Description:
The Associate General Counsel (Litigation and Employment Law) will have the opportunity to take on a diverse array of companywide legal responsibilities. Reporting to the General Counsel, this role will provide support to and work closely with staff at all levels of the company and be willing to build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders. The Associate General Counsel will work with internal business leaders to develop and implement strategies and engage with external stakeholders including outside counsel to execute on those strategies and mitigate risk to A 100-Percent Employee-Owned Engineering, Consulting and Construction Firm.The appropriately qualified candidate will be an experienced litigator with a background in the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry and will play a critical role in managing, resolving, and avoiding disputes, advising on employment matters, and drafting and negotiating contracts.
A 100-Percent Employee-Owned Engineering, Consulting and Construction Firm would prefer to locate the Associate General Counsel at its headquarters in Sparks, MD, but would consider locating the position in one of the following A 100-Percent Employee-Owned Engineering, Consulting and Construction Firm regional offices: Harrisburg, PA; Newark, DE; Raleigh, NC; Rock Hill, SC; Duluth, GA; or Tampa, FL.
Duties, Responsibilities & Other
The responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:
- Manage, resolve, and avoid disputes, claims and litigation that involves professional liability, auto accidents, workers' compensation and general liability matters. Such responsibilities include coordination with insurance carriers and outside counsel, development of strategy options, and assessing legal, reputational, and business risk in difficult and high-stakes situations under acute time pressure.
- Manage affirmative claims, including advising and assisting on client non-payment and subconsultant defaults.
- Advise internal stakeholders striving to deescalate project disputes.
- Initiate and manage initiatives to prevent litigation, including identifying structural and process improvements and providing professional trainings on risk mitigation across the company.
- Manage internal procedures and processes related to third party subpoenas, document discovery, as well as reviewing draft pleadings.
- Manage responses to requests for information and investigatory requests from regulatory and government agencies.
- Maintain reports and data regarding claim status and provide advice related to requests for litigation disclosures.
- Collaborate with all levels of staff, including but not limited to the Human Resources Department, to advise on a variety of employment law matters, including but not limited to policies, termination practices, worker's comp, immigration, etc.
- Investigate and prepare reports of findings into allegations of legal wrongdoing and breaches of company policy.
- Provide guidance on changes to the legal landscape that affects employment laws for a multi-state employer.
- Review and negotiate contracts with internal stakeholders and third parties.
- Assist with drafting, updating and maintaining contract templates across the company.
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor degree from an ABA accredited law school (required).
- Member in good standing with any U.S. state bar (required).
- Minimum of seven (7) years of relevant legal experience (required) with litigation and/or employment law experience within a law firm and/or in-house (preferred).
- Experience within the AEC industry, including knowledge of potential risks and mitigation methods/strategies within the industry (preferred).
- Strong interpersonal, communication, organizational and analytical skills and the ability to influence and build relationships.
- Ability to effectively manage multiple matters (from inception through implementation) simultaneously and flexibility to shift focus and priority as business needs change while also consistently maintaining strong attention to detail, accuracy and quality.
- Demonstrated exceptional capabilities with computer and software systems (Microsoft office family, etc.
- Pre-employment drug screening is a condition of employment. Background and motor vehicle checks may be required based upon position.
- Comply with all A 100-Percent Employee-Owned Engineering, Consulting and Construction Firm policies and procedures
- Other duties as assigned
- Operate within specified (corporate or project) budget parameters
- Meet periodically with XL/Caitlin/AXA legal counsel
- Report directly to General Counsel
- Visit regularly A 100-Percent Employee-Owned Engineering, Consulting and Construction Firm's tier one offices (Sparks, Harrisburg, Newark, Hanover, Raleigh, Rock Hill, Duluth, Tampa and Houston)
- Attend the semi-annual managers meeting