Associate General Counsel, Litigation

About the Role:

The Associate General Counsel, Litigation is responsible for managing a portfolio of litigation, pre-litigation disputes, and related legal matters involving the Company and its affiliated businesses. The attorney will work with business leaders, other members of the Legal Department, outside counsel, insurers, and internal functions to develop litigation strategy, assess exposure, control cost, meet preservation and discovery obligations, and resolve matters in a way that supports the Company's business objectives. The position also advises management on litigation trends and practical steps to reduce future risk.

This is a hybrid role based in Columbus, Ohio. Candidates must reside in the Columbus area. In-office attendance is required for key meetings and collaborations as determined by leadership.

What You’ll Do:

• Independently manage a portfolio of civil litigation, pre-litigation disputes, demand letters, and threatened claims from intake through resolution.


• Conduct early case assessments by identifying the relevant facts and legal issues, evaluating financial and operational exposure, and recommending a practical defense or resolution strategy.


• Select, retain, and direct outside counsel. Establish clear strategy, staffing, budgets, milestones, and reporting expectations, and evaluate performance and results.


• Review and provide direction on pleadings, motions, discovery, deposition preparation, expert work, trial preparation, and appellate issues. Work with employees and business teams to gather facts and prepare witnesses.


• Manage legal holds, preservation, document collection, and e-discovery in coordination with Information Technology, Information Security, records personnel, custodians, vendors, and outside counsel.


• Represent the Company in mediations, settlement conferences, depositions, hearings, and other proceedings when appropriate and permitted.


• Manage litigation spend, including matter budgets, outside counsel invoices, alternative fee arrangements, accruals, and forecasts. Maintain complete and current information in matter management and e-billing systems.


• Coordinate timely notice and reporting to insurance brokers and carriers, assist with coverage issues, and support recovery of covered defense costs and losses.


• Provide clear, concise updates to the Chief Legal Officer and other leaders regarding case status, exposure, strategy, significant developments, and recommended decisions.


• Manage or support subpoenas, third-party discovery, regulatory or enforcement matters, and other legal process as assigned, coordinating with Privacy, Compliance, Human Resources, and other functions as appropriate.


• Identify patterns and root causes reflected in claims and litigation. Recommend operational, policy, contract, training, or control changes that may reduce legal risk or improve outcomes.


• Help develop litigation playbooks, outside counsel guidelines, discovery procedures, templates, and other scalable processes. Support other Legal Department matters as needed.


• Other duties as assigned

What You’ll Need:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.


• Active license in good standing to practice law in at least one United States jurisdiction and ability to satisfy any applicable in-house counsel registration requirements.


• At least 5 years of substantial civil litigation experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, government agency, or a combination of those settings.


• Experience handling significant matters through key stages of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, mediation, and trial preparation.


• Demonstrated ability to independently manage litigation, direct outside counsel, assess case value, make strategic recommendations, and control legal spend.


• Working knowledge of legal holds, preservation obligations, e-discovery, privilege, and document production.


• Excellent legal research, writing, oral communication, advocacy, and negotiation skills, with the ability to explain complex issues in direct business terms.


• Strong judgment, organization, and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple matters, deadlines, and stakeholders in a changing environment.


• High ethical standards, sound business judgment, and the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across legal and business teams.


• Experience with or willingness to learn AI tools and emerging technologies

What Can Set You Apart:

• Prior in-house litigation experience.


• Experience representing or advising a financial services, consumer reporting, fintech, banking, mortgage, insurance, data, analytics, or other regulated business.


• Experience with class actions, consumer protection claims, privacy or data-related disputes, regulatory enforcement matters, or a high-volume litigation docket.


• Familiarity with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, federal and state consumer protection laws, or state privacy laws.


• Experience with litigation matter management, legal hold, and e-discovery platforms.