Vice President, Litigation (Retail Litigation Center) (Washington)

Please apply here - the Position:

The RLC Vice President of Litigation reports directly to the RLC’s President and is key to the RLC’s success. The role’s primary focus is working with retail member litigators and select law firm members to formulate strategies to prevent and address emerging litigation waves. Knowledge of the federal rules and procedural mechanisms, experience crafting prelitigation solutions, facility with a range of litigation, and an understanding of the plaintiffs’ bar are required of the position. Innate curiosity, genuine interest in collaboration, and an ability to bring people together in productive discussions are also essential.

Trade association experience is not required. We are looking for lawyers with sophisticated corporate and/or private practice litigation experience (especially in retail-relevant areas) who are interested in using that background to complement the trade association focus that the RLC provides. In exchange, we will show you how rewarding trade association life can be when you work with smart corporate and outside counsel and with a collegial staff representing the retail industry while solving some of its most complex litigation problems.

About the Retail Litigation Center:

The Retail Litigation Center (RLC) is an innovative trade association that works closely with the chief legal officers/general counsel and senior most litigators of the largest retailers in the United States to solve complex litigation issues facing the retail industry. Established in 2010 by the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) as an independent 501(c)(6) trade association, the RLC has both retail and law firm members, and is governed by a Board of Directors of chief legal officers from the United States’ leading retailers, and a president who also serves as the Sr EVP & General Counsel of RILA.

First and foremost, the RLC develops strategic amicus briefs to help shape the law under which retailers operate. But the RLC also helps major national retailers with other significant litigation- or dispute-resolution-related challenges. By virtue of their success interacting with millions of employees and consumers, these companies often become targets of frivolous mass action litigation and arbitration launched by plaintiffs’ attorneys motivated by the fees such disputes generate.

In recognition of this dynamic, the RLC created its Defense Division five years ago. Now the RLC helps its retail members identify emerging mass litigation trends, learn how to prevent litigation waves from hitting their companies, and work together to develop creative strategies to respond to demands and complaints early in litigation, or even before litigation is filed.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities:

• Work with chief legal officers and top corporate retail litigators to assist in preventing and responding to mass action litigation.
• Host regular meetings of RLC member counsel to strategize on key litigation issues.
• Research and analyze emerging litigation waves and formulate counter strategies.
• Convene and work directly with in-house counsel at the country’s leading retailers to address newly emerging and intractable litigation targeting the retail and other consumer-facing industries.
• Work with RLC law firm members to develop materials and programming for the benefit of RLC retail members and to showcase RLC law firm members.
• Help identify the best cases for the RLC to participate as amicus by canvassing dockets, connecting with RLC law firm and retail members, and vetting requests for amicus support.
• Develop legal strategy and arguments and review/edit briefs drafted by outside counsel.
• Stay abreast of public policy issues impacting retail industry and coordinate with RILA public policy team on litigation strategies to address them.
• Keep current on all litigation affecting the retail industry and lead the RLC’s two highly-read weekly publications: Courtside with the Retail Litigation Center and Courtside Connections .
• Work with the RLC team to ensure that the RLC website fully reflects the scope of the RLC’s work.

Required Skills & Experience:

• J.D. from accredited law school and membership in at least one state bar.
• At least 5-7 years litigation experience in a law firm and/or corporate legal department, including experience evaluating demand letters, developing pre-litigation strategies and corporate defense, and sophisticated understanding commercial litigation.
• Comfort facilitating and leading group discussions toward productive outcomes.
• Enjoyment from finding connections and building bridges.
• Willingness to learn, lean in and recommend improvements.
• Excellent legal analytical, organizational and writing skills.
• A self-starter with strong project management skills.
• Facility on a PC and with Microsoft technology.
• Bonus points for experience with arbitral bodies.
• Bonus points for aptitude with the press and social media.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation:

$200,000 - $220,000

Benefits:

• Unlimited PTO + 12 federal holidays.
• Generous family and parental leave policies.
• Medical, dental and vision coverage (FSA/HSA options available).
• Employer sponsored life insurance, and short- and long-term disability coverage.
• 401 (k) retirement plan with potential employer match.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Team outings/gatherings.
• Flexibility (including remote work options).

RILA is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of all backgrounds, genders, ethnicities, abilities, and sexual orientations to apply. We are committed to being an inclusive place to work, while maintaining a workforce that represents the communities we serve.

Application Instructions:

In addition to your resume, please include a cover letter that explains the opportunities you see in this position, as well as your specific experience in the following: (1) developing and executing litigation strategy; (2) editing and shaping briefs or pleadings drafted by outside counsel; (3) distilling complex litigation matters into short, client-friendly summaries; and (4) leading/producing weekly or monthly updates – bonus points for including examples.
Please submit applications through our hiring portal here -