Litigation & Compliance Counsel

Eastman Chemical Company; Kingsport (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Eastman Chemical Company seeks a Litigation & Compliance Counsel to join the legal team, reporting to the VP of Litigation & Compliance. The role combines hands-on civil litigation with compliance, internal investigations, and oversight of outside counsel.

Responsibilities include managing complex matters across disputes, IP, and regulatory issues, leading internal investigations, and developing training on compliance programs. Active U.S.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and active license to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Minimum of 6 years of civil litigation experience, with complex matters and courtroom exposure.
• Experience leading or participating in internal investigations, with familiarity of compliance frameworks.
• Strong e-discovery knowledge and ability to manage discovery workflows.
• Proven ability to supervise outside counsel and coordinate investigations.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic counsel on litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and risk mitigation to business clients and leadership.
• Manage a broad range of litigation matters, including drafting pleadings and court filings.
• Represent the Company in court, mediations, arbitrations, and hearings; handle external investigations.
• Oversee e-discovery processes, including preservation, collection, review, and production of data.
• Develop and deliver compliance training and policies; advise on regulatory requirements.
• Lead internal investigations and coordinate with law enforcement and government investigators.

Skills

Civil litigation

Internal investigations

e-discovery

Legal research & writing

Regulatory compliance

Client communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

Tools

e-discovery software

Document management systems

Regulatory databases

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Litigation & Compliance Counsel to join the legal team and report to the VP of Litigation & Compliance. This multifaceted role combines hands-on litigation responsibilities with legal counsel and subject-matter expertise in anti-bribery and corruption matters as well as internal and external investigations. The successful candidate will provide litigation, compliance, and internal investigation advice and counsel to the Company. This role will be active in prelitigation and litigation matters (including drafting filings and court appearances), manage outside counsel engagements, assist in compliance training development and delivery, and handle internal and government investigations as needed.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice and counsel on litigation strategy, dispute resolution, and risk mitigation to business clients and senior legal leadership.
• Manage a broad range of litigation and pre-litigation matters (commercial contract disputes, personal injury, class actions, IP, asbestos/toxic tort, antitrust, and related areas), including drafting pleadings, motions, briefs, and other court filings.
• Represent the Company in court proceedings, mediations, arbitrations, and administrative or quasi-judicial hearings.
• Oversee and manage e-discovery processes and tools, including preservation, collection, review, and production of data.
• Conduct legal research and analysis to advise on litigated and non-litigated matters, and to counsel clients on legal rights, obligations, and mitigation strategies.
• Lead and support internal investigations and act as point-person for interactions with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and government investigations; manage and coordinate external (government) investigations.
• Develop and deliver compliance training programs across the organization, ensuring employees understand legal obligations and company policies. Assist in drafting, implementing, and updating compliance policies and procedures to reflect regulatory requirements and organizational best practices.
• Conduct conflict of interest risk assessments and advise business leaders on disclosure requirements and mitigation strategies. Support compliance-related tasks including regulatory monitoring, documentation review, and adherence tracking to maintain organizational compliance standards.
• Manage and oversee outside counsel, including setting strategy, supervising deliverables, controlling budgets, and evaluating performance.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Minimum of 6 years of civil litigation experience, with demonstrated experience managing complex matters and courtroom exposure.
• Experience leading or participating in internal investigations, including experience with code of conduct and compliance policies and procedures; demonstrated ability to interact professionally and effectively with law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and government investigators on matters involving financial crimes, regulatory violations, corruption and bribery, workplace misconduct with legal implications, fraud and misrepresentation, and document falsification; familiarity with compliance frameworks, investigative protocols, and documentation standards.
• Strong knowledge of e-discovery processes and tools, and experience managing discovery workflows.
• Experience working with and supervising outside counsel and managing external investigation counsel.
• Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, and oral advocacy skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple matters and priorities across business units and to provide pragmatic, business-oriented legal advice.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to build credibility with business clients and cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple matters across business units and jurisdictions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with toxic tort, intellectual property, commercial contract, antitrust, personal injury, and/or insurance law.
• Prior in-house experience.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking and problem solving.
• Effective written and oral communication.
• Client service orientation and sound judgment under pressure.
• Project and budget management, including outside counsel oversight.
• High ethical standards and commitment to compliance.

Travel and Other Requirements

• Occasional travel may be required for court appearances, depositions, meetings with outside counsel, training delivery, or interactions with government/regulatory bodies.
• Must be able to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive matters with discretion.

Why Join Us

We thrive on bold ideas and diverse perspectives. In this role, you\'ll tackle high-impact litigation, compliance, and internal investigation matters that directly shape business outcomes. You\'ll develop litigation strategy alongside experienced counsel, drive solutions that keep operations moving, and help build the compliance and governance programs that protect and strengthen the Company.

Notice

Eastman will not accept applicants for this offered position who require visa sponsorship, including those whose status is F-1 visa OPT who subsequently would require ongoing visa sponsorship.

Benefits

Your total rewards go far beyond a competitive salary. When you join Eastman, you gain access to an exceptional suite of programs designed to protect your health, grow your wealth, and fuel your career.

Compensation & Incentives

Base pay plus performance-based incentive opportunities that let you share in our success.

Health & Wellness

Comprehensive medical, prescription-drug, and dental coverage-paired with a Health Savings Account option to help you save tax-free dollars for care today or in the future. A robust menu of voluntary benefits—included vision, optional life, critical-illness protection, and more so you can tailor coverage to fit your life. Holistic wellness support: financial-planning tools, family-building assistance (adoption, pregnancy, and fertility resources), parental leave, and confidential Employee Assistance Program counseling.

Retirement & Financial Strategies

401(k) with a company match—plus an additional annual retirement contribution from Eastman to accelerate your long-term savings.

Time Away

Eleven paid holidays, one personal day, paid time off, and paid vacation to recharge, celebrate, or handle life\'s moments.

Growth & Development

Access to mentorship, learning resources, and leadership programs that empower you to thrive in your current role and chart the next steps in your career.

Eastman is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, pregnancy, veteran status or any other protected classes as designated by law. Eastman is committed to creating a powerfully engaged workplace, where everyone can contribute to their fullest potential each day.

Nearest Major Market: Asheville

Nearest Secondary Market: Knoxville

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