Description:
Position Summary:Focus is seeking a litigation attorney to join our in-house Legal team as Assistant Vice President, Senior Associate Counsel – Litigation. Under the direction of senior members of the Focus Legal team, in this newly-created role, you will support a rapidly growing organization by helping to manage a range of commercial, business and employment-related claims and disputes, including mediations, arbitrations, administrative claims and litigation. You will work closely with internal stakeholders and outside counsel, with a particular focus on responding to subpoena and third-party record requests, assisting in the assessment, defense and resolution of disputes, and supporting insurance carrier claims and correspondence. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented, business-minded litigation attorney who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is eager to build and grow an in-house litigation practice.
This role can be based in St. Louis, MO (preferred); New York, NY; Boston, MA.
Primary Responsibilities:
Litigation & Dispute Support
- Support management and resolution of claims and disputes, including drafting and reviewing claims, pleadings, motions, correspondence and internal matter summaries.
- Coordinate with Focus Legal and business teams, and outside counsel, on assessment, defense and resolution strategy in the context of demands, mediations, arbitrations, administrative claims and litigation.
- Lead administration of dispute-related processes, including insurance notices and claims management, document production, litigation holds, internal status reporting and budgeting.
- Assist with internal fact-gathering and review of case-related materials.
- Assist with insurance claim notifications and maintenance of carrier contact information and correspondence files.
- Prepare and deliver periodic updates to insurance carriers on case status, key developments, budgets and upcoming milestones, working with supervising attorneys and outside counsel.
- Coordinate collection and sharing of pleadings, discovery, invoices and other supporting materials requested by carriers, consistent with confidentiality and privilege requirements.
- Help track defense costs and other coverage-related information needed for reporting and internal review.
- Support intake and tracking for subpoenas and third-party discovery/records requests.
- Review and help draft responses, ensuring alignment with legal requirements, internal policies and privacy obligations.
- Coordinate document collection and production with internal partners (e.g., IT, Human Resources, Compliance, etc.).
- Communicate with issuing counsel and agencies on scope and timing under guidance from supervising attorneys.
- Maintain accurate logs and reporting for subpoenas, records requests and related productions.
- Assist with document review, including identifying responsiveness, confidentiality and privilege issues.
- Help evaluate and flag confidentiality and privilege risks, and support privilege log preparation as needed.
- Support implementation and administration of legal holds, including tracking acknowledgements and coordinating with custodians.
- Track deadlines, filings, and matter calendars, and escalate issues promptly as needed.
- Help maintain and improve processes, templates, and matter-management tools.
- Partner with Focus' compliance, operations, human resources and business teams to gather information, coordinate responses, and provide practical legal support.
- Assist in preparing periodic updates on litigation trends, risks, and outcomes for internal stakeholders.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
- Active attorney's license in good standing in relevant jurisdiction(s).
- 2–5+ years of legal experience with a strong foundation in litigation (law firm, government, or in-house). Experience in the registered investment adviser / financial services space is a plus.
- Strong legal writing and analytical skills.
- Familiarity with civil procedure, discovery rules, and privilege concepts.
- Comfort with eDiscovery workflows and common matter-management or document-review tools (experience with specific platforms is helpful but not required).
- Experience supporting subpoena responses and third-party records requests.
- Demonstrated ability to manage insurance carrier reporting and coverage-related communications in connection with litigation is a plus.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality of highly sensitive matters.
- Comfortable in a fast-paced environment and able to adapt to changing priorities.
- Proactive problem solver with strong follow-through and a service mindset.
- Excellent organization and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Strong ability to collaborate cross-functionally with business leaders and stakeholders.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts to both legal and non-legal audiences.
This position is an exempt position. The annualized base pay range for this role is expected to be between $125,000–$135,000 base salary compensation range. Actual base pay may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, experience, subject matter expertise, geographic location where work will be performed, and the applicant's skill set. The base pay is just one component of the total compensation package. Other rewards may include an annual cash bonus and a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and 401(k). Please note that the job title is subject to change based on the selected candidate's experience and education.
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