Director, Litigation Counsel

Newell Brands•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The Director, Litigation Counsel provides strategic, practical, business-oriented advice on a broad range of disputes and litigation matters affecting Newell Brands. The role proactively manages litigation and claims involving product liability, class actions, intellectual property, commercial matters, and insurance coverage. The successful candidate is a hands-on, collaborative, proactive attorney with sound judgment who communicates clearly with legal and non-legal audiences and is comfortable in a fast-paced, matrixed, global organization. The position independently manages significant matters, directs strategy with outside counsel, and serves as a practical, trusted adviser to the business. The role also supports other legal matters and department initiatives, including contract review and negotiation, commercial, advertising and regulatory advice, product safety, legal training, risk management, insurance coverage review, process improvement, knowledge management, and technology adoption. Fluency in AI tools is required.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar and eligibility to provide legal services in Georgia as in-house counsel under applicable law and professional-conduct rules.
At least 5–7 years of relevant litigation experience with a recognized law firm.
Substantial experience handling and directly managing complex litigation.
Experience in products liability litigation.
Demonstrated ability to manage litigated matters, litigation budgets, and multiple competing matters with limited supervision.
Strong legal research, analytical, negotiation, drafting, and oral-advocacy skills.
Demonstrated interest in litigation, including a passion for case development and litigation strategy.
Ability to work independently while seeking guidance and collaborating effectively with colleagues.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership and business clients.
Fluency in AI tools.

Nice To Haves

First-chair trial experience.

Responsibilities

Proactively manage day-to-day pre-suit claims, investigations, discovery (including third-party discovery), and lawsuits.
Direct and supervise outside counsel on litigation matters.
Establish and monitor budgets, forecasts, and accruals, and review outside counsel invoices to promote predictability, efficiency, and value.
Work with business counterparts to identify legal risks and issues raised in pre-litigation, disputes, and other claim-related matters.
Advise stakeholders on compliance with legal requirements, using knowledge of legal precedents and company policies.
Participate in and support other legal matters, including contract review and negotiation, commercial, advertising and regulatory advice, and product safety, as required.
Develop and deliver legal training on risk management, document preservation, privilege, investigations, and other relevant risk areas.
Provide regular reporting on litigation and relevant risk matters to key stakeholders and third parties.
Advise and counsel the legal department and key stakeholders on risk management issues.
Support the product safety team on regulatory issues and reporting as required.
Review and analyze coverage available under insurance programs.
Contribute to Legal Department initiatives, including process improvement, knowledge management, technology adoption, and other projects advancing departmental and Company objectives.