Litigation Counsel

Divisions Maintenance Group•Cincinnati, OH

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Litigation Counsel is a key member of DMG’s Legal department responsible for managing the company’s litigation portfolio and pre-litigation disputes from start to finish. Reporting to the Senior Corporate Counsel, this role will serve as the primary point of contact for outside counsel on active litigation, attend and lead mediations as DMG’s client representative, handle the day-to-day management of DMG’s self-insured retention program, and develop and execute early resolution strategies across DMG’s litigation portfolio. The role operates within a lean, high-performing in-house team and requires someone who is comfortable owning their docket independently, making judgment calls on exposure and settlement value, and communicating clearly with both legal and non-legal stakeholders across the business.

Requirements

JD from an accredited law school; in good standing with the Ohio bar or eligible for admission.
1-3 years of litigation experience, preferably at an insurance defense firm with exposure to general liability, bodily injury, or property damage matters.
Demonstrated ability to manage a high-volume docket independently, prioritize competing deadlines, and make sound judgment calls with limited supervision.
Strong working knowledge of civil litigation procedure, discovery practice, and mediation and settlement dynamics.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to communicate complex legal issues clearly to non-lawyers across the business.
Experience reviewing and directing outside counsel work product, including pleadings, discovery responses, and motion practice.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office; familiarity with matter management, e-billing, or contract management platforms a plus.
High attention to detail and strong organizational skills; comfortable managing files, deadlines, and correspondence across a large portfolio.
Ability to manage the stress of a fast-paced environment.
Ability to meet the in-person requirements of the team and/or business needs.

Nice To Haves

Experience in facilities services, construction, or related industries with subcontractor and vendor relationships.
Familiarity with self-insured retention programs and TPA relationships.
Experience with Brightflag or similar e-billing and claims management platforms.
Interest in building internal systems and processes, not just managing existing ones.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for all outside counsel on active third-party insurance claims litigation, providing direction on strategy, discovery, and case posture.
Review and approve pleadings, motions, and other filings prepared by outside counsel.
Attend mediations and settlement conferences as DMG’s client representative with full settlement authority delegated by the Senior Corporate Counsel.
Manage the active litigation docket in coordination with DMG’s third party adjusters, DMG’s paralegal, and outside counsel.
Conduct weekly file reviews with the paralegal on all open litigated matters; prepare and present periodic litigation reports to the Senior Corporate Counsel.
Review and process outside counsel invoices and monitor litigation spend against budget by matter.
Systematically analyze the active claims portfolio to identify files where early resolution is financially preferable to continued defense, taking into account liability exposure, damages, and projected defense costs.
Develop and execute early settlement strategies on appropriate files, working with adjusters and outside counsel to resolve matters before defense costs compound.
Advise on tender strategy for subcontractor carrier tenders; coordinate with adjusters on tender acceptance, denial, and follow-up on pending tenders.
Track and report on spend, trends, and resolution outcomes across the managed file portfolio; use data to identify patterns and recommend adjustments to claims handling strategy.
Manage pre-litigation matters including subcontractor disputes and employment investigations, coordinating with the relevant business unit and outside counsel as appropriate.
Evaluate incoming demands, dispute letters, and potential claims; advise on response strategy and escalation to litigation.
Support the Senior Corporate Counsel on first-party matters including employment litigation, commercial disputes, and regulatory inquiries.
Support the paralegal’s work on discovery, document collection, and pleading preparation for active litigation matters.
Assist with department initiatives, internal training, and process improvement projects as directed by the Senior Corporate Counsel.
Other duties as assigned by management.