Global Legal Counsel - Litigation - Associate Director

EY; Manchester; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

EY is seeking an experienced litigator to join the Global General Counsel’s Office in Manchester. You will defend EY in litigation, regulatory matters, and cross-border disputes, and advise on risk management and policy issues.

You will coordinate with partners, manage external counsel, oversee subpoenas, investigations, and discovery, and help shape EY’s approach to complex enforcement and civil proceedings.

Qualifications

• Significant autonomy in complex litigation strategy.
• Active license to practice law in the UK.
• 6+ years as practicing attorney, preferably in law firm or corporate legal.
• Experience managing cross-border litigation and regulatory matters.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead defense of EY in litigation and investigations.
• Coordinate responses to subpoenas and regulatory inquiries.
• Advise on risk management, client acceptance, and policies.
• Manage external counsel and budgets.
• Prepare briefs, pleadings, and discovery documents.
• Assist mediations and settlements.

Skills

Litigation experience

Regulatory matters

Cross-border issues

Client negotiations

Legal advisory

Analytical thinking

Education

Law degree

Licensed attorney

Barrister/Solicitor

Job description

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
• 6+ 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

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.

To help create an equitable and inclusive experience during the recruitment process, please inform us as soon as possible about any disability-related adjustments or accommodations you may need.

EY | Building a better working world

EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.

Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.

EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.