Ford Motor Company

Lead Counsel, Controversies

Ford Motor Company$141K — $268K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school
  • Membership in good standing of the Michigan Bar, or eligible for RIHC status
  • 4-8 years of litigation experience in law firm, corporation, or government agency
  • Strong litigation background
  • Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills
  • Exceptional written and oral communication skills
  • Interest in legal technology and automation

Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic oversight of complex consumer litigation matters
  • Retain and manage outside counsel effectively
  • Assess litigation risk and develop case strategies
  • Lead settlement negotiations and legal defenses
  • Implement technology solutions to streamline operations
  • Collaborate with multiple legal and regulatory teams
  • Support internal investigations and legislative reform efforts

Benefits

  • Immediate medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage
  • Flexible family care days and paid parental leave
  • Family building benefits including adoption reimbursement
  • Vehicle discount program and management leases
  • Tuition assistance and employee resource groups
  • Paid time off for community service and generous holiday schedule
  • Option to purchase additional vacation time
Full Job Description
Job Description

In this position...

Ford Motor Company's Office of the General Counsel is seeking an outstanding attorney to join our Consumer Litigation Team in the Controversies Practice Group. A successful candidate for this position will demonstrate strong litigation capability, persuasive written and oral communication skills, as well as the ability to work independently and collaboratively across teams of business clients, internal legal colleagues, and outside counsel to effectively and strategically manage complex litigation matters.

Client counseling is also an essential part of this position. A successful candidate will demonstrate both business acumen and sound legal judgment to support and counsel Ford's customer experience and field service organizations, and other business teams. The ability to align goals of the business and legal department, while managing tactical and day-to-day requirements in time-sensitive situations and challenging environments is key, as well as the ability to provide legal advice and training to company leaders in a business-friendly manner.

To keep pace with the changing industry and legal landscape, we are also seeking a candidate that can identify and execute creative strategies to do our work more efficiently and effectively. This will include helping to design and implement new technology solutions and AI tools to our practice.

Responsibilities

What you'll do...

You will provide strategic oversight of a portfolio of complex consumer litigation matters, which will include: retaining and managing outside counsel; driving the assessment of litigation risk, case strategies, and trial readiness; developing legal defenses; leading settlement negotiations; implementing new technology solutions and workflow automations to efficiently manage matters and reduce costs; managing arbitrations; and providing support, counseling, and training to business teams on legal risks, lessons learned, and risk mitigation strategies.

You will also regularly collaborate with other legal teams, including discovery, class actions, product litigation, consumer finance, regulatory, and more. In addition, you will support the regulatory team in monitoring trends; interface with federal and state agencies; support legal and legislative reform efforts; and assist with internal and third-party-driven investigations.

Qualifications

You'll have...
• Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school
• Membership in good standing of the Michigan Bar (or member in good standing of another state bar and eligible for RIHC status in Michigan)
• A minimum of 4-8 years of experience practicing as a litigation attorney in a law firm, corporation, or government agency
• Strong litigation background
• Excellent analytical, critical, and strategic thinking skills
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills
• An interest in optimizing and automating legal operations by analyzing data and leveraging legal technology
• A continuous improvement mindset
• Ability to work with a diverse team

Even better, you may have...
• Experience with the automotive industry or other consumer manufacturing
• Consumer warranty litigation experience, especially in California
• Be in or willing to relocate to the Detroit area, but remote candidates are welcome to apply

You may not check every box, or your experience may look a little different from what we've outlined, but if you think you can bring value to Ford Motor Company, we encourage you to apply!

As an established global company, we offer the benefit of choice. You can choose what your Ford future will look like: will your story span the globe, or keep you close to home? Will your career be a deep dive into what you love, or a series of new teams and new skills? Will you be a leader, a changemaker, a technical expert, a culture builder...or all of the above? No matter what you choose, we offer a work life that works for you, including:
• Immediate medical, dental, vision and prescription drug coverage
• Flexible family care days, paid parental leave, new parent ramp-up programs, subsidized back-up child care and more
• Family building benefits including adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility treatments, and more
• Vehicle discount program for employees and family members and management leases
• Tuition assistance
• Established and active employee resource groups
• Paid time off for individual and team community service
• A generous schedule of paid holidays, including the week between Christmas and New Year's Day
• Paid time off and the option to purchase additional vacation time.

