Senior Counsel of Litigation | Kent, Ohio (210292)

Position Overview

Davey Tree has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Litigation Counsel (Counsel) with an interest in joining a dynamic growing legal team at an employee-owned company. Under the supervision of the General Counsel and Associate General Counsel for Litigation the Counsel will be primarily responsible for managing all of Davey Trees auto liability and general liability (third-party property damage and personal injury) lawsuits and small docket of commercial lawsuits. The Counsel will manage Davey Trees outside counsel and insurers to ensure the timely and appropriate handling of litigation to resolution. The Counsel also will be charged with identifying and structuring a strong outside counsel litigation strategy for supporting our operations in the U.S. and Canada.

The Counsel also will work closely with internal stakeholders and leadership to advise on litigation risks and develop and implement strategies for reducing claims and litigation costs. The Counsel will be tasked with engaging and managing relationships with Daveys insurers concerning litigation matters and asked to assist with overall risk management strategies around litigation. Davey Tree is looking for someone who is highly collaborative focused on legal and business solutions and demonstrated leadership capabilities.

This is a hybrid (Minimum of 3 days in office) schedule: occasional travel is required.

Essential Job Functions/Responsibilities

• Manage all aspects of auto and general liability litigation and small docket of commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts across the country including supervising outside counsel collecting facts and evidence directing case strategies reviewing budgets and invoices and advising internal stakeholders on case updates and liability risk.
• Retain oversee and direct the scope of all work of outside counsel in litigation matters (such as negotiating fee arrangements cost-effective staffing of matters and setting and executing a litigation strategy to achieve best possible outcome).
• Review and advise on substantive work related to litigation including retention of experts editing legal briefs and discovery responses and directing and participating in settlement negotiations.
• Participate in and provide direction and guidance to outside counsel in mediations arbitrations and trials.
• Counsel internal stakeholders on claim/litigation trend analyses and risk reduction.
• Supervise and manage external claims and litigation relationships including Davey Trees insurers and outside counsel.
• Advise internal stakeholders on risk management strategies and develop and implement preventative measures.
• Establish and maintain relationships and trust with business and support department partners.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure compliance in business operations.
• Provide strategic legal advice and counsel to internal clients regarding legal and litigation risks.
• Assessment of lessons Learned from litigation matters and providing solutions for organizational improvement.
• Provide training on litigation risks to business partners operations management and other stakeholders.
• Learn and understand all aspects of Davey Trees business.
• Management of litigation paralegal and close collaboration with claims team.
• Opportunity for growth.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school
• Licensed (and in good standing) in Ohio
• Minimum of ten (10) years experience in all aspects of litigation and/or litigation management including preparing and arguing motions conducting depositions large case discovery and document productions brief writing pre-trial activities and trials
• Management of litigation docket and outside counsel including strategies for managing litigation costs processes and network of outside counsel preferred
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively with outside counsel colleagues internal stakeholders and leadership
• Strong leadership and management skills
• Experience managing and working collaboratively with support staff
• Experience working as in-house counsel preferred
• Ability to identify analyze and mitigate legal risks assess complex legal issues and devise practical strategies and solutions
• Ability to address multiple priorities and set priorities independently; strong time management skills
• Experience counseling clients on a wide variety of litigation and legal risk issues
• Excellent analytical practical strategic and advocacy skills
• Interest in Davey Trees mission
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and high ethical moral and personal values that align with Davey Trees values

Additional Information

What We Offer:*

• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Opportunities for advancement
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match
• Employee-owned company & discounted stock purchase options
• Group Health Plan
• Employee referral bonus program
• Scholarship Program for Children of Employees
• Charitable matching gift program
• Attorney Bar Fees and Continuing Legal Education credits paid

*all listed benefits available to eligible employees

Company Overview

Davey Tree is an employee-owned company that provides tree utility lawn care and environmental consulting services throughout the United States and Canada. Davey Tree was founded in 1880 and has been employee-owned for more than 45 years and has more than 12000 employees. Davey Tree provides a wide range of arboriculture horticulture and environmental consulting services to private companies public utilities local state and federal agencies and various industrial commercial and residential customers.

The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services grounds maintenance and environmental consulting for residential utility commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. We care about our clients each other and the world around us. We offer the resources size and stability of a big company while maintaining the culture entrepreneurial spirit and feel of a small one. We invest in our employees by offering industry-leading training technology and benefits that lead to a rewarding and safe work experience at all levels. Wherever you want to grow your career theres a place for you at Davey. To learn more visit .

Divisional Overview