Be a part of a premier in-house litigation team of experienced and sophisticated financial services litigators handling high stakes and complex disputes and advising on pre-litigation risks in a fast-paced and business-critical setting.   You will actively participate in driving litigation strategy and management, and provide legal counsel on a wide spectrum of matters—including novel and cutting-edge issues—across the Commercial & Investment Bank and Asset & Wealth Management business, and the Firm’s corporate functions.  The role offers extensive client contact and meaningful opportunities to advise and collaborate with senior business leaders and Firm management.

As a Vice President / Assistant General Counsel in Wholesale Litigation, you will work independently and, as appropriate, in partnership with outside counsel to represent the Firm in a broad range of complex financial services litigation matters. The docket includes, among other matters, securities class actions, M&A- and lending-related litigation, and disputes arising from commercial and investment banking products and services. You will also provide pre-litigation counseling and strategic advice, and manage complex third-party subpoenas and other information and testimony requests where the Firm is not a party to the underlying litigation but has significant interests to protect. The role will primarily support the Firm’s Commercial & Investment Bank business, with additional coverage for Asset & Wealth Management and the Firm’s corporate functions as needed.

Job responsibilities 

• Strategically lead and manage a portfolio of complex financial services litigation matters from intake through resolution, including case strategy, pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, trial preparation, settlement/mediation, and (as needed) appeals.
• Defend the Firm in litigation primarily involving securities class actions, M&A and Lending tied to commercial and investment banking products and services. Assess potential affirmative litigation, and handle strategically.
• Conduct early and ongoing case assessments and develop strategic litigation plans, including exposure analysis, key legal/factual issues, defenses, settlement posture, and escalation/decision points for senior stakeholders.
• Retain, instruct, and actively and closely manage outside counsel when retained, including scope-setting, staffing oversight, budget management, quality control of work product, and performance evaluation.
• Lead complex fact development and discovery, including document preservation and collection, privilege review strategy, deposition preparation, expert selection/management, and e-discovery vendor oversight.  In addition, on matters without outside counsel, prepare witnesses for deposition and defend witnesses, when needed.
• Handle complex third-party subpoenas and other requests for documents/testimony where the Firm is not a party, including objections, negotiations, protective orders, and production/witness coordination.
• Provide pre-litigation counseling and advice  to a wide variety of clients, including the firm’s leaders, to help prevent disputes, shape communications, preserve defenses, and mitigate risk in connection with transactions, products, and client interactions.
• Identify recurring themes and create playbooks, templates, and lessons-learned guidance to strengthen controls, improve defensibility, and reduce repeat litigation risk.

Required qualifications, capabilities and skills 

• Law degree or educational equivalent required. Attorney candidates must be in compliance with all relevant licensing requirements including the requirements of the jurisdiction where the role will be located prior to commencement of employment.
• At least 5 years of experience as a practicing litigation attorney in a law firm or corporate law environment, with deep knowledge of state and federal court practice and rules.
• Experience defending securities class actions.
• Knowledge of and experience with complex financial products and services.
• Experience preparing witnesses for depositions and defending depositions.
• Ability to assume significant independent responsibility immediately with minimal oversight and to work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically.
• Outstanding organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple complex and time-intensive matters simultaneously.
• The ability to write well and communicate effectively, including to senior executives of the Firm.
• All candidates for roles in the Legal Department must successfully complete a conflicts of interest clearance review prior to commencement of employment.

Preferred qualifications, capabilities and skills 

• Major Law Firm experience.
• Experience litigating M&A and Lending disputes, or disputes involving other complex financial products or transactions.
• Knowledge of the securities laws and other statutes relevant to securities, lending and banking.

All candidates for roles in the Legal department must successfully complete a conflicts of interest clearance review prior to commencement of employment.