Senior Counsel, Commercial Litigation

The Opportunity:

Avantor’s Legal Department is seeking a Senior Counsel, Litigation and Investigations (Commercial) to support client groups within Avantor’s enterprise, reporting to Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel, Global Litigation and Compliance.  This is a unique opportunity to join a growing legal team at a dynamic Fortune 500 public company, and to work autonomously on cutting edge issues in an exciting as well as highly collegial environment.



This role requires an experienced litigator who will be effective in exercising judgment and providing guidance to business and functional leaders across the organization.  This Senior Counsel is responsible for managing a variety of routine, moderately complex to complex legal matters and leading teams and projects on a wide range of topics, including commercial, corporate, environmental, product liability, and regulatory litigation and investigations.  This Senior Counsel will also manage the Legal Operations activities.

What we’re looking for:

Education and Experience:

• JD from an accredited law school, with strong academic credentials

• Current bar admission required

• Minimum of fifteen (15) years relevant experience at a law firm, in-house legal department, or a combination of both, with at least three (3) years of in-house experience preferred

• Experience in the chemical, distribution and/or life sciences industries preferred

• Compliance experience, including developing and implementing a compliance program preferred

• Undergraduate or graduate degree in sciences preferred

Who you are:

• High integrity, with a commitment to upholding Avantor’s values of innovation, customer centricity, accountability, respect, and excellence

• Excellent verbal and written business communication skills and ability to impact and influence at all levels of an organization

• Exceptional analytical, drafting, legal research, writing, and organizational skills, plus focused attention to detail

• Strong and effective judgment, and ability to present ideas logically

• Client-focused and confident, with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills to interact with senior business leaders, as well as vendors, customers and other third parties

• Ability to resolve conflict, overcome resistance and facilitate consensus

• Flexibility to adapt to new Company priorities, processes, initiatives, and risk tolerance, and the ability to offer practical, compliance-oriented solutions

• Collaborative approach necessary for working in a global organization

• Ability to work independently and handle complex and sophisticated legal matters with minimal supervision

• Ability to handle multiple priorities within tight deadlines and prioritize workload in a manner that best serves the needs of the business

• Willing to learn new areas of business and the law

How you will thrive and create an impact: 

• Develops strategy and manages, from start to finish, lawsuits and subpoena responses on behalf of the Company, including early case assessments, exposure analyses, and matter disposition goals. 

• Evaluates and manages pre-litigation disputes arising from the use of Avantor’s products or services.

• Leads or participates in internal and government investigations across the enterprise.

• Proactively identifies and implements risk mitigation strategies to minimize potential litigation.

• Selects, directs, and works collaboratively with fit-for-purpose outside counsel to deliver most favorable results for the enterprise. 

• Manages all aspects of in-house litigation support from start to finish, including record retention/legal holds, discovery, witness interviews, mediations/arbitrations, trials, and appeals.

• Develops and effectively manages budgets.

• Collaborates with Finance, Internal Audit, Enterprise Risk Management and other functions to provide capable

• Knowledge in data privacy and security laws is helpful.

• Handles other responsibilities delegated by VP, Legal.

#LI-Remote

Disclaimer:

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.

Why Avantor?

Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determina