Associate General Counsel - Litigation (Finance)

Job Description:

We are looking for a highly experienced corporate litigation attorney to fill the newly created role of Associate General Counsel - Litigation.

This role will be responsible for enterprise-level oversight of litigation and dispute management at Mars, working in collaboration with legal colleagues across our business segments globally.

The Associate General Counsel - Litigation will play a critical role in overseeing major litigation as well as in developing and implementing a holistic strategy for litigation and dispute management at Mars that effectively mitigates risk, controls costs, and ultimately supports delivery of business objectives with the highest degree of ethics and integrity.

What are we looking for?

• Law Degree and member in good standing of bar of U.S. state
• Minimum of 12-15 years of litigation experience, with a strong preference for candidates with both law firm and in-house global corporate experience, and experience managing other legal professionals
• Proven track record of managing all aspects of complex litigation, including class actions, commercial disputes, and regulatory enforcement actions
• Deep and innovative experience managing and negotiating relationships with outside counsel, controlling litigation costs, loss recovery opportunities, etc.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to align legal strategies with business goals
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization
• Experience establishing or expanding an in-house litigation group is a plus

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Oversee litigation/enforcement and related matters either directly or in consultation with corporate and segment legal associates around the world, including with respect to key strategic legal and business decision-making and supervision of outside counsel.
• Develop and execute vision for litigation management consistent with our decentralized operating model, in collaboration with corporate and segment legal associates, including with respect to litigation-related training, policies and procedures, risk assessment and monitoring, remediation, revenue generation opportunities, and other key activities.
• Monitor litigation and enforcement trends worldwide and assist senior business and legal leaders to devise preventative and proactive steps to mitigate litigation or financial or reputational risk
• Prepare reports and presentations on significant litigation matters and risk exposures for the General Counsel, Legal Leadership Team, and other key stakeholders
• Partner with Corporate Affairs and/or Corporate Communications on public litigation and regulatory investigations to help manage reputational risk
• Conduct, manage, and/or advise internal investigations as appropriate
• Together with the Center of Legal Excellence (Legal Operations), provide oversight and/or guidance for:
  
  • eDiscovery (preservation, collection and review) strategies
  • Records management/records retention strategies
  • Litigation budgets, manage outside counsel fees (to include negotiating alternative fee arrangements), and control costs associated with litigation while ensuring high-quality legal representation

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.