Assistant General Counsel

Associate General Counsel, LitigationWe are seeking an experienced Associate General Counsel, Litigation to join our legal team in Charlotte, North Carolina (hybrid schedule). This role is ideal for a highly capable attorney with 7+ years of experience managing complex litigation, pre-litigation disputes, and claims in a law firm, corporate legal department, or similar environment.The Associate General Counsel, Litigation will serve as a strategic legal advisor responsible for overseeing a diverse portfolio of commercial, product liability, employment, transportation, and other civil litigation matters. The successful candidate will have demonstrated expertise in case assessment, litigation strategy, trial preparation, alternative dispute resolution, outside counsel management, witness preparation, risk evaluation, and settlement negotiations.This position will lead all phases of dispute management, including early case evaluation, fact investigation, discovery, e-discovery and document preservation, motion practice, mediation, trial support, and resolution. The role requires the ability to assess legal and business risk, develop practical litigation strategies, manage litigation budgets, oversee outside counsel, and communicate effectively with executive leadership and business stakeholders.The ideal candidate will possess strong advocacy, analytical, and problem-solving skills; sound legal judgment; exceptional written and oral communication abilities; and the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, business-oriented advice. Success in this role requires the ability to manage a significant litigation docket, coordinate cross-functional internal teams, prepare corporate representatives and witnesses, evaluate insurance and indemnity issues, and balance legal risk with business objectives in a fast-paced environment.The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, highly organized, and comfortable operating in a matrixed environment while partnering with internal stakeholders across operations, manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, human resources, risk management, finance, and executive leadership to protect the company's interests and drive favorable litigation outcomes.Key litigation skills highlighted include early case assessment and risk evaluation, litigation and trial strategy development, management of complex litigation portfolios, outside counsel selection and oversight, discovery and e-discovery management, legal hold and document preservation obligations, mediation and settlement negotiations, witness and corporate representative preparation, expert witness management, insurance coverage and indemnity analysis, litigation budgeting and reserve management, executive-level reporting and communications, cross-functional investigations and fact development, dispute avoidance and risk mitigation counseling, trial support and courtroom readiness.Required qualifications include a J.D. from an accredited law school, active state bar membership in good standing, 7 or more years of litigation experience at a law firm, in-house legal department, or comparable legal environment, significant experience in commercial litigation, product liability litigation, employment litigation, insurance-related disputes, or other complex civil litigation, demonstrated ability to manage outside counsel, including case strategy, budgets, staffing, and performance, experience drafting case assessments, legal analyses, litigation reports, and executive-level summaries, experience actively managing an active docket of litigation and pre-litigation matters, experience supporting or participating in mediation, settlement negotiations, and alternative dispute resolution proceedings, strong understanding of litigation processes, including discovery, motion practice, fact development, expert management, and case evaluation, familiarity with e-discovery processes, legal holds, and document preservation obligations, experience advising business clients regarding litigation risks and dispute resolution strategies, strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines, strong written and oral communication skills, sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism.Technical/professional skills include proficiency with legal research platforms and tools (such as Westlaw, LexisNexis, Practical Law, or similar), comfort using or learning AI-enabled legal tools for legal research, document review, issue spotting, case assessment, and productivity enhancement, experience with Microsoft Purview, e-discovery platforms, or litigation management systems is desired but not required, strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, ability to synthesize complex legal issues into practical, business-oriented advice.Desired but not required include training from a top-tier law firm, judicial clerkship experience, prior in-house experience supporting an industrial, manufacturing, distribution, consumer products, packaging, or other operationally complex business, experience managing significant product liability, mass tort, employment, transportation, commercial, or class action litigation, experience preparing corporate representatives, managing expert witnesses, and supporting trial teams.In this role, success means managing disputes proactively and efficiently, with strong business alignment, delivering practical, timely, and business-oriented advice regarding litigation risk, building trusted relationships with business leaders and serving as a strategic legal advisor, bringing discipline, visibility, and accountability to litigation oversight, outside counsel management, and internal reporting, achieving favorable litigation outcomes while balancing risk, cost, and business objectives, identifying opportunities to reduce legal exposure and improve dispute prevention efforts across the organization, helping the legal department operate as a modern, strategic, and solution-oriented partner to the business.This is a compelling opportunity for an attorney who wants a broad, high-impact litigation role in a growing industrial business. You will work closely with senior legal leadership, partner across the organization, and play an important role in shaping how the company manages litigation risk, resolves disputes, and protects the business's interests. We are looking for someone who is not only technically strong, but also curious, collaborative, and energized by the opportunity to help improve processes and drive effective outcomes. If you are ready to bring sound judgment, strong execution, and a practical mindset to a role with significant visibility and influence, we encourage you to apply.