This position is leadership level 5 and ranges from $141,700-$268,300.
Final determination of salary grade will be based on candidate's skills and experience, and base salary will be set within the applicable range according to job scope, responsibility and competitive market value.

For more information on salary and benefits, click here: https://fordcareers.co/LL5

This position is hybrid. Candidates who are in commuting distance to a Ford hub location may be required to be onsite four or more days per week. #LI-Hybrid

#LI-DA1

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company manufactures or distributes automobiles in addition to offering financial services. The company sells to dealerships for retail sales, and for sale to fleet customers, including commercial fleet customers, daily rental car companies, and governments. Ford’s vehicle portfolio includes automobiles, buses, tractors, and trucks. Retail financing includes retail installment sale contracts for new and used vehicles, and direct financing leases for new vehicles to retail customers, government entities, daily rental car companies, and fleet customers. Finance receivables in the non-consumer portfolio include products offered to automotive dealers. Ford’s environmental initiatives include compressed natural gas, flexible fuel vehicles, electric drive vehicles, Hydrogen, PC power management, and so on. Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903 and is headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford Motor Company Careers

Join the dynamic team at Ford Motor Company, a global leader in automotive innovation and manufacturing. At Ford, we are committed to driving human progress by providing outstanding vehicles and mobility solutions. This is an exciting time to become part of our inclusive team, where job opportunities abound and growth is not just a possibility, but a promise.

Work You’ll Do

At Ford Motor Company, you will collaborate with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Our professionals are at the forefront of automotive technology, leading projects that redefine transportation and sustainability. With a culture rooted in continuous improvement and respect for all, Ford offers a workplace where leadership, diversity training, and innovation are part of everyday life.

Join Our Market-Leading Team

Ford’s commitment to excellence is why we are a leader in the automotive sector. We offer a variety of career paths, from engineering to marketing, all designed to foster professional and personal growth. Our team benefits from Ford’s commitment to professional development and networking opportunities, ensuring that every team member can reach their full potential.

Innovative Work

Engage in work that makes a difference. Ford Motor Company is pioneering developments in electrification, autonomous vehicles, and smart mobility solutions. Our team of over 190,000 employees worldwide is dedicated to crafting experiences that improve the way the world moves.

Be Part of a Great Team

Working at Ford means more than just having a job; it means being part of a global family. Our culture promotes teamwork, integrity, and respect—values that underpin everything we do. We believe in nurturing a diverse and inclusive environment where every employee can thrive.

Future-Proof Your Career

Ford Motor Company is not just a great place to work; it’s a place to build a lasting career. Our employees enjoy competitive benefits, comprehensive health care, and retirement plans that rank among the best in the industry. We support career advancement through extensive training programs and hands-on experience in the latest automotive technologies.

Explore Job Opportunities and Internships

Whether you’re a seasoned professional looking for your next challenge or a student interested in an internship, Ford has opportunities that will harness your skills and ignite your ambition. Our hiring process is straightforward and respectful, designed to match your skills and passions with the right position.

Stay Connected

Join Our Team Search open positions that match your skills and interests. We look for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Ready to start your journey with Ford? Prepare your resume, sharpen your interview skills, and become part of a company that’s building the future of transportation.

Keep Up to Date

Stay ahead with career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights you can put to use today—all from the people who work here.

Job Alert Emails

Personalize your subscription to receive job alerts, latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding career opportunities awaiting you at Ford Motor Company. Join us at Ford, where we go further so you can go farther in your career.
Learn more about Ford Motor Company
Size
183,000 employees
Market Cap
$44.8 billion
Industry
Net Income
-$1.2 billion
Founded
1903
5 Year Trend
-2.1%
Revenue
$127.1 billion
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Ford Motor Company

More Legal & Accounting Jobs

Find similar Lead Counsel, Controversies jobs: