Head of Litigation, International Disputes and Investigations

Wolf Global is seeking an experienced litigator to take responsibility for the disputes, litigation, and arbitration practice of Wolf, P.A., working across Wolf, P.A. and Wolf Global on significant matters involving international clients, complex facts, cross-border investigations, and high priority, high exposure situations.

This is first and foremost a litigation role. We are looking for someone who can lead significant matters, lead other lawyers, as well as embedded investigations and intelligence professionals, and take responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of the firm’s disputes practice.

About the Role

The Head of Disputes will take responsibility for the firm’s litigation matters from inception through resolution.

You will lead matters involving:

• Federal civil litigation
• International private wealth and corporate disputes
• Strategic use of § 1782
• Asset tracing and asset recovery
• Strategic and specialized investigations
• Matters involving sophisticated global assets, international counterparties, and high net worth private clients

You should be capable of stepping into an active matter, understanding the facts and objectives, determining what needs to be done, and leading the matter forward. You will draft and review pleadings, manage discovery, take and defend depositions, litigate motions, handle evidentiary and non-evidentiary hearings, develop litigation strategy, supervise other lawyers, work with investigations and intelligence professionals, work with local and foreign counsel, and try cases when circumstances require.

You will also take responsibility for the disputes practice itself: how matters are staffed and managed, the quality of the firm’s written and oral advocacy, the development of other lawyers, and the continued development of the practice.

How We Work

Litigation at this firm does not exist in isolation.

Many of our matters begin before a case is filed. In other matters, however, we are called upon after a case has been open and pending for some time. Most of our matters are international, involve investigations in multiple jurisdictions, and require consideration be given to reputational concerns. Not infrequently, we are asked to build not only a civil case, but also a criminal prosecution. 

The facts and the issues the client initially brings to us may not ultimately prove to be the facts that matter. Therefore, we do not begin by asking what motion should be filed or what cause of action should be asserted. Instead, we begin by determining what happened, what we can prove, what we can disprove, what the client is trying to accomplish, and what combination of litigation, investigation, and strategy is most likely to accomplish it. 

The Head of Disputes must be comfortable working this way.

You will work directly with firm leadership and Wolf Global’s investigations and intelligence professionals. You will have access to investigative capabilities and resources that most litigators do not ordinarily have, and you will be expected to know when and how they might be used to advance a case.

The goal is not to engage in activity. The goal is to resolve the problem.

Who We’re Looking For

We are seeking a lawyer with substantial experience leading federal litigation. Although we would prefer that you have experience trying cases to verdict, we understand that complex litigation is more often than not resolved prior to trial.

Ideal experience includes all or most of the following:

• International or cross-border disputes
• Significant U.S. federal civil litigation
• International private wealth disputes
• Litigation involving § 1782
• Experience leading investigations
• Asset tracing and asset recovery
• International judgment enforcement
• Matters involving sophisticated financial records, global assets, international counterparties, or high-net-worth private clients

Most importantly, we want someone whose litigation instincts, strategic discipline, and persuasive abilities inspire confidence. Your writing should be excellent. Your advocacy should be effective. Your judgment should be able to be trusted.

We are looking for someone who can handle a courtroom while leveraging our investigative and strategic strengths.

This is also a leadership role. You should be capable of leading lawyers and investigations and intelligence professionals, establishing standards, developing people, making difficult decisions, and taking responsibility for the quality and effectiveness of the litigation practice.

Bar membership in New York, the District of Columbia, Florida, or Texas is required, and admission to at least one federal district court is required. 

Regarding a Book of Business

A portable book of business is welcome but not required.

We are interested in lawyers who have spent their careers doing sophisticated work, including those whose firms or partners have historically been responsible for originating that work.

The immediate responsibility is to lead and continue developing the litigation practice and to be responsible for the matters in it. Over time, we expect the Head of Disputes to contribute to the continued growth of the practice and the firm.

What This Role Makes Possible

This is an opportunity to take responsibility for a litigation practice rather than simply inherit a caseload.

You will have substantial autonomy, direct access to firm leadership, sophisticated matters, international clients, and investigative resources that can materially change what is possible in litigation.

You will also have the opportunity to help continue building something.

Wolf Global and Wolf, P.A. were not created to replicate traditional professional services firms. They were created specifically for the situations into which we are called. We combine disciplines because those situations cannot neatly be divided into legal, investigative, financial, reputational, or strategic problems. We are looking for a litigation leader who understands the distinction.

Location

Candidates must be in New York, Washington, D.C., Miami, Dallas, or Houston.