Assistant General Counsel - Litigation

Northwestern Mutual•Milwaukee, WI

3d•$220,000 - $330,000

About The Position

Northwestern Mutual is a FORTUNE 109 company with $41B in revenue that provides a wide range of financial services to free Americans from financial anxiety. As the leading provider of life insurance, we generate an impressive revenue of $40 billion and serve over 5 million customers. As a mutual company, Northwestern Mutual exists solely to serve its clients—delivering protection, financial strength, and product value through robust financial planning and solutions that include both risk and investment products. The Company has the highest financial strength ratings awarded to any life insurance company by all four major financial ratings agencies. The Northwestern Mutual Law Department includes approximately 130 legal professionals, including 80 attorneys who represent a broad range of legal practices and educational backgrounds. The Department is also supported by highly skilled paralegals and research and administrative professionals who play an integral role in our operations. We are proud of our collegial, collaborative culture and our commitment to valuing one another as people and professionals. The Northwestern Mutual Law Department provides legal services across most disciplines primarily in-house, engaging outside counsel on a limited, strategic basis. The Department is organized into nine practice teams: Litigation; Distribution; Digital and Enterprise Operations; Insurance Products and Operations; Investment Products and Advisory Services; Corporate; Enterprise Governance; Private Securities Investments; and Real Estate Investments. Our attorneys partner closely with business leaders to understand objectives, anticipate risk, and deliver practical, timely guidance that supports the Company’s strategy. The Litigation Team within Northwestern Mutual’s Law Department represents the Company in all litigation filed against or by the Company. As a member of the Team, you will lead matters from intake through resolution, set strategy in partnership with internal business leaders and outside counsel, and help drive consistent, scalable approaches to litigation risk management across the enterprise.

Requirements

10+ years of experience practicing complex civil litigation (law firm, in-house, or a combination), including significant responsibility for case strategy, discovery, motion practice, and resolution.
Juris Doctor (J.D.) with an exemplary academic record and admission in good standing to at least one U.S. jurisdiction; license to practice law in the State of Wisconsin or a commitment to become licensed within the first year of employment is required.
Strong business acumen and exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical guidance for business leaders and senior management.
Mindset of a strategic partner to the business—understands business objectives and stakeholder needs, connects the dots across the enterprise, and serves as a problem-solver who delivers insightful, practical, and strategic advice that drives viable, tangible solutions and desired outcomes.
Demonstrated flexibility and ability to adapt to change, operate independently, and prioritize and re-prioritize in a dynamic environment while driving matters to completion with limited oversight.
Strength to solve complex challenges using sound judgment and practical business sense, balancing legal risk, business objectives, cost, and reputational considerations; comfort managing outside counsel budgets, performance, and metrics.
Demonstrated ability to provide real-time, solution-oriented, succinct legal advice to professionals at all levels throughout a large enterprise, including on sensitive or high-exposure matters.

Responsibilities

Serve as in-house counsel on a portfolio of complex disputes, partnering with business clients to understand the facts, objectives, and risk posture.
Develop and execute litigation strategy with outside counsel, including case assessments, early-disposition opportunities, motion practice, discovery strategy, expert strategy, and trial/arbitration preparation.
Lead and oversee all phases of discovery (including eDiscovery), coordinating with internal custodians, IT, and outside counsel; and ensure timely, accurate production.
Prepare and counsel executives and employees for depositions, hearings, mediations, and trial testimony; align witnesses on case themes; and coordinate logistics and messaging with outside counsel and internal communications as needed.
Oversee, review, and edit pleadings, dispositive motions, briefs, and other court filings to ensure accuracy, consistency with strategy, and alignment with company objectives and risk tolerance.
Evaluate settlement options and recommend resolution strategies; lead/support negotiations and mediations; advise on settlement authority and terms; and document outcomes and learnings for continuous improvement.
Partner with Law Department colleagues, business leaders, and senior management to assess and mitigate litigation exposure, drive best practices, and manage outside counsel performance and budgets.

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