Vice President, Associate General Counsel - Litigation

Vail Resorts • Broomfield, CO

6d • Hybrid

About The Position

Our mission is to create the Experience of a Lifetime for our employees, so they can, in turn, create the Experience of a Lifetime for our guests. We own and operate the most renowned destination resorts in the world as well as regional and local ski areas outside major cities, and connect them all through one unrivaled network. We are looking for ambitious leaders, innovators and creators to join our talented team. If you’re ready to pursue your fullest potential, we want to get to know you! Candidates for year-round positions are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications will be accepted up to 90 days after the posting date, or until the position is filled (whichever is first).
Vail Resorts has a full-service legal department that serves all resorts and lines of business throughout the Vail Resorts network. This includes a Litigation Team that actively manages litigation and pre-litigation claims on a wide array of general liability and commercial issues. The Vice President, Associate General Counsel for Litigation will report to the General Counsel and oversee the Litigation function, including team management, litigation management, and strategic partnership with the business on litigation-related issues such as waivers, health and safety, and dispute resolution. This role requires an agile and flexible problem solver, exceptional communicator, and team player who can lead complex matters, remain calm under pressure, implement effective systems, and guide the business on high-stakes legal issues. The successful candidate will be both an experienced litigator and impactful leader capable of effectively leading professional teams with humility, collaboration, out-front strategic thinking, practical solutions, and a service mindset.

Requirements

• JD from accredited law school and active state bar license required, with ability to be admitted to the Colorado state bar
• At least 15 years of relevant litigation experience, in an in-house or big law firm setting
• Demonstrated expertise in general liability, commercial, and corporate litigation
• Proven track record of successful management of other lawyers and non-lawyer professionals, including the ability to drive and implement change in the litigation space through training, policy-implementation, and counseling
• Extensive experience managing outside counsel, insurance partnerships, and litigation budgets
• Strong executive presence and interpersonal skills, with the ability to quickly gain the trust of clients and employees at all levels of the Company, including executive leaders
• Excellent ability to communicate effectively and tactfully, both verbally and in writing, at all levels of the organization
• Creative problem solver with strong organizational and time management skills and the ability to simultaneously handle numerous varied cases and assignments
• Demonstrated ability to work under high pressure conditions, meet deadlines, and to effectively handle urgent situations with patience and tact
• Ability to adapt and maintain effective and professional working relationships with a diverse array of co-workers, subordinates, in-house attorneys, and business units
• Passion for promoting a positive, team-oriented culture that furthers the Company mission of "Experience of a Lifetime"
• High integrity and commitment to the highest ethical standards, professional growth, enthusiasm, humility, humor, and feedback culture

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in a sophisticated in-house legal department or top-tier law firm
• Experience working with public corporations, particularly in the travel and entertainment industry
• Extensive first- and second-chair trial experience
• Experience managing legal issues in non-U.S. jurisdictions
• Class action experience

Responsibilities

• Provide oversight and management of the Litigation function, including driving key initiatives and priorities and developing high-performing talent across the team
• Manage teams to effectively litigate cases and provide impactful advice and counseling to all business lines and senior business leader throughout the enterprise on a significant and diverse volume of litigation and pre-litigation issues
• Oversee large portfolio of complex litigation matters, including general liability, commercial, attorneys general, and corporate cases
• Efficiently handle all phases of litigation, including initial investigation, case strategy, pleadings, written discovery, depositions, motion practice, and trial – including through both management of external counsel and handling matters internally
• Lead legal strategies from start to finish, partnering with internal teams, insurance carriers, and outside counsel to ensure aligned and effective resolutions and budget responsibility
• Proactively identify and address litigation risks, create efficient processes, implement lessons learned, and help shape the legal infrastructure in a complex and fast-paced environment
• Understand and distill the practical ramifications of complex legal issues (including regulatory requirements) into concise summaries supporting thoughtful, well-reasoned recommendations and clearly and succinctly articulate the associated risks
• Engage with and manage outside counsel to effectively resolve threatened or outstanding guest claims and litigation matters and establish best practices for prevention of litigation
• Adhere to, support, and promote the Mission, Values, standards, and goals of the Company and Legal Department
• Other duties as necessary and assigned, including willingness to travel

Benefits

• Ski/Mountain Perks! Free passes for employees, employee discounted lift tickets for friends and family AND free ski lessons
• MORE employee discounts on lodging, food, gear, and mountain shuttles
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Excellent training and professional development
• Health Insurance; Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, and Vision Insurance plans (for eligible seasonal employees after working 500 hours)
• Free ski passes for dependents
• Critical Illness and Accident plans

What This Job Offers

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