Assistant Chief Counsel, Litigation

Disney Cruise Line - The Walt Disney Company; Burbank (CA); On-site; Confidential; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Long-term incentive units

Job summary

Disney seeks an Assistant Chief Counsel for the Corporate Legal - Litigation group in Burbank, CA. The attorney will manage the general litigation docket with emphasis on patent disputes, FRAND licensing claims, and cross-border enforcement actions.

The role involves leading matters in U.S. and international courts, supervising outside counsel, and advising on litigation risk to business and technology stakeholders. Strong judgment and collaboration are essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of litigation experience at a major law firm and/or in-house
• Experience handling patent infringement cases
• Excellent written and verbal communication; good judgment
• Ability to evaluate risk and advise senior leadership
• Collaborative, professional, and integrity-driven
• Experience supervising attorneys and paralegals
• Ability to explain technical issues to non-technical executives

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute litigation strategy, including case evaluation and budgeting
• Lead litigation matters across U.S. and international jurisdictions
• Supervise outside counsel domestically and internationally
• Advise business and technology stakeholders on litigation risk
• Make strategic risk-based decisions and escalate when needed
• Develop creative, business-oriented solutions to mitigate risk
• Educate on litigation trends to senior leadership
• Collaborate on patent prosecution and related proceedings

Skills

10+ years litigation

Complex case mgmt

Attention to detail

Risk assessment

Communication

Professionalism

Collaboration

Advocacy skills

Independence

Supervising attorneys

Education

Juris Doctor

CA Bar admission

Job description

At Disney, we're storytellers. We make the impossible, possible. We do this by pairing cutting-edge technology with unparalleled imagination to bring stories to life through our movies, products, interactive games, parks and resorts, and media networks. Now is your chance to join our talented team and to help us deliver our beloved content to audiences around the world.

We are seeking an Assistant Chief Counsel to join the Corporate Legal - Litigation group. This attorney will play a central role in managing the Company's general litigation docket, with an emphasis on patent disputes, FRAND licensing claims and disputes, and cross-border enforcement actions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute litigation strategy, including case evaluation, budgeting, and motion practice oversight
• Lead litigation matters across U.S. federal and state courts and international jurisdictions, from pre-suit assessment through trial and appeal
• Supervise outside counsel, both domestically and internationally (including Germany, Brazil, and the Unified Patent Court)
• Advise business and technology stakeholders on litigation risk and the implications of product and platform decisions
• Make strategic risk-based decisions and escalates to senior legal and business leadership as necessary
• Anticipate issues and proactively develop creative business-oriented and brand-consistent solutions to mitigate legal risks
• Provide internal education on litigation trends, SEP developments, and risk mitigation strategies to senior leadership
• Collaborate with patent prosecution, antitrust counsel, and outside advisors on patent validity challenges, IPR/EPR proceedings, and related administrative proceedings

Minimum Qualifications

• 10+ years of litigation experience at a major law firm and/or in-house legal department
• Substantial experience managing complex cases in U.S. federal and state courts, including patent infringement cases
• Excellent attention to detail, written and verbal communication skills, and judgment
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate risk and exercise sound legal judgment
• Strong work ethic and commitment to professionalism and integrity
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented approach with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with colleagues at all levels of the organization
• Excellent written and oral advocacy skills, with the ability to communicate complex patent and technology issues to senior executives and non-technical audiences
• Self-motivated with the initiative and drive to manage complex matters independently and proactively anticipate business and legal needs
• Experience supervising attorneys and paralegals
• Exceptional business acumen and ability to develop creative, business-oriented solutions to complex legal problems in a fast-paced, consumer-facing environment

Required Education

• Law degree from an accredited law school
• Admission to the California State Bar in good standing or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel in California

The hiring range for this position in Burbank, CA is $236,000 to $316,500 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.