Senior Counsel (Litigation)

Overview

A leading modern media organization is seeking an experienced Senior Counsel specializing in litigation and disputes to join their Legal and Business Affairs team. This role focuses on managing the company's disputes and claims, including copyright, defamation, privacy, commercial claims, and third-party subpoenas, as well as supervising outside counsel for litigation matters.

Responsibilities

• Oversee and handle a wide range of claims and disputes, including defamation, copyright, trademark, privacy, employment, and commercial matters.
• Lead responses to copyright and other pre-litigation disputes by coordinating internal fact-gathering, researching relevant law, and negotiating and reviewing settlement agreements.
• Manage outside counsel in active litigation and other matters, reviewing pleadings and drafts to ensure efficient and strategic case handling aligned with business and reputational priorities.
• Lead e-discovery and document preservation processes, including issuing legal holds and managing document collection.
• Develop and refine workflows for preservation and production from platforms such as Gmail, Slack, and Google Drive, collaborating with IT and other teams to ensure compliance.
• Respond to subpoenas and other third-party legal processes by evaluating scope and appropriateness, coordinating fact gathering and document collection, and ensuring timely and appropriate responses.
• Coordinate with insurance brokers and carriers to submit claims, respond to adjusters, and ensure appropriate coverage.
• Research and monitor developments in relevant laws and implement internal practices and policies to maintain compliance with applicable local, state, and federal laws.
• Assist with other legal matters or projects as needed.
• Collaborate closely with editorial, HR, finance, operations, and executive teams to mitigate legal risks and develop proactive solutions.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and licensed to practice law in good standing.
• Minimum of 4 years of relevant experience, including prior law firm experience and at least two years in an in-house legal role.
• Experience handling copyright claims.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to clearly explain complex legal issues to non-lawyers.
• Strategic and critical thinker capable of collaborating with clients across the organization.
• Strong interpersonal skills and attention to detail.
• Creative problem solver with good judgment and a sense of curiosity.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
• Resourceful and proactive with the ability to balance legal risk against practical business needs.
• Ability to work well under pressure and manage multiple high-priority projects and deadlines.

Preferred Location

This position is preferably based in Washington, DC or New York but can be remote or regional to either location to allow for periodic travel to company offices.

Compensation & Benefits

• This is a permanent, full-time, benefits-eligible position.
• Salary range: $159,000 to $175,000 USD annually, with final salary based on skills and experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package to support employees at various life stages.

Equal Opportunity

The organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, disability, national origin, protected veteran status, age, or any other status protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations are provided during the application process for candidates with disabilities.