Overview
This Senior Litigation Counsel position is responsible for managing and assessing litigation pending against the organization on a national basis. The role involves overseeing outside counsel, managing financial expenditures related to litigation, and ensuring appropriate reserving and communication with insurers and management. The position primarily handles Employment Practices (EP), General Liability (GL), Bankruptcy, and Auto suits and claims, as well as attorney correspondence received by the organization. Additional responsibilities include legal research, assisting the Risk Management Department with indemnity claim reviews, and supporting other departments as needed. This is a remote position reporting directly to the Senior Vice President, Head of Litigation, North America.
Responsibilities
- Perform case assessments and portfolio management
- Oversee and manage outside counsel handling litigation
- Attend arbitrations, mediations, court hearings, and trials as necessary
- Manage financial expenditures of litigation cases, including reserving and billing
- Conduct financial analyses to optimize case outcomes
- Handle EP, GL, Auto, and Bankruptcy claims and lawsuits, including high exposure matters
- Respond to EP attorney letters as needed
- Complete legal research projects
- Assist with drafting and implementing policies
- Review training and advertising materials
- Serve as primary contact for Risk Management Department regarding indemnity claims, tenders, discovery, pleadings, and settlement agreements
- Manage subpoena function daily, including retention of outside counsel
- Manage summer legal intern program
- Assist Senior Vice President, Head of Litigation, with preparation of various monthly and quarterly reports and presentations
- Maintain monthly calendars for GL, EP, Auto trials, arbitrations, and mediations
- Interact with insurers, brokers, and Group and Divisional Risk Management as needed
Requirements
Education and Experience
- Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
- Admission to the bar in the state of residence
- Minimum of ten years of legal practice, preferably starting at a prominent national law firm before transitioning to in-house roles
- Preferably three years of in-house legal experience
- First chair trial experience preferred
- Experience with employment law, general liability law, and auto claims
- Broad legal knowledge including litigation, employment law, auto, and general liability law
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, Westlaw, and willingness to learn company risk management and legal billing software
Competencies
- Ability to work independently with minimal assistance
- In-depth understanding of legal issues affecting organizations
- Capability to develop legal strategies and objectives
- Effective presentation of legal issues to senior management
- Excellent judgment and analytical skills with a solution-oriented approach
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Working Conditions and Physical/Mental Demands
- Maintain composure under pressure and in urgent situations
- Must meet company standards for controlled substance testing and behavioral assessments
- Ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently
- Extensive computer use
- Handling sensitive and confidential information
- Regular talking and hearing
- Frequent sitting; occasional walking, reaching, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling
- Frequent lifting/moving up to 10 pounds; occasional lifting/moving up to 25 pounds
- Close and distance vision with ability to adjust focus
- Primarily office environment work
- Required to travel on company business as needed
Compensation and Benefits
- Retirement plan
- Employer-provided medical and dental coverage
- Company-paid life insurance
- Voluntary life and disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Discount program
- Paid holidays
- Paid time off (vacation, sick time, or PTO depending on local requirements)
- Some employees may have access to earned wages prior to payday (restrictions and fees may apply)
Location
This is a remote position.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The organization is committed to equal employment opportunity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.