Description:
Overview:The Assistant General Counsel, Litigation provides counsel across the Brunswick enterprise on litigation and claims. The role strategically and cost-effectively manages a complex and diverse litigation portfolio, partners with outside counsel, and identifies and implements key strategies for reducing litigation and claims risks.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Oversee the Company's global litigation portfolio, including product liability, warranty, and commercial disputes.
- Develop and implement enterprise litigation program strategy.
- Analyze litigation and claims portfolio and provide thoughtful reporting to senior management, the Board of Directors and/or Board committees.
- Directly manage corporate and discontinued operations litigation and claims; manage or provide support for divisional litigation and claims.
- Assist with internal investigations and work with the Product Performance Committee to discuss product compliance and improve product safety.
- Identify areas of risk, analyze the exposure profile, and make an early determination for an efficient settlement resolution or aggressive defense of claims.
- Provide notice of claims to and work with the Company's insurance carriers that insure the Company's exposures.
- Actively manage outside litigation counsel and expert witness network, including identifying preferred providers, and partnering with counsel and experts on strategy, efficiency, budgeting, and staffing.
- Manage litigation budgets and the quarterly reserve-setting process; work with accounting and outside auditors to ensure proper controls and reporting regarding the reserve-setting process.
- Provide cross-functional advice and counsel regarding litigation, claims, and pre-litigation disputes, including process improvements to reduce risk, creative approaches to managing risk and resolving disputes, and approaches to litigation strategy.
- Responsible for legal holds and document retention policy and process, including continuous collaboration with IT regarding current systems and emerging technologies.
- Supervise and provide trusted leadership to paralegals and support staff.
- Clearly communicate legal advice to a range of stakeholders, including senior leadership, using discretion and independent judgment to explain and provide solutions for complex legal, regulatory, and technical matters.
- Identify and implement process improvements within the Legal Department, and in legal processes with other business teams.
- Collaborate with, support, and train legal and business team members as required and provide appropriate direction and support to Legal Department staff.
- Provide trusted, practical counsel and legal support for corporate and divisional business teams on various commercial matters and projects.
- Provide M&A support, including due diligence, as needed.
Job Specifications:
Required:
- JD from an accredited U.S. law school
- Licensed and in good standing
- 10+ years of litigation and claims experience, including both law firm and in-house experience
- Clear, concise, effective communicator
- Team player
- Demonstrated integrity, initiative, resilience
- Intellectual curiosity, desire to be involved in key Company projects, focus on creative solutions
- Proven ability to balance legal risks and commercial goals with a good business sense
- Willingness to take on new challenges
- Strong analytical skills with high attention to detail and accuracy
- Ability to manage multiple priorities as well as flexibility to adapt to change
- Highly motivated, proactive self-starter with excellent judgment and organizational skills
Preferred:
- Past representation of or in-house experience in a manufacturing company
- Past representation of or in-house experience with a global company