Counsel and COE Lead, Litigation

Job Summary

The Counsel and COE Lead, Litigation is a key member of the Law and Business Environment (LBE) team, responsible for leading Acuity’s day-to-day litigation across product liability, employment, commercial, and intellectual property matters. This role acts as a strategic legal partner to product, engineering, quality, and customer experience teams, providing practical, business-oriented guidance in a fast-paced environment.

This individual will play a critical role in managing risk, improving litigation processes, and driving consistency across legal operations, while working closely with senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders. The role reports to the Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Legal Centers of Expertise (COEs).

This is a hybrid role based in Atlanta, GA, with an expectation of 2–3 days per week in the office.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Manage a portfolio of litigation matters from intake through resolution, including product liability, employment, commercial, and IP cases

• Retain and oversee outside counsel; lead strategy, budgeting, discovery, and motion practice

• Assess liability exposure and support settlement strategy and negotiations

• Provide clear, concise updates to legal leadership and business stakeholders

• Lead product liability claims and litigation, including insured and uninsured matters

• Serve as the primary legal contact for product safety incidents, investigations, and escalations

• Partner with product, engineering, quality, and post-sales teams to assess risk and determine response strategies

• Support regulatory responses, recalls, field actions, and safety-related matters

• Manage warranty disputes, subrogation matters, and customer escalations tied to product performance or safety

• Act as a trusted advisor to cross-functional business partners, providing practical, solution-oriented legal guidance

• Identify trends and recommend proactive improvements in product design, risk mitigation, and business processes

• Enhance processes for managing product incidents, claims, and litigation

• Contribute to internal playbooks, guidelines, and training related to product liability and claims response

• Support other legal and strategic initiatives as needed

Skills and Minimum Experience Required

• Experience & Education:

  • Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
  • 5+ years of litigation experience
  • Product liability experience strongly preferred
  • Experience at a major law firm and/or in-house at a publicly traded company preferred
  • Work onsite in our Atlanta office 2-3 days/week
  • Travel as needed

• Core Capabilities:

  • Strong expertise in litigation strategy, case management, and risk assessment
  • Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and negotiation skills
  • Proven ability to manage multiple complex priorities in a fast-paced environment
  • Skilled at influencing stakeholders and translating legal risk into practical business solutions
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with executive presence

• Collaboration & Leadership:

  • Buils trusted, cross-functional relationships and operates as a strategic business partner
  • Demonstrates sound judgment, high emotional intelligence, and accountability
  • Drives continuous improvement and contributes to scalable, efficient legal processes

• Technical & Innovation Mindset:

  • Proficient with legal technology, research tools, and matter management systems
  • Embraces emerging technologies and innovative approaches to improve legal operations and efficiency

Company Information

Acuity Inc. is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives.

We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We focus on customer outcomes and drive growth and productivity to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals.

Acuity Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuityinc.com.