Assistant General Counsel, Litigation

Cushman & Wakefield • Chicago, IL

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Assistant General Counsel, Litigation serves as a strategic legal partner and trusted advisor within our corporate legal team. This role leads the management of litigation and pre‑litigation matters across the United States for a fast‑paced, growth-oriented real estate services organization. The ideal candidate combines strong litigation expertise with exceptional judgment, an enterprise mindset, and the ability to influence and collaborate with stakeholders at all levels. You will provide proactive, solutions-focused counsel to mitigate risk, advance business objectives, and support the company’s commitment to operational excellence, compliance, and responsible corporate governance.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school required.
• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• 8+ years of relevant litigation experience, preferably with a blend of law firm and in‑house corporate practice.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. litigation processes, strategy, and risk management.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to condense complex legal issues for business audiences.
• Strong negotiation capabilities and sound business judgment.
• High‑level analytical, problem‑solving, and critical-thinking abilities.
• Resilient, composed, and decisive under pressure.
• Commitment to integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Ability to build trust, influence stakeholders, and collaborate in a matrixed environment.

Nice To Haves

• Background in the real estate services, property management, or related industry strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success managing outside counsel and leading complex litigation matters.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a diverse portfolio of U.S. litigation and dispute matters.
• Select, oversee, and direct outside counsel to ensure efficient, high‑quality representation aligned with business priorities.
• Serve as the primary liaison between outside counsel and internal business leaders, ensuring seamless communication and strategic alignment.
• Manage pre‑litigation matters, including investigative assessments, responses to demand letters, and early-stage dispute resolution.
• Drive internal fact-gathering efforts, including document collection, witness interviews, and preparation for depositions and testimony.
• Maintain and optimize matter management and e‑billing systems to ensure accurate tracking, reporting, and forecasting.
• Prepare executive-level litigation reports, KPIs, trend analyses, and risk assessments to support senior leadership decision-making.
• Deliver clear, concise legal guidance on complex matters while balancing risk, operational impact, and business objectives.
• Partner cross-functionally with Legal, HR, Risk, Compliance, Operations, and business units on strategy and issue resolution.
• Support other legal initiatives and special projects as assigned

Benefits

• Cushman & Wakefield also provides eligible employees with an opportunity to enroll in a variety of benefit programs, generally including health, vision, and dental insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings accounts, retirement savings plans, life, and disability insurance programs, and paid and unpaid time away from work.
• In addition to a comprehensive benefits package, Cushman and Wakefield provide eligible employees with competitive pay, which may vary depending on eligibility factors such as geographic location, date of hire, total hours worked, job type, business line, and applicability of collective bargaining agreements.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree