Assistant General Counsel - Discovery & Records

Cooley is seeking an Assistant General Counsel - Discovery & Records to work as part of a team in the General Counsel's Office.

Position summary: Guided by department objectives and priorities, the Assistant General Counsel - Discovery & Records will work closely with the Office of the General Counsel in managing the legal affairs of the firm, with a primary focus on client file transfers and discovery related to firm matters. This includes responding to subpoenas, discovery requests, and file transfer requests that require legal counsel review and analysis of firm records and information. The Assistant General Counsel - Discovery & Records will also be responsible for implementing preservation holds for the firm. The role requires strong collaboration skills to build strong relationships internally and externally to drive accurate, time-sensitive results. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position responsibilities:

• Handle discovery related to internal firm matters including advising the Office of the General Counsel, partners, associates and business professionals on internal discovery and compliance processes
• Prepare responses to discovery requests and subpoenas, and assist with internal investigations related to internal firm matters
• Meet and confer with requesting parties regarding scope of discovery responses
• Implement review and response processes in collaboration with the firm's Office of the General Counsel, Information Governance department and Litigation/eDiscovery department
• Collaborate with the firm's Information Governance department to manage data preservation, collection, and review protocols
• Manage the firm's implementation and resolution of legal holds, including drafting/review/revision of preservation hold memos in collaboration with the firm's Office of the General Counsel and Information Governance department
• Oversee the scoping and review of information gathered from firm files for use in discovery, responses to subpoenas and file transfer obligations in collaboration with the firm's Office of the General Counsel, Information Governance department and the Litigation/eDiscovery department
• Work closely with the firm's litigation/eDiscovery department regarding project management, review of resources and process, as well as vendor costs and management
• Work closely with the Office of General Counsel and the Information Governance department to update the firm's policies, procedures, and practices related to client file transfers and related functions
• Provide guidance to and assist with oversight of the firm's file review attorneys to ensure appropriate review and transfer of client files
• Coordinate with outside counsel on the discovery process as necessary
• Assist with discovery motion practice, including drafting briefs
• Work with firm management, partners, outside counsel, and relevant administrative departments to establish appropriate policies, practices, and procedures related to discovery of firm information
• Support the Office of General Counsel in ensuring internal stakeholders align with legal processes and procedures
• Keep current on developments in law and regulation regarding discovery and law firm risk management and other issues
• Provide strategic legal guidance, including strong applied litigation practice expertise to internal teams on litigation, pre-litigation, and other loss prevention and risk management matters
• Ensure internal client service and satisfaction are attained in all areas of position
• Identify litigation risks to the firm, report those to the Office of the GC and formulate an effective response to those risks
• Assist in the development and implementation of strategic plans and specific projects for risk management
• Provide support to the other lawyers in the Office of the General Counsel as requested
• All other duties as assigned or required

Skills and experience:

Required:

• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
• 5+ years managing discovery, including eDiscovery projects, for complex litigation matters and strong litigation practice skills
• JD from an ABA accredited law school
• Active member in good standing of the jurisdiction in which the attorney is resident and the jurisdiction of the Cooley office to which the attorney is assigned
• Experience as a litigation attorney managing discovery, including eDiscovery projects, for complex litigation matters
• Experience with relational document review databases such as Relativity
• Strong knowledge of key discovery concepts, procedural rules, processes, and litigation practices
• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage, 3E and other firm applications
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
• Ability to travel, as required

Preferred:

• Prior experience in law firm risk management as well as project management
• Experience with legal ethics and privilege issues
• General understanding of data privacy regulations and principles

Competencies:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to exchange information and to present ideas, report facts and other information clearly and concisely
• Ability to analyze needs and to determine priorities based on business objectives
• Strong sense of accountability
• Ability to communicate effectively and diplomatically with all levels of the firm's professional staff members and attorneys, both in 1:1 and group environments
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build working relationships at all levels of management and across departments
• A creative and practical approach to problem solving that is informed by the firm's strategic, business and professional needs
• Team-oriented, with excellent counseling, organizational and analytical skills
• A commitment to maintain the highest level of confidentiality, personal integrity, ethics and dedication.
• The ability to work well under pressure and handle numerous responsibilities simultaneously with diligence while providing practical, business-driven advice
• Sound professional ethics and integrity
• High emotional intelligence and cultural sensitivity.
• Strong legal research and analysis abilities, as well as comprehensive writing skills

Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices.

The expected annual pay range for this position with a work schedule of 40 hours per week is $200,000 - $260,000. Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate.

We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as four weeks of vacation, two weeks of sick and 10 paid holidays each year. We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.