Global Legal Counsel - Litigation - Associate Director

Ernst & Young Advisory Services Sdn Bhd; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 159,000 - 307,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global professional services firm in London is seeking an experienced Global Legal Counsel - Litigation to manage various legal claims and issues. The ideal candidate will have 8+ years of litigation experience and a strong law degree. Responsibilities include defending claims and advising on compliance with laws. This role offers a competitive compensation package and a hybrid work model.

Benefits

Comprehensive compensation package

Flexible vacation policy

Health and dental coverage

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience as a practicing attorney, preferably in a law firm or corporate legal department.
• Requires active license as an attorney to practice law in the location of the EY office.
• Significant experience in litigation, including trial and related experience.

Responsibilities

• Handle all aspects of various litigation, enforcement matters and investigations.
• Advise on issues of professional responsibility and risk management.
• Work with outside counsel and manage outside counsel spend effectively.

Skills

Strong analytical abilities

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Exceptional interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Cultural awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year college

Law degree from a top law school

Job description

Global Legal Counsel - Litigation - Associate Director

Location: London

Other locations: Anywhere in Region

At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.

We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go.

Join EY and help to build a better working world.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced litigator to join our Global General Counsel’s Office (“GCO”) team. The successful candidate will help defend claims made against EY, including claims alleging professional malpractice, breach of contract claims, and securities class action litigation. This role actively manages and participates in the defense of litigation, mediations, arbitrations, and other civil proceedings. This role will also respond to subpoenas, inquiries, and investigations by regulators. This position serves a critical advisory and risk management function, addressing compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and firm policies governing all service lines compromising EY’s business.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Handle all aspects of various litigation, enforcement matters and investigations, and internal investigations
• Advise and assist on matters involving cross‑border issues or which could have a significant financial or reputational impact to EY
• Consult with partners and other stakeholders on potential or threatened litigation to avoid significant civil, criminal, or regulatory exposure
• Coordinate responses to regulatory subpoenas and preservation requests by determining the appropriate custodians, drafting the preservation notice, and ensuring compliance
• Advise on issues of professional responsibility and risk management, such as client acceptance and continuances, conflicts of interest, document retention, independence, professional standards and guidance, restatements, special investigations, and discovery of financial statement errors or potential client fraud
• Formulate defense strategies and other tactical decisions in potential or active litigation matters involving EY and consult on defense strategies with relevant stakeholders
• Work with outside counsel and actively manage outside counsel spend to ensure resources are appropriately spent
• Conduct interviews of potential expert witnesses and current or former personnel in connection with litigation or other matters
• Participate in mediations and other settlement negotiations to resolve disputes in a cost‑effective manner
• Participate in preparing key documents in litigation, including legal briefs, pleadings, and discovery requests
• Participate in preparing witnesses for testimony
• Develop and recommend EY policy and positions on legal issues

To Qualify for the Role You Must Have

• Significant level of autonomy in making difficult and often nuanced decisions involving litigation, criminal, and regulatory proceedings
• Experience as an attorney with significant litigation, including trial and related experience.
• Exceptionally strong analytical abilities to synthesize facts and law to determine actions
• Understand laws, rules, and regulations applicable to EY and its industry.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to interface and communicate effectively and diplomatically with all levels of EY personnel, including firm leaders and managing partners
• Demonstrated ability to create, plan, and successfully execute projects; the ability to meet multiple deadlines in a fast‑paced environment
• Exceptional interpersonal skills to manage outside counsel effectively
• A bachelor's degree from an accredited 4‑year college; top of class preferred
• Law degree from a top law school; top of class preferred
• 8+ years of experience as a practicing attorney, preferably in a law firm or corporate legal department
• Requires active license as an attorney to practice law in the location where the resident EY office is located

Skills and Attributes for Success

• Strong team player with excellent negotiation and communication skills and cultural awareness.
• Proactive attitude and positive mindset, high degree of emotional intelligence, and demonstrated aptitude for resilience, flexibility, and ability to adapt to changing circumstances and dynamics.
• Interest and ability to positively team and collaborate effectively across geographic locations.
• Ability to grasp, understand, and effectively articulate and document complex legal and contractual principles.

What we offer you

The compensation ranges below are provided in order to comply with United States pay transparency laws. Other geographies will follow their local salary guidelines, which may not be a direct conversion of published US salary ranges. At EY, we’ll develop you with future‑focused skills and equip you with world‑class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams. Learnmore .

• We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $210,900 to $406,000 The base salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $253,100 to $461,400. Individual salaries within those ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
• Join us in our team‑led and leader‑enabled hybrid model. Our expectation is for most people in external, client serving roles to work together in person 40‑60% of the time over the course of an engagement, project or year.
• Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well‑being.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

EY accepts applications for this position on an on‑going basis.

For those living in California, please click here for additional information.

EY focuses on high‑ethical standards and integrity among its employees and expects all candidates to demonstrate these qualities.

EY | Building a better working world

EY provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected basis, including arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable law.

EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities including veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during any part of the application process, please call 1‑800‑EY‑HELP3, select Option 2 for candidate related inquiries, then select Option 1 for candidate queries and finally select Option 2 for candidates with an inquiry which will route you to EY’s Talent Shared Services Team (TSS) or email the TSS at [e-mail] .