Assistant General Counsel III, Litigation

Responsibilities

Directly handle and manage in-house attorneys and staff and outside counsel that handle, high volume personal injury and/or property damage claims during all phases of litigation, including hearings, depositions, discovery, substantive and procedural motion practice, court conferences, settlement negotiations, and trials.

Critically analyze personal injury and property damage claims and develop, implement and oversee litigation assignments and strategies designed to achieve the most favorable and cost-effective resolutions in conformance with the most current legal precedent and ethical considerations.

Accurately assess liability and damages exposure, and make and review appropriate reserve and settlement recommendations.

Keep senior management informed of high-exposure cases and consult with senior management to develop litigation strategies designed to reduce tort exposure.

Effectively communicate and interact with external departments (i.e.: operations, courts).

Provide guidance and direction to in-house attorneys and legal staff.

Oversee and manage outside counsel.

Assist in the business goals of the MTA Legal Dept. in whatever manner as required by the General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel – Torts.

Requirements

Required EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• A law degree from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar.
• A minimum of nine (9) years of significant personal injury litigation experience, with experience measured in terms of ultimate responsibility for the handling of significant numbers of serious matters, together with four (4) years of managerial or equivalent supervisory experience.
• Extensive knowledge of local, State, and Federal substantive and procedural laws and regulations which impact tort litigation.

Preferred

• Admission to the District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York is desirable.
• Experience defending municipalities, corporate entities and/or common carriers and experience litigating tort claims involving motor vehicle accidents and premises liability is strongly preferred.

Desired Skills

• Proven ability to manage and handle a high volume, varied tort caseload from inception to resolution and to function independently and collaboratively as part of a litigation team, under pressure and tight time constraints imposed internally or by the Courts.
• Prior supervisory experience over professional staff and proven ability to exercise sound judgment.
• Exceptional analytical, verbal, writing and negotiation skills.
• Proven ability to build and develop professional relationships necessary to litigation (i.e.: clients, adversaries, judiciary).
• Proven ability to evaluate, devise and implement litigation strategies.
• Proven ability to forensically analyze medical records and varied technical information.
• Proven ability and command over all types of research including but not limited to-legal research engines, general internet searches and investigative searches.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite or comparable applications, I.e.: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.