Senior Counsel, Litigation

Job Summary

Preference is that candidate's live in either Maryland, Virginia or Washington D.C.

The position is responsible for managing a portfolio of complex litigation matters which includes significant medical malpractice claims arising in Kaiser Permanente-s Mid-Atlantic States market, consisting of Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. In addition to managing a portfolio of litigation matters and overseeing relationships with outside counsel, the Senior Counsel serves as a trusted legal advisor to operational leaders, risk professionals, and legal colleagues across the organization, particularly concerning Kaiser Permanente-s care delivery system. The role requires the ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance that supports strategic decision-making while advancing Kaiser Permanente's mission and operational objectives. Senior Counsel partners closely with outside counsel to develop litigation and resolution strategies, assess risk, and achieve favorable outcomes in complex matters. The position also works collaboratively with Risk Management, Quality, and clinical leaders to identify and share lessons learned from claims and litigation, helping to drive operational improvements, strengthen processes, and reduce future risk while promoting continuous improvement across the organization.

In addition to the responsibilities listed below, this position is also responsible for managing outside counsel relationships
with a team of litigators to craft overall litigation strategy with the objective of implementing or facilitating company-wide
business objectives and for portfolios of high reputational and economic significance and implementing strategies for cost
control and mitigation; leading collaborations with the business to implement key changes and ensuring alignment with
overall business strategy; overseeing cross-functional collaborations and communications with business groups,
government, clinical, and other groups within KP to ensure achievement towards a common goal; and overseeing practical
and effective legal advice and promoting proactive strategies to prevent, mitigate and resolve legal, regulatory and
enterprise risk. This position may be responsible for proactively identifying government enforcement risk areas and priorities
and communicating and addressing these within compliance and operations and providing training to compliance and
operations on key statutes and regulations that are priorities for the government. This position is responsible for managing
relationships with a team of lawyers to facilitate efficient and proactive legal services; dealing with high-risk cases and
identifying when to elevate as necessary; counseling on remediation of identified risk areas over the course of an
investigation; and implementing guidelines and standards. The position is also responsible for establishing arguments in
preparation of cases; representing KP during legal proceedings, mediation, and negotiation of settlements; providing
strategic legal advice and working on unique and complicated risk initiatives, remediation, and/or compliance projects;
ensuring adherence to legal obligations and settlement agreements; reviewing, evaluating, and aligning team efforts on
resolving complex and unique claims and lawsuits related to unique subject matter expertise; advising the enterprise on
highly complex legal and risk matters; and identifying operational concerns and collaborating with the enterprise to approve
solutions to highly complex and unique concerns.

Essential Responsibilities

• Participates in the creation, review, and negotiation of legal documents by: preparing, drafting, creating, and reviewing
  highly complex and nuanced written legal advice, contracts, and/or other documents related to subject matter expertise;
  overseeing work product of others; and providing highly technical, expert and actionable guidance to clients and other legal professionals (e.g., legal counsel, paralegals, and legal assistants).
• Performs and analyzes legal research by: performing or managing highly complex research and analyses of case law and
  statutory/regulatory authority including but not limited to federal and state laws, rules, regulations, accreditation standards, and/or other applicable guidance; analyzing highly complex industry patterns and trends impacting legal questions or issues; and effectively synthesizing and communicating legal research findings and legal analysis to cross-functional senior business stakeholders to inform program-wide strategy and critical business decisions.
• Assesses legal risk and/or provides legal guidance by: applying expert knowledge of legal principles, business risks,
  regulatory landscape, and compliance considerations to provide legal advice and recommendations on matters highly critical to the organization; leading legal strategies for senior business stakeholders and implementing innovative solutions that mitigate legal risks, drive program-wide business strategy, and further advance Kaiser Permanentes mission; managing and overseeing outside counsel on highly technical and complex legal matters; effectively collaborating with other attorneys to leverage and share expertise and resources in a highly matrixed environment; and overseeing junior-level attorneys and other legal professionals or guiding more junior attorneys in their area of expertise, and as appropriate.
• Contributes to legal planning and strategy by: formulating and managing legal strategy for the implementation of significant and innovative solutions to unique issues; driving the resolution of highly complex legal issues through collaboration among legal colleagues and stakeholders; advising senior stakeholders on health plan and/or care delivery business and/or clinical strategies; engaging with regulatory services and government relations on Kaiser Permanentes advocacy strategies to address legislative, regulatory and litigation risk; and managing, leading, or guiding responses to regulatory actions as appropriate for practice areas (e.g., audits and enforcement actions).
  

Basic Qualifications

Experience

• Minimum five (5) years of experience in litigation (discovery, law & motion, experts, pre-trial, trial/arbitration).
• Minimum ten (10) years of experience as a practicing lawyer.

Education

• Juris Doctorate (JD) or equivalent (e.g., Legum Baccalaureus [LLBs], Legum Magister [LLMs], and Postgraduate Certificate in Laws [PCLLs])

License, Certification, Registration

• State Bar License (from any State where KP does business)

Additional Requirements

• N/A

Preferred Qualifications

• Six years or equivalent experience litigating medical malpractice claims
• Experience managing attorneys and other professionals in medical malpractice defense or having other leadership role with legal professionals in medical malpractice claims.
• Experience working with Risk Management , Quality, and similar departments regarding mitigation or remediation counseling