Senior Counsel - Employment & Litigation

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary:

The Senior Counsel Employment & Litigation will utilize their experience to proactively manage a range of litigation matters with a primary focus on employment related matters. This is a new role that will report to the Assistant General Counsel Labor & Employment and will also provide support to the Assistant General Counsel Litigation. The Senior Counsel Employment & Litigation will play a key role in successfully and cost effectively executing on the Companys strategy in litigated matters while also proactively working to improve processes and policies to ensure compliance with frequently changing employment laws. The successful candidate will have substantial litigation experience (including in employment law matters) with firsthand experience in fact finding, discovery, legal research and analysis, substantive motion practice, and preferably oral arguments and trials. The role requires a pragmatic and collaborative approach to working with colleagues and outside counsel to effectively and efficiently address disputed matters. The role is based at the Companys headquarters office in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Essential Job Responsibilities:

• Support the pro-active and strategic management of the Companys employment and commercial litigation, including fact investigations, legal research and analysis, drafting of pleadings, position statements and substantive motions, discovery, trial and mediation preparation, etc.
• Keep current on frequently changing federal and state employment laws and partner with the business on compliance, including leave laws, classification requirements, wage and hour laws, non-competition legislation, etc.
• Proactively identify and help drive continuous improvement in employment -related policies and processes.
• Oversee outside counsel representation of the Company in litigation, including selection of counsel, quality of representation, strategy, negotiations, budgeting, and cost management.
• Support employment and litigation due diligence in M&A deals.
• Assist with developing and providing employment related training.
• Assist with employment related audits conducted by various regulatory agencies.
• Assist with immigration matters.
• Assist with managing ethics and compliance hotline.
• Provide support for Company and Legal team initiatives outside of core areas of responsibility as needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelors Degree and a JD from an accredited law school.
• Active member in good standing of Illinois bar or qualified for obtaining status as authorized House Counsel in Illinois.
• At least three years of relevant experience and training at a well-regarded law firm.
• Working knowledge of employment law in multiple states, with preference for experience providing advice on matters in Illinois, California, and Missouri.
• Significant experience with litigation of employment matters in multiple jurisdictions, with preference for experience that includes class action litigation.
• Ability to effectively manage outside counsel to provide successful and cost-effective results.
• Exceptional organization and time management skills with the ability to prioritize, coordinate and satisfy numerous competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to integrity and confidentiality.
• Sound, pragmatic legal and business judgment.
• Self-confident and self-directed, while collaborative.
• Exceptional legal analytical and writing skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate in various mediums to a wide variety of audiences.
• Ability to build relationships and develop credibility with internal clients and external stakeholders.
• Ability to analyze data, policies, and processes and propose methods for continuous improvement.
• Willingness and availability to travel occasionally as business requires.