Senior Counsel, Mass Tort Settlements Lead

Barnes & Thornburg LLP; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Chicago seeks a highly qualified Counsel to lead complex product liability and mass tort settlements from negotiation through closure. The attorney will oversee settlements, manage claims administration, and coordinate across internal teams and plaintiffs’ counsel.

The role requires JD, active bar status, 8+ years in mass torts, experience with drug, medical device or consumer products, and strong contract drafting, data management, and governance skills.

Qualifications

• JD degree from an accredited law school.
• Active Bar in good standing or eligible to waive in.
• 8+ years of substantive mass tort experience, incl. 3+ years in litigation at a law firm.
• Experience in claims resolution, pharmaceutical/medical device or consumer products.
• Detail-oriented with ability to manage multiple teams and work streams.
• Familiarity with matter management systems and claims platforms.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating settlement documents.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support settlement negotiations in product liability, mass tort, toxic tort, and consumer product matters.
• Develop settlement structures and eligibility criteria.
• Serve as primary legal and operations lead to ensure settlements are executed efficiently and compliantly.
• Draft, review, and finalize settlement documents with plaintiffs’ counsel.
• Manage nurse paralegals and attorneys to review and categorize claims.
• Analyze data across claims to monitor values and trends.
• Oversee settlements implementation and claims administration quality.

Skills

Negotiation

Leadership

Project management

Communication

Stakeholder management

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Case Manager Pro

Claims administration platforms

AI-enabled claim review platforms

Job description

Barnes & Thornburg LLP in Chicago seeks a highly qualified Counsel to lead complex product liability and mass tort settlements from negotiation through closure. The attorney will oversee settlements, manage claims administration, and coordinate across internal teams and plaintiffs’ counsel.

The role requires JD, active bar status, 8+ years in mass torts, experience with drug, medical device or consumer products, and strong contract drafting, data management, and governance skills.