Underwriting, Reinsurance, Claims, Technology, and other business leaders. What You Will Do Executive Legal Leadership Serve as the principal legal advisor to the CEO, Board, and executive leadership team. Shape legal strategy in support of the Company’s business objectives, evaluate significant opportunities and risks, and provide clear recommendations on complex or sensitive matters. Private Equity and Ownership Matters Advise on the legal matters associated with private equity ownership, including shareholder arrangements, investor rights, governance requirements, management equity arrangements, and ownership transitions. Work with leadership and sponsor representatives to support growth and value-creation initiatives while protecting the Company’s interests. Capital Markets and Financing Partner with the CFO to lead the legal aspects of debt and equity financings, credit facilities, refinancings, recapitalizations, and potential liquidity transactions. Oversee transaction structuring, diligence, documentation, negotiation, and execution, including coordination with lenders, investors, regulators, and external advisors. Board and Corporate Governance Advise the Board and relevant committees on governance, fiduciary considerations, conflicts of interest, and significant corporate decisions. Oversee legal support for Board and committee activities, corporate records, delegated authorities, legal entity governance, and shareholder matters. Mergers and Acquisitions and Strategic Transactions Lead legal work for acquisitions, investments, divestitures, partnerships, and other strategic transactions. Oversee due diligence, transaction negotiation and documentation, required approvals, closing, and integration. Help leadership assess transaction risks, obligations, and strategic implications. Insurance and Reinsurance Provide senior legal oversight of Incline’s property and casualty insurance and reinsurance operations, including fronting and program structures, delegated authority arrangements, ceded and assumed reinsurance, and collateral arrangements. Guide the Legal team on complex agreements and material issues, and directly lead negotiations or escalations requiring executive involvement. Commercial Agreements and Program Relationships Oversee legal support for relationships with MGAs, program administrators, reinsurers, brokers, TPAs, vendors, and strategic partners. Establish contracting standards, negotiation guidelines, and approval processes that protect the Company’s interests and enable timely business decisions. Insurance Regulation and Compliance Counsel Provide legal advice on the regulatory requirements affecting Incline’s carriers and multi-entity operations. Partner with Compliance on examinations, inquiries, filings, licensing, regulatory approvals, and interactions with insurance regulators. Advise on the regulatory implications of growth, financing, and corporate transactions. Enterprise Legal Risk and Disputes Identify and oversee material legal exposures, establish escalation protocols, and advise on mitigation strategies. Partner with the CRO and Compliance to integrate legal considerations into enterprise risk management. Provide executive oversight of significant litigation, coverage and reinsurance disputes, investigations, and other contested matters, working with Claims and outside counsel as appropriate. Technology and Data Oversee legal advice on technology agreements, intellectual property, privacy, cybersecurity, data rights, and artificial intelligence. Partner with Technology and business leaders to support responsible adoption of new capabilities and address material legal risks. Legal Team and Operations Lead, mentor, and develop the General Counsel and Legal team. Set priorities and clear accountability, allocate work effectively, and strengthen succession and team capabilities. Manage the legal budget and outside counsel relationships, ensuring appropriate expertise, quality, and cost discipline. Improve contract management, workflows, legal technology, and knowledge sharing as the organization grows. What We Are Looking For We are seeking a commercially minded legal executive who combines insurance expertise with the corporate, financial, and governance experience needed to advise a growing, private equity-backed business. Experience 15+ years of progressively responsible legal experience, including substantial property and casualty insurance experience and senior legal leadership responsibility. Experience advising CEOs and boards and leading complex, high-impact matters is required. Prior experience as a CLO, General Counsel, or senior legal leader with comparable scope is strongly preferred. Private Equity Experience Demonstrated experience advising private equity-backed companies or representing private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies is required. Candidates should understand sponsor governance, shareholder arrangements, management equity, and the legal considerations associated with growth and ownership transitions. Financing and Transaction Experience A demonstrated record of leading the legal aspects of material debt or equity financings and complex corporate transactions is required. Relevant experience includes credit facilities, recapitalizations, acquisitions, divestitures, or liquidity events. Candidates must be able to direct outside specialists while independently advising leadership on significant transaction issues and trade-offs. Insurance and Regulatory Expertise Strong knowledge of property and casualty insurance, reinsurance, state insurance regulation, and multi-entity insurance organizations is required. Experience with fronting carriers, MGA and program relationships, delegated authority, and reinsurance structures is strongly preferred. The ability to oversee complex insurance agreements and engage effectively with regulators is essential. Governance and Commercial Judgment Experience advising boards and senior executives on corporate governance, significant business decisions, and material legal risks. Ability to assess issues across the enterprise, communicate clear recommendations, and balance commercial objectives with legal and regulatory obligations. Leadership Proven ability to lead and develop experienced attorneys, establish effective working relationships across functions, and manage outside counsel and legal spend. Strong executive presence, negotiation skills, discretion, and communication. Willingness to work directly on important matters in a lean, fast-moving organization. Education and Licensure Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and an active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. Must be eligible to satisfy applicable requirements to provide legal services on behalf of the Company. Location Our preference is for this role to be based in Austin, Texas, operating within a hybrid work model. Why Incline Insurance Group This is an opportunity to shape the legal strategy of a growing, private equity-backed insurance platform. The CLO will work directly with executive leadership and the Board, influence significant financing and transactional decisions, and develop a legal function that supports Incline’s next stage of growth. About Incline P&C Group Incline P&C Group is a privately owned company, backed by private equity and its original founders, with an exclusive focus on the property and casualty program insurance market. The company writes approximately $2+ billion in premiums through its A-rated and managed carriers. Incline has a team of over 100 employees headquartered in Austin, Texas.