Lead Strategy. Manage Risk. Drive Matters to Resolution.
At Valet Living, the Director, Litigation Counsel will manage and support a broad portfolio of disputes and contested matters on behalf of the company.
Reporting to the Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, with a dotted-line relationship to the Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, this role will handle pre-litigation labor and employment claims, commercial contract disputes, regulatory filings and disputes, mediations, collections, intellectual property matters, privacy and data protection matters, and workers’ compensation claims.
This is a highly cross-functional role for an attorney who can move fluidly across practice areas, assess risk early, and drive matters toward efficient resolution. You’ll combine direct handling of matters with oversight of outside counsel while partnering closely with business leaders, Human Resources, Finance, Risk Management, Operations, and Compliance.
Compensation & Work Environment Details:
Salary Range: $115,000 - $157,000
Bonus: 15% of annual salary
Work environment: Remote‑first; Tampa‑based candidates preferred
Travel: Approximately 10%
What You’ll Do
- Manage Labor and Employment Claims: Manage and defend employment-related claims and administrative charges involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour, wrongful termination, and leave or accommodation disputes. Advise Human Resources and management on litigation risk and oversee outside employment counsel.
- Resolve Commercial Contract Disputes: Handle disputes arising from commercial agreements, including breach-of-contract, indemnification, and payment matters. Evaluate claims and defenses, quantify exposure, and develop resolution strategies from negotiation through trial.
- Lead Regulatory Matters: Prepare and manage regulatory filings and responses to inquiries, investigations, and enforcement actions. Represent the company in contested regulatory and administrative proceedings, including matters involving fire code application, subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and information requests.
- Guide Mediations and Settlements: Represent the company in mediations and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Prepare mediation statements, evaluate settlement ranges, develop negotiation strategies, secure settlement authority, and draft or review agreements and releases.
- Support Collections: Partner with Finance and Accounts Receivable on affirmative collection matters, including unpaid accounts, nonpayment claims, and judgment enforcement. Evaluate cost-effectiveness and pursue demand letters, litigation, or other recovery methods as appropriate.
- Manage Intellectual Property Matters: Handle trademark, copyright, patent, and trade-secret disputes in which the company is a defendant or claimant. Manage cease-and-desist demands, infringement claims, and specialist outside counsel.
- Address Privacy and Data Protection Risk: Manage disputes, claims, investigations, and regulatory inquiries involving consumer data rights, data incidents, and the company’s collection, use, sharing, and protection of personal information.
- Partner on Workers’ Compensation and Third-Party Claims: Support Risk Management in defending workers’ compensation and third-party claims. Coordinate with Human Resources, Operations, insurers, third-party administrators, brokers, and outside counsel, and use claim insights to recommend improvements to safety, training, documentation, return-to-work processes, and loss prevention.
- Own Matters From Intake Through Resolution: Lead case assessment, discovery, motion practice, hearings, and trial preparation while implementing litigation holds and coordinating e-discovery and document preservation.
- Manage Outside Counsel and Spend: Select, direct, and manage outside counsel while controlling litigation budgets, strategy, and settlement posture.
- Advise Business Leaders: Translate complex legal issues into practical, business-oriented guidance for executives and cross-functional partners.
- Report on Risk and Exposure: Prepare periodic reporting for senior leadership on matter status, exposure, reserves, and key developments.
What We’re Looking For
- Litigation Experience: Approximately 4–7 years of litigation experience in a law firm, corporate legal department, or a combination, with the ability to manage matters independently from intake through resolution.
- Broad Practice Exposure: Substantive experience across several relevant areas, particularly employment, commercial, privacy, consumer protection, regulatory, intellectual property, or workers’ compensation matters.
- Strategic Judgment: Strong command of litigation strategy, procedure, mediation, and negotiation, with sound judgment in assessing risk and exposure.
- Business Partnership: Ability to translate legal issues into practical advice and communicate clearly with executives, business teams, and external stakeholders.
- Caseload Management: Ability to manage a high-volume, multi-practice caseload and prioritize effectively across competing deadlines.
- Outside Counsel Oversight: Experience selecting and managing outside counsel, litigation strategy, budgets, and spend.
- Advocacy Experience: Excellent written and oral advocacy skills. First- or second-chair trial, arbitration, or hearing experience is preferred.
- In-House Perspective: Prior experience supporting a corporate legal department is preferred.
- Privacy and Consumer Protection Knowledge: Familiarity with major privacy and consumer protection regimes, including state comprehensive privacy laws, the FTC Act, and analogous state statutes, is preferred.
- Education and Licensure: Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing in at least one state bar where the company operates. Ability to obtain any required admission or in-house counsel authorization.
- Multi-Jurisdiction Capability: Admission in multiple jurisdictions is preferred.
- Collaborative Approach: Self-directed, collaborative, and comfortable operating with limited supervision in a fast-paced environment.
Why You’ll Love Working with Us
At Valet Living, we don’t just provide essential services, we build careers, create opportunities, and cultivate a culture of excellence. As part of our team, you’ll experience a workplace where leadership is about service, growth is the norm, and every detail matters.
Comprehensive Benefits
- Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your family, plus HSA with employer contributions and Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Flexible Time Off: No preset accruals. Manage your time and work-life balance your way, plus 10 company-paid holidays.
- Financial Security: 401(k) with company match, life and disability insurance, AD&D, and business travel coverage.
- Professional Development: Tuition reimbursement up to $5,250 per year and access to our online education center.
- Additional Perks: Referral bonuses, pet insurance, associate assistance programs, discount programs, rewards, recognition, and free access to Torch Fitness virtual programs.
Physical Requirements: Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting or standing while working on a computer.
The final compensation offered will be determined based on various factors, including the candidate’s location, level of experience, and skill set. As such, it may fall outside the range listed in the job posting.
The application window is anticipated to close 60 days from the date the job is posted.
Ready to bring strategic judgment and practical legal guidance to a broad range of complex matters? Apply today.
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Valet Living is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values the strength diversity brings to the workplace. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote without regard to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.
