Senior Counsel, Litigation

Waste Management, Inc. (WM)•Houston, TX

3h•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Legal Counsel plays a pivotal role in managing litigation and complex legal matters across multiple practice areas. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, this role leverages advanced legal strategies and deep subject matter expertise to advise the company on its rights, obligations, and risk exposure—particularly in litigation. The position demands direct involvement in litigation strategy, case management, and resolution, as well as negotiating and drafting critical legal documents. Strong litigation acumen, combined with the ability to build trusted relationships across business units, will be essential to success. This position reports directly to the Vice President, General Counsel - Litigation, and is based in Houston, TX.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school and eight or more years of previous litigation experience.
Prior in-house counsel experience and time at a top-tier law firm.
Proven success managing complex commercial litigation, class actions, personal injury claims, and regulatory investigations.
Active bar membership in good standing, preferably in the jurisdiction of the company's headquarters.

Responsibilities

Lead litigation strategy across jurisdictions with proactive approach to risk mitigation and dispute resolution.
Prepares, reviews and, negotiates legal documents on the Company's behalf, and assists management in representing the organization in legal disputes and transactions.
Provides general legal advice and counsel to management (corporate, market area and/or District level) for strategy and policy development. Reviews legal publications and pending legislation and advises management of changes that impact the company, business and industry.
Conducts risk assessment in connection with customer, vendor, operations, industry and/or business issues. Advises management on most appropriate response or action.
May be responsible for management of outside counsel activities as necessary including determining effective business and legal strategy to address litigation and/or other specific operations or company needs.
Ability to translate legal risk and provide proactive legal and practical business advice to internal clients.
Proficient in preparing legal memoranda and case summaries, as well as independently negotiating and drafting indemnity and release agreements with minimal reliance on external counsel.
Interfaces with numerous departments and functions within the company to work effectively and provide a high-level of service to business partners.