Assistant General Counsel, Litigation

About Suffolk: 

Suffolk is a national enterprise that builds, innovates, and invests. Suffolk is an end-to-end business that provides value throughout the entire project lifecycle by leveraging its core construction management services with vertical service lines that include real estate capital investment, design, self-perform construction services, technology start-up investment (Suffolk Technologies), and innovation research/development.

Suffolk – America’s Contractor – is a national company with more than $5.0 billion in annual revenue, 2,600 employees, and main offices in Boston (headquarters), New York City, Miami, West Palm Beach, Tampa, Estero, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. Suffolk manages some of the most complex, sophisticated projects in the country, serving clients in every major industry sector, including healthcare, life sciences, education, gaming, transportation/aviation, government, mission critical and commercial. Suffolk is privately held and is led by founder, chairman and CEO John Fish. Suffolk is ranked #8 on ENR’s list of “Top CM-at-Risk Contractors.” For more information, visit www.suffolk.com and follow Suffolk on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.

The Role:  

The Assistant General Counsel, Litigation under the supervision of the VP, Litigation & ADR, Associate General Counsel is responsible for proactively investigating, managing, and resolving high exposure claims and lawsuits, including but not limited to breach of contract, construction defect, and insurance coverage.  The Assistant General Counsel, Litigation will timely and accurately process all claims and suits from filing to closure in accordance with Suffolk Construction Company, Inc. best practices and state regulations.  The Assistant General Counsel, Litigation will work closely with Suffolk’s carriers, brokers, operations team, risk management, and in-house legal team nationwide to achieve the best possible outcome for each claim and lawsuit.  The Assistant General Counsel, Litigation will assist in the implementation and maintenance of processes and procedures to eliminate, mitigate, and control the financial impacts of losses across several lines of business.

The role is specifically designed for an experienced construction litigator with at least 7 years of experience who has demonstrated the ability to support a diverse and challenging variety of complex construction matters.

Department: Legal

Reports To: VP Litigation & ADR, Associate General Counsel

Working Relationships: Safety, Operations, Risk, Accounting, Data

Location:  Tampa, FL

Responsibilities: 

• Analyze complex legal and insurance coverage issues and develop strategies to effectively counsel Suffolk and resolve claims and suits.
• Advocate on behalf of Suffolk with respect to claims and lawsuits.
• Draft and review pleadings, motions, discovery requests, and settlement agreements.
• Establish and maintain working relationships with Safety, Operations, Risk, and Accounting.
• Determine when vendor involvement is necessary, such as brokers, attorneys, experts, etc. and direct and monitor/manage the vendor services to ensure the effective cost containment of expenses.
• Strictly administer Suffolk’s Litigation Guidelines.
• Attend job sites as necessary; perform site inspections and work with the project teams to prepare necessary documentation to resolve claims and lawsuits.
• Attend hearings, mediations, arbitrations, etc. as necessary.
• Stay apprised of current changes in the law, court rulings and related matters that might affect the handling of claims and lawsuits.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• JD required; must be in good standing with the Florida, California, Massachusetts, or New York Bar.
• Minimum of 7 years experience in construction litigation.
• Working knowledge of insurance coverage laws and guidelines.
• Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple cases.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent working knowledge of Excel, Word and Power Point.

Necessary Attributes:

• Collegial and collaborative team player with strong work ethic and commitment to success
• Ability to deliver exceptional work-product in a fast-paced and dynamic legal and operational environment
• Independent, reliable, motivated and well organized
• Positive, proactive and professional
• Believer in our core values: Passion, Integrity, Hard Work, Professionalism, Caring

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for long periods of time; talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stands; walk; and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a quiet to moderate noise level. Job site walking.

Suffolk provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, national origin, citizenship, genetic information, disability, protected veteran, gender identity, age or any other status protected by law.  This policy applies to recruiting, hiring, transfers, promotions, terminations, compensation, benefits, and all other terms and conditions of employment.  Suffolk will not tolerate any unlawful discrimination toward, or harassment of, applicants or employees by anyone at Suffolk, or anyone working on behalf of Suffolk.