General Counsel

• Serve as a lead legal expert, strategic advisor, and trusted partner to Human Resources, senior business leadership, and operational teams
• Provide proactive day-to-day legal advice and counseling to mitigate organizational risk and ensure compliance with U.S. employment laws
• Manage and develop defense strategies for employment-related litigation, class actions, collective actions, single-plaintiff lawsuits, and administrative charges
• Direct a large, active employment litigation docket
• Develop and execute defense strategies from inception through resolution
• Drive early case assessments and determine settlement-versus-trial strategies
• Manage discovery
• Evaluate pre-litigation demands and internal escalations
• Negotiate strategic resolutions to minimize financial exposure and operational disruption
• Partner with HR and business leaders on recruiting, hiring, performance management, accommodations, discipline, terminations, and organizational restructurings/RIFs
• Balance legal risks with business goals through creative, compliant, risk-calibrated solutions
• Advise on FLSA classifications, state wage-and-hour laws, pay transparency, pay equity, and compensation practices
• Advise on disability, religious, and leave-of-absence issues under ADA, FMLA, PWFA, and state paid-leave programs
• Provide legal oversight and guidance on sensitive internal investigations
• Advise on and review workplace policies, employee handbooks, executive offer letters, separation agreements, and confidentiality/restrictive covenant agreements

Senior Counsel, Labor & Employment

• Handle a diverse portfolio of litigation and pre-litigation disputes
• Ensure the Company, team members, dealers, and third-party service providers comply with Company policies, procedures, and applicable consumer protection laws and regulations
• Research and resolve complaints
• Manage outside counsel within a reasonable budget
• Counsel the business on lessons learned
• Enforce and defend the Company’s interests in litigation and disputed matters
• Manage litigation and pre-litigation complaints submitted through governmental agencies, the Better Business Bureau, or an email portal
• Work with team members, customers, dealers, and third-party service providers to de-escalate and resolve disputes
• Retain, oversee, and direct outside legal counsel, including negotiating fee arrangements, cost-effective staffing, and litigation strategy
• Perform substantive litigation work, including working with experts, editing legal briefs, preparing witnesses, and negotiating settlements
• Keep the legal management team apprised of significant legal issues and solicit input as appropriate
• Execute aspects of the Company’s Complaint Management Program
• Monitor complaints, industry litigation, and news publications to enhance compliance with consumer financial protection laws
• Perform complaint trend analyses
• Report compliance, coaching, training, and policy opportunities
• Work with Corporate Legal Department attorneys to reduce business risk based on lessons learned
• Summarize observations for Company executives
• Develop expertise in consumer financial protection laws
• Perform legal research and document findings in formal white papers where appropriate
• Receive periodic performance feedback from team members throughout the organization

Legal Counsel – Litigation Manager

• Independently provide legal counsel to clients
• Provide client legal training and education
• Review and draft legal documents
• Actively manage external counsel and experts
• Collaborate with internal legal subject matter experts and Company resources
• Oversee paralegals and administrative staff in the Legal Department
• Coordinate with business and functional clients concerning discovery
• Establish and monitor expense budgets
• Set strategic direction for each case and related docket of cases
• Develop and implement settlement strategies
• Communicate proactively with Legal Department management and clients
• Participate directly in key depositions, hearings, and trials
• Oversee appellate issues

Product Litigation Counsel

• Provide strategic oversight of a portfolio of pre-suit customer-direct and subrogation product liability matters nationwide
• Evaluate and assess subrogation claims
• Retain and manage outside counsel when necessary
• Drive assessment of litigation risk
• Optimize Ford’s strategic and defensive posture in anticipation of litigation
• Lead settlement negotiations
• Implement new technology solutions and workflow automations to efficiently manage matters and reduce costs
• Support, counsel, and train business teams on legal risks, lessons learned, and risk mitigation strategies
• Direct a team of analysts investigating and resolving pre-suit, consumer-direct product liability claims
• Collaborate with product litigation, class actions, consumer finance, regulatory, and other legal teams
• Serve as a strategic legal partner to Ford and Ford Pro’s customer service and experience operations
• Guide early dispute resolution and mitigate litigation risk
• Support the regulatory team in monitoring trends
• Assist with internal and third-party-driven investigations

Lead Counsel, Product Claims

• Independently handle a caseload of higher-exposure cases and complex litigation matters, including Major Case and Complex Claim matters
• Try cases to verdict or negotiate resolutions using litigation skills and techniques
• Conduct advanced legal research
• Draft pleadings, motions, briefs, discovery, and other legal documents
• Attend court events, depositions, and other appointments independently
• Provide substantive case analysis and recommendations to insured clients and Claim partners
• Collaborate with expert witnesses and consultants on case strategies, technical matters, and testimony
• Manage internal and external client and business partner relationships
• Provide training, seminars, and legal updates
• Mentor other attorneys and legal support staff
• Initiate special projects and support office goals and business needs
• Use technology, case management systems, and automation
• Travel as required to meet business needs
• Perform other assigned duties

General Counsel jobs in Michigan

Senior Counsel, Labor & Employment

Legal Counsel – Litigation Manager

Product Litigation Counsel

Lead Counsel, Product Claims

Senior Counsel, Claim