Senior Counsel of Litigation | Kent, Ohio

Davey Tree has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Litigation Counsel ("Counsel") with an interest in joining a dynamic, growing legal team at an employee-owned company. Under the supervision of the General Counsel and Associate General Counsel for Litigation, the Counsel will be primarily responsible for managing all of Davey Tree's auto liability and general liability (third-party property damage and personal injury) lawsuits and small docket of commercial lawsuits. The Counsel will manage Davey Tree's outside counsel and insurers to ensure the timely and appropriate handling of litigation to resolution. The Counsel also will be charged with identifying and structuring a strong outside counsel litigation strategy for supporting our operations in the U.S. and Canada.

The Counsel also will work closely with internal stakeholders and leadership to advise on litigation risks and develop and implement strategies for reducing claims and litigation costs. The Counsel will be tasked with engaging and managing relationships with Davey's insurers concerning litigation matters and asked to assist with overall risk management strategies around litigation. Davey Tree is looking for someone who is highly collaborative, focused on legal and business solutions, and demonstrated leadership capabilities. 

This is a hybrid (Minimum of 3 days in office) schedule: occasional travel is required.

• Manage all aspects of auto and general liability litigation and small docket of commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts across the country, including supervising outside counsel, collecting facts and evidence, directing case strategies, reviewing budgets and invoices, and advising internal stakeholders on case updates and liability risk.
• Retain, oversee, and direct the scope of all work of outside counsel in litigation matters (such as negotiating fee arrangements, cost-effective staffing of matters, and setting and executing a litigation strategy to achieve best possible outcome).
• Review and advise on substantive work related to litigation, including retention of experts, editing legal briefs and discovery responses, and directing and participating in settlement negotiations. 
• Participate in and provide direction and guidance to outside counsel in mediations, arbitrations, and trials.
• Counsel internal stakeholders on claim/litigation trend analyses and risk reduction.
• Supervise and manage external claims and litigation relationships, including Davey Tree's insurers and outside counsel.
• Advise internal stakeholders on risk management strategies and develop and implement preventative measures.
• Establish and maintain relationships and trust with business and support department partners.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure compliance in business operations.
• Provide strategic legal advice and counsel to internal clients regarding legal and litigation risks.
• Assessment of "lessons Learned" from litigation matters and providing solutions for organizational improvement.
• Provide training on litigation risks to business partners, operations management, and other stakeholders.
• Learn and understand all aspects of Davey Tree's business.
• Management of litigation paralegal and close collaboration with claims team.
• Opportunity for growth.

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school
• Licensed (and in good standing) in Ohio
• Minimum of ten (10) years' experience in all aspects of litigation and/or litigation management, including preparing and arguing motions, conducting depositions, large case discovery and document productions, brief writing, pre-trial activities, and trials
• Management of litigation docket and outside counsel, including strategies for managing litigation costs, processes, and network of outside counsel preferred
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively with outside counsel, colleagues, internal stakeholders, and leadership
• Strong leadership and management skills
• Experience managing and working collaboratively with support staff
• Experience working as in-house counsel preferred
• Ability to identify, analyze, and mitigate legal risks, assess complex legal issues, and devise practical strategies and solutions
• Ability to address multiple priorities and set priorities independently; strong time management skills
• Experience counseling clients on a wide variety of litigation and legal risk issues
• Excellent analytical, practical, strategic, and advocacy skills
• Interest in Davey Tree's mission
• Ability to exercise sound judgement and high ethical, moral, and personal values that align with Davey Tree's values

What We Offer:*

• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Opportunities for advancement
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with a company match
• Employee-owned company & discounted stock purchase options
• Group Health Plan
• Employee referral bonus program
• Scholarship Program for Children of Employees
• Charitable matching gift program
• Attorney Bar Fees and Continuing Legal Education credits paid

*all listed benefits available to eligible employees

Davey Tree is an employee-owned company that provides tree, utility, lawn care, and environmental consulting services throughout the United States and Canada. Davey Tree was founded in 1880 and has been employee-owned for more than 45 years, and has more than 12,000 employees. Davey Tree provides a wide range of arboriculture, horticulture, and environmental consulting services to private companies, public utilities, local, state, and federal agencies, and various industrial, commercial, and residential customers.

The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. We care about our clients, each other and the world around us. We offer the resources, size and stability of a big company while maintaining the culture, entrepreneurial spirit and feel of a small one. We invest in our employees by offering industry-leading training, technology and benefits that lead to a rewarding and safe work experience at all levels. Wherever you want to grow your career, there's a place for you at Davey. To learn more, visit Davey.com.