Joel Hillygus Email & Phone Number

Durham, Nc, Us

Fort Wayne, In (Remote In Durham, Nc)

Provide comprehensive, responsive, and timely legal advice and training to Claims, Underwriting (UW), and Market Management (MM) on all insurance lines, with limited supervision. Work with cross functional teams to facilitate proactive and compliant performance of all company objectives. Advise on claims handling procedures to prevent insurance bad faith claims related to coverage provided to and/or settlement of claims against MedPro Group insureds. Execute on coverage issues, preparing… Show more Provide comprehensive, responsive, and timely legal advice and training to Claims, Underwriting (UW), and Market Management (MM) on all insurance lines, with limited supervision. Work with cross functional teams to facilitate proactive and compliant performance of all company objectives. Advise on claims handling procedures to prevent insurance bad faith claims related to coverage provided to and/or settlement of claims against MedPro Group insureds. Execute on coverage issues, preparing appropriate reservations, denials, or other letters for Claims as needed. Communicate effectively with important clients, business partners, and other attorneys on significant developments and unique issues that raise the potential for litigation on individual cases and across broader legal issues. Consult with the business on the legal issues and implications of potential business decisions and initiatives, providing legal advice strategies and solutions for general business and legal issues. Review policies and provide experienced coverage analysis. Show less

Boston, Ma (Remote In Durham, Nc)

Working remotely from North Carolina, advised and counseled insurer claims department staff on coverage, liability and damages issues on both claims and litigated files, including coverage litigation, extra-contractual litigation and declaratory judgment actions. Analyzed complex and novel coverage and legal issues and performed legal research to author formal coverage position letters under professional liability, property, casualty and other insurance policy lines, including homeowners… Show more Working remotely from North Carolina, advised and counseled insurer claims department staff on coverage, liability and damages issues on both claims and litigated files, including coverage litigation, extra-contractual litigation and declaratory judgment actions. Analyzed complex and novel coverage and legal issues and performed legal research to author formal coverage position letters under professional liability, property, casualty and other insurance policy lines, including homeowners, commercial general liability, auto, garage, inland marine, legal and medical professional liability, umbrella/excess, commercial property, and others. Prepared draft claims correspondence for claims staff, including tender responses, reservations of rights and coverage disclaimers. Monitored performance and billing of outside counsel and other legal vendors on high-exposure claims. Negotiated favorable settlements with opposing counsel and claimants. Show less

Boston, Ma

Counseled insurers and defended clients against civil litigation actions in federal and state courts, including claims for professional medical and legal liability, wrongful death, premises liability, product liability, construction, declaratory judgment and extra-contractual claims. Prosecuted appeals. Monitored complex/high-exposure claims, including oversight of outside counsel strategy and fees. Attended mediations, settlement conferences, court hearings and trials. Drafted non-ISO policy… Show more Counseled insurers and defended clients against civil litigation actions in federal and state courts, including claims for professional medical and legal liability, wrongful death, premises liability, product liability, construction, declaratory judgment and extra-contractual claims. Prosecuted appeals. Monitored complex/high-exposure claims, including oversight of outside counsel strategy and fees. Attended mediations, settlement conferences, court hearings and trials. Drafted non-ISO policy forms for risk retention groups. Provided training to claims professionals on both legal and coverage issues. Assimilated and interpreted laws and data to reach favorable claim resolution. Show less

Boston, Ma

Counseled insurers and defended individual and corporate clients in civil litigation matters. Focused practice on insurance coverage, including analysis of complex coverage issues for national insurers.

San Francisco Bay Area

Litigated claims in workers’ compensation matters. Conducted trials, performed legal research, drafted briefs and opinions, and advised insurance claims staff as to favorable resolution.

San Francisco Bay Area

• Created interpretive memoranda regarding regulatory compliance in public utility deregulation.• Authored regulatory filings to implement strategy and further corporate policies.• Advised executives as to impact of bankruptcy and consumer protection laws on collections.• Drafted contracts and oversaw contract administration as to outside vendors.• Assisted corporate counsel in all aspects of in-house legal practice for nation’s largest utility.

Fayetteville, Arkansas Area

• Conducted due diligence review for major corporate merger in petroleum industry.• Created, indexed and maintained extensive easement/right-of-way library of company interests.• Led recruiting, hiring and training for in-house corporate law clerk program.• Presented results of extensive research on easements, eminent domain and regulations.

Lowell, Ar

• Planned, dispatched and monitored time-sensitive loads from coast to coast in support of auto industry, including driver support, customer service and regulatory implementation.• Worked full-time through undergraduate studies and much of law school to support own education.

Bentonville, Ar

• Analyzed leases and other agreements under supervision of Ernst & Young in order to facilitate transfer of company store ownership to various real estate investment trusts to reduce tax burden.• Reviewed, drafted and negotiated cellular tower lease agreements for siting at company properties.

J.D., Law

Activities and Societies: Arkansas Law Review

Education record

B.A., Political Science