Litigation & Compliance Counsel

Eastman•Kingsport, TN

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Eastman is a global specialty materials company founded in 1920, dedicated to enhancing the quality of life through innovative products and solutions while prioritizing safety and sustainability. The company employs approximately 13,000 people worldwide and serves customers in over 100 countries. This role is based on-site at Eastman's Corporate Headquarters in Kingsport, TN. We are seeking a skilled Litigation & Compliance Counsel to join the legal team, reporting to the VP of Litigation & Compliance. This position involves hands-on litigation, legal counsel, and expertise in anti-bribery, corruption, and internal investigations. The successful candidate will provide advice on litigation, compliance, and internal investigations, manage pre-litigation and litigation matters (including drafting filings and court appearances), oversee outside counsel, assist in compliance training, and handle internal and government investigations.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
Minimum of 6 years of civil litigation experience, with demonstrated experience managing complex matters and courtroom exposure.
Experience leading or participating in internal investigations, including experience with code of conduct and compliance policies and procedures; demonstrated ability to interact professionally and effectively with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and government investigators on matters involving financial crimes, regulatory violations, corruption and bribery, workplace misconduct with legal implications, fraud and misrepresentation, and document falsification; familiarity with compliance frameworks, investigative protocols, and documentation standards.
Strong knowledge of e-discovery processes and tools, and experience managing discovery workflows.
Experience working with and supervising outside counsel and managing external investigation counsel.
Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills.
Proven ability to manage multiple matters and priorities across business units and to provide pragmatic, business-oriented legal advice.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build credibility with business clients and cross-functional teams.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple matters across business units and jurisdictions.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with toxic tort, intellectual property, commercial contract, antitrust, personal injury, and/or insurance law.
Prior in-house experience.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic advice and counsel on litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and risk mitigation to business clients and senior legal leadership.
Manage a broad range of litigation and pre-litigation matters (commercial contract disputes, personal injury, class action, IP, asbestos/toxic tort, antitrust, and related areas), including drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, and other court filings.
Represent the Company in court proceedings, mediations, arbitrations, and administrative or quasi-judicial hearings.
Oversee and manage e-discovery processes and tools, including preservation, collection, review, and production of data.
Conduct legal research and analysis to advise on litigated and non-litigated matters, and to counsel clients on legal rights, obligations, and mitigation strategies.
Lead and support internal investigations and act as point-person for interactions with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and government investigations; manage and coordinate external (government) investigations.
Develop and deliver compliance training programs across the organization, ensuring employees understand legal obligations and company policies. Assist in drafting, implementing, and updating compliance policies and procedures to reflect regulatory requirements and organizational best practices.
Conduct conflict of interest risk assessments and advise business leaders on disclosure requirements and mitigation strategies. Support compliance-related tasks including regulatory monitoring, documentation review, and adherence tracking to maintain organizational compliance standards.
Manage and oversee outside counsel, including setting strategy, supervising deliverables, controlling budgets, and evaluating performance.

Benefits

Base pay plus performance-based incentive opportunities
Comprehensive medical, prescription-drug, and dental coverage
Health Savings Account option
Voluntary benefits including vision, optional life, critical-illness protection
Holistic wellness support: financial-planning tools, family-building assistance (adoption, pregnancy, and fertility resources), parental leave, and confidential Employee Assistance Program counseling.
401(k) with a company match
Additional annual retirement contribution from Eastman
Eleven paid holidays
One personal day
Paid time off
Paid vacation
Access to mentorship, learning resources, and leadership programs