Head of U.S. Litigation

GSK • Warren, NJ

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

We are seeking a versatile and proactive Head of Litigation to join Haleon’s legal team. Haleon is a leader in the development, manufacturing and marketing of oral health, VMS, and over-the-counter (OTC) healthcare products. This position will lead the Haleon's litigation and dispute resolution strategy, overseeing all commercial, product liability, consumer, government investigational, and eDiscovery matters, while driving proactive, cost-conscious management of legal spend through innovative staffing models, alternative fee arrangements, as well as close strategic oversight of outside counsel. This role partners closely with business and functional leaders to mitigate legal risk, protect the company's brands and reputation, and support strategic business objectives. The ideal candidate will be practical, collaborative, and comfortable taking decisions and advising cross-functional stakeholders in a fast-paced environment. The Head of Litigation will report to, and work closely with, the General Counsel of North America, and will have substantial interaction with key leaders throughout the North American and global Haleon business. The Head of Litigation will also partner with colleagues throughout Haleon’s Group Legal department to bring broad expertise and support as required to help Haleon accomplish its business objectives. This role provides significant opportunities for career development both within the Haleon NA legal team and throughout the broader Haleon Legal department.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• Significant litigation experience (>10 years) gained through a combination of leading law firm and in-house legal roles, with demonstrated responsibility for complex, high-stakes disputes.
• Substantial experience managing commercial and class action litigation, product liability matters, consumer claims, government investigations, and regulatory enforcement actions.
• Deep understanding of civil litigation procedures, negotiation, discovery obligations, eDiscovery practices, evidentiary issues, trial strategy, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Proven ability to independently assess legal and business risks, exercise sound judgment, and make timely decisions in ambiguous or fast-moving situations.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing litigation strategies that align legal outcomes with broader business objectives.
• Strong record of managing outside counsel and legal budgets, including implementation of alternative fee arrangements, cost-containment initiatives, performance management frameworks, and other innovative approaches to legal service delivery.
• Experience presenting litigation strategy, risk assessments, and recommendations to executive leadership and other senior stakeholders.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, negotiation, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Strong executive presence, interpersonal skills, and the ability to influence stakeholders across legal, commercial, compliance, regulatory, and operational functions.
• Ability to communicate complex legal concepts clearly and effectively to both legal and non-legal audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and collaborate effectively across a matrixed, global organization.
• High degree of business acumen, personal accountability, sound judgment, and professional integrity.
• Self-motivated, practical, and adaptable leader who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and is comfortable managing multiple competing priorities.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture while supporting the continued development of colleagues and the broader legal function.
• High energy and motivation to learn new areas, stay current with relevant legal developments, influence leadership, and contribute to the success of the business and Group Legal.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting consumer products, consumer health, pharmaceutical, healthcare, regulated products, or similarly complex industries is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute Haleon’s North America litigation and dispute resolution strategy across a diverse portfolio of matters, including commercial disputes, product liability litigation, consumer claims, government investigations, subpoena and regulatory response matters, and eDiscovery initiatives.
• Serve as a principal legal advisor on litigation risk, dispute avoidance, crisis management, investigations, and related strategic business decisions.
• Drive strategic and cost-effective management of litigation spend through budgeting discipline, innovative staffing models, alternative fee arrangements, technology-enabled solutions, and continuous evaluation of resource allocation.
• Oversee litigation reserves, budgeting, forecasting, and reporting processes, providing clear and timely updates to legal leadership and business stakeholders.
• Direct all phases of significant litigation and investigations, including case assessment, discovery, motion practice, trial preparation, settlement strategy, appeals, and alternative dispute resolution.
• Develop and implement proactive litigation prevention and risk mitigation strategies in partnership with commercial, regulatory, quality, safety, medical, compliance, HR, and corporate affairs stakeholders.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice that appropriately balances risk management with commercial objectives and operational realities.
• Manage and optimize Haleon’s panel of outside counsel, ensuring high-quality legal representation, alignment with company objectives, accountability for results, and adherence to performance expectations.
• Lead the company's eDiscovery strategy, including information governance, preservation, collection, review, and production processes, while leveraging technology and process improvements to reduce risk and cost.
• Advise on legal holds, document retention, and data management matters in collaboration with information technology, compliance, records management, and privacy teams.
• Manage government investigations and other high-profile matters, coordinating cross-functional responses and engagement with regulators, enforcement agencies, and external advisors as necessary.
• Collaborate closely with members of Haleon’s global legal organization to ensure consistency of positions, leverage subject matter expertise, and support enterprise-wide legal and compliance initiatives.
• Identify emerging litigation, regulatory, consumer protection, and product liability trends affecting the consumer health sector and proactively advise leadership regarding potential business impacts.
• Prepare succinct and effective communications, presentations, and risk assessments for senior legal leadership and executive management.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and business partnership within the legal function and across the broader organization.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Comprehensive benefits program
• Generous 401(k) plan
• Tuition reimbursement
• Time off programs
• 6 months paid parental leave
• Healthcare programs where the company pays for the majority of your medical coverage for you and your family
• Opportunity to receive a discretionary bonus based on the achievement of key business performance
• Other incentive/recognition programs

What This Job Offers

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