Executive Underwriter - Lawyer Professional Liability

Position Summary
The Executive Underwriter, Lawyer Professional Liability (LPL) is responsible for managing a portfolio of renewal business while driving profitable growth through sound underwriting, risk selection, pricing, and coverage analysis. This role serves as a technical expert within the Professional Liability team, partnering closely with brokers, internal stakeholders, and underwriting leadership to evaluate complex legal risks, develop tailored coverage solutions, and maintain portfolio profitability. The Executive Underwriter also contributes to underwriting best practices, strategic initiatives, and the ongoing development of the Lawyer Professional Liability portfolio.

Location: The ideal candidate will reside in the Greater Chicagoland area.

What will your job entail?

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of Lawyer Professional Liability (LPL) renewal business, primarily focused on law firms with 15+ attorneys, driving profitable growth through sound underwriting, pricing, and risk selection.
• Evaluate complex law firm risks, including practice areas, claims history, jurisdictions, management controls, and emerging legal malpractice exposures.
• Develop renewal strategies, coverage recommendations, and pricing solutions that balance profitability, retention, and broker/customer needs.
• Serve as a trusted partner to brokers by providing expertise on coverage, underwriting appetite, and risk management considerations while negotiating terms, conditions, and pricing.
• Analyze underwriting submissions, loss experience, financial information, and supporting documentation to make informed underwriting decisions.
• Monitor portfolio performance, including retention, rate adequacy, and loss trends, and provide recommendations to support business objectives and portfolio profitability.
• Collaborate with claims, actuarial, legal, and underwriting leadership to evaluate complex risks, support strategic initiatives, and drive underwriting consistency.
• Act as a technical leader and subject matter expert, mentoring underwriting team members and contributing to projects, process improvements, and underwriting best practices.
• Ensure compliance with underwriting guidelines, regulatory requirements, and documentation standards.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of underwriting experience within Professional Liability, Financial Lines, Professional Lines, or E&O.
• Direct Lawyer Professional Liability (LPL) or Legal Malpractice underwriting experience strongly preferred.
• Experience underwriting law firms and managing complex renewal business preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to independently assess risk, negotiate terms and conditions, manage broker relationships, and exercise sound underwriting judgment.

Licenses & Certifications

• Property & Casualty License preferred.
• RPLU designation or active pursuit of the designation preferred.
• Additional industry designations such as CPCU are a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of Lawyer Professional Liability (LPL), Legal Malpractice, Professional Liability, and E&O coverages.
• Advanced risk assessment, pricing, and coverage analysis skills.
• Strong underwriting judgment and decision-making ability.
• Excellent communication, relationship management, and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and project leadership capabilities.
• Ability to work independently while serving as a technical resource and leader within the underwriting team.

Ryan Specialty is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building and sustaining a diverse workforce throughout the organization. Our vision is an inclusive and equitable workplace where all employees are valued for and evaluated on their performance and contributions. Differences in race, creed, color, religious beliefs, physical or mental capabilities, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, and many other characteristics bring together varied perspectives and add value to the service we provide our clients, trading partners, and communities. This policy extends to all aspects of our employment practices, including but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, discipline, firing, promoting, transferring, compensation, benefits, training, leaves of absence, and other terms, conditions, and benefits of employment.

How We Support Our Teammates

Ryan Specialty seeks to offer our employees a comprehensive and best-in-class benefits package that helps them - and their family members - achieve their physical, financial,