What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Counsel - Litigation position at Darden?
Job Description
JOB OVERVIEW:
This individual will manage public liability litigation across the Company, including management of outside counsel. This role requires the provision of strategic and proactive legal advice and counsel through interactions with operations management and other key stakeholders.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Collaborate with restaurant managers and enterprise professionals regarding public liability law to minimize all guest facing risks, including food safety, premises hazards, and guest accommodation issues;
- Conduct internal investigations in response to employee or guest complaints;
- Represent the company at mediations, agency hearings, arbitrations, and trials;
- Oversee litigation of public liability matters, including managing outside counsel as necessary;
- Collaborate with and advise internal business partners and third party administrator to resolve claims;
- Act as liaison between outside counsel and all company representatives and witnesses, including overseeing litigation discovery protocols;
- Prepare, review, and negotiate outside counsel contracts, requests for proposals, and other legal documents related to outside legal partners;
- Manage and resolve cases within set budgets and parameters;
- Support the development and implementation of personnel policies and procedures, keeping abreast of all pertinent federal, state, and local laws and communicating changes and trends in those laws to company personnel;
- Interact with company senior leaders and outside counsel on complex issues having impact or potential impact across the organization;
- Perform in an advisory role on complex legal projects with other law department attorneys; and
- Develop team members by supporting training, development, and other professional growth opportunities
EDUCATION, TRAINING, EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, AND OTHER KEY QUALIFICATIONS:
- Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school;
- Licensed to practice law and in good standing under the Bar of any state that enables admission to practice as in-house counsel in Florida;
-6 years of experience in litigation at a public company, consulting firm, or law firm - in-house experience is preferred;
- First or second chair trial experience is preferred;
- Experience with public liability/general liability matters;
- Experience in negotiating settlements and serving as a representative in mediations;
- Excellent project management, writing, research, communication, and problem solving skills;
- Proven team orientation skills working on a multidisciplinary team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment;
- Strong initiative and ability to handle multiple large scale projects/roles requiring the collaboration of multiple functional groups;
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities, work in a matrix environment, and lead and influence cross-functional teams.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus;
#LI-Hybrid
#LI-GH1