In-House Litigation Counsel & Assistant Secretary

Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 176,000 - 264,000; Full time

Job summary

Northwestern Mutual’s Law Department is seeking an experienced in-house Litigation Attorney in Wisconsin to lead complex disputes from intake to resolution. You will set strategy with internal leaders and outside counsel, manage discovery, and mentor teams across the enterprise.

Candidates should have 6+ years of complex civil litigation, a JD and Wisconsin bar admission or plan to obtain within a year, and a proven ability to translate legal issues into practical business guidance for senior

Qualifications

• J.D. with admission in good standing; Wisconsin bar or eligibility to become licensed within one year.
• Minimum 6 years of complex civil litigation experience.
• Ability to translate legal issues into practical guidance for executives.
• Strategic partner to business leaders with cross-functional impact.

Responsibilities

• Serve as in-house counsel on a portfolio of complex disputes, partnering with business clients to understand the facts, objectives, and risk posture.
• Develop and execute litigation strategy with outside counsel, including case assessments, early-disposition opportunities, motion practice, discovery strategy, expert strategy, and trial/arbitration preparation.
• Lead and oversee all phases of discovery (including eDiscovery), coordinating with internal custodians, IT, and outside counsel; and ensure timely, accurate production.
• Prepare and counsel executives and employees for depositions, hearings, mediations, and trial testimony; align witnesses on case themes; and coordinate logistics and messaging with outside counsel and internal communications as needed.
• Oversee, review, and edit pleadings, dispositive motions, briefs, and other court filings to ensure accuracy, consistency with strategy, and alignment with company objectives and risk tolerance.
• Evaluate settlement options and recommend resolution strategies; lead/support negotiations and mediations; advise on settlement authority and terms; and document outcomes and learnings for continuous improvement.
• Partner with Law Department colleagues, business leaders, and senior management to assess and mitigate litigation exposure, drive best practices, and manage outside counsel performance and budgets.

Skills

Accountability

Attention to Detail

Decision Making

Policy & Procedure

Risk Assessment & Identification

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Job description

Northwestern Mutual’s Law Department is seeking an experienced in-house Litigation Attorney in Wisconsin to lead complex disputes from intake to resolution. You will set strategy with internal leaders and outside counsel, manage discovery, and mentor teams across the enterprise.

Candidates should have 6+ years of complex civil litigation, a JD and Wisconsin bar admission or plan to obtain within a year, and a proven ability to translate legal issues into practical business guidance for senior