Senior Counsel, Employment Litigation

GEICO•Bethesda, MD

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

GEICO is seeking an experienced employment attorney to join its Employment Litigation team within the Employment Law Group. Reporting to the Senior Director, Employment Litigation, the Senior Counsel, Employment Litigation will be primarily responsible for independently managing a high-volume portfolio of employment litigation matters, administrative charges, mediations, and pre-litigation disputes. The role serves as a key legal advisor to business leaders, People Group partners, and internal stakeholders while providing practical, business-focused counsel on employment law risks and dispute resolution strategies. The ideal candidate will have substantial employment litigation experience in a law firm, government agency, and/or large in-house legal department. The successful candidate will possess strong litigation judgment, excellent communication skills, and a demonstrated ability to independently handle complex matters while balancing legal risk against business objectives. The Senior Counsel will serve as a subject matter expert in employment litigation and partner closely with business clients to identify, mitigate, and resolve workplace risks.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited U.S. law school.
Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
8+ years of legal experience, including substantial experience handling employment litigation and administrative proceedings.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage complex employment litigation matters from inception through resolution.
Significant experience advising business clients on employment law compliance, litigation risk, and workplace disputes.
Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
Experience directing outside counsel and managing litigation strategy and budgets.
Exceptional analytical, written, verbal, and problem-solving skills.
Proven ability to evaluate complex legal issues involving competing considerations and deliver practical, business-focused recommendations.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build credibility and trust with business leaders and stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

In-house employment law experience.
Insurance industry experience.
Experience conducting, managing, or advising on workplace investigations.
Experience leveraging legal technology, data analytics, AI-enabled tools, or workflow automation to improve efficiency and legal service delivery.
Experience supporting large, multi-state employers and advising on complex workforce-related legal issues.
Experience handling class, collective, or representative employment actions.

Responsibilities

Independently manage a high-volume portfolio of complex employment litigation matters, administrative charges, mediations, and pre-litigation disputes.
Develop and execute litigation strategies for matters involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour, leaves and accommodations, and other employment-related claims.
Coordinate all phases of litigation, including investigation, discovery, motion practice, mediation, trial preparation, settlement negotiations, and appeals.
Lead outside counsel and litigation vendors, including oversight of strategy, budgets, staffing, and performance.
Draft and review complex pleadings, position statements, settlement agreements, legal analyses, and other litigation-related documents with minimal supervision.
Anticipate legal risks and emerging trends and recommend practical mitigation strategies.
Analyze litigation and administrative charge trends and provide recommendations to reduce organizational risk and improve outcomes.
Balance legal risk against business objectives and provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice.
Counsel stakeholders regarding investigations, performance management, accommodations, leave issues, separations, and other employment matters that may create litigation risk.
Interpret and apply federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations affecting the company's workforce.
Provide proactive legal counseling designed to minimize litigation exposure and support effective business decision-making.
Serve as a subject matter expert in employment litigation and dispute resolution.
Analyze legal developments and emerging trends and advise stakeholders regarding potential business impacts.
Participate in cross-functional projects involving legal, regulatory, compliance, operational, and workforce matters.
Support the development and implementation of policies, processes, templates, training materials, and other initiatives designed to mitigate litigation risk and improve legal service delivery.
Recommend process improvements that increase consistency, efficiency, and effectiveness across the Employment Law Group.
Assist with strategic projects and initiatives impacting workplace legal risk and compliance.
Influence outcomes through legal expertise, credibility, and relationship-building.
Mentor Counsel-level attorneys and provide guidance on substantive legal issues and litigation strategy.
Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal clients, colleagues, regulators, and outside counsel.
Collaborate across business functions to develop practical, risk-based solutions that support company objectives.
Contribute to a culture of operational excellence, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.