Vice President of Litigation

Korn Ferry; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 350,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Korn Ferry seeks a Vice President of Litigation to lead a global, high-value portfolio across engineering and construction. This role emphasizes strategy, enterprise risk governance, and executive counsel rather than courtroom advocacy, with broad visibility and mentorship of a senior legal team.

The ideal candidate brings 20+ years in complex litigation, deep expertise in outside counsel management, and a proven ability to advise boards and senior leadership on strategic disputes in EPC,

Qualifications

• 20+ years of complex litigation leadership experience.
• Experience advising senior leadership and presenting to Boards.
• Deep expertise in litigation strategy and outside counsel management.
• Experience in construction, EPC, infrastructure, energy, mining, or industrial sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead Enterprise Litigation Strategy: Oversee a global portfolio of litigation and disputes and develop aligned strategies.
• Serve as a Strategic Advisor to the Business: Partner with leadership to shape dispute strategy and outcomes; translate risks for executives and Boards.
• Drive Outside Counsel Strategy: Manage relationships with external law firms across the global portfolio and set expectations on strategy, staffing, budgets, and performance.
• Lead a High-Caliber Team: Provide leadership, mentorship, and strategic guidance to an experienced litigation team; support succession planning.
• Oversee Specialized Risk Areas: Guide strategy on construction and EPC disputes, insurance matters, and legacy liabilities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Executive communication

Mentoring & team development

Risk assessment

Board communication

Job description

Korn Ferry is conducting a confidential search for a Vice President of Litigation, offering a rare opportunity to lead one of the most complex and high-stakes global litigation portfolios in the engineering and construction industry.

The Company

A leading multinational engineering and construction firm, our client operates in the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) industry, delivering complex, capital-intensive projects across infrastructure, energy, mining, and industrial sectors. The organization works in highly sophisticated environments, managing multibillion-dollar projects with significant technical, contractual, and financial complexity. In this context, strategic risk management and litigation play a critical role in protecting enterprise value and supporting long-term business success.

The Opportunity

This role is being created to provide dedicated leadership to a complex, enterprise-level litigation portfolio. Offering a unique combination of enterprise visibility and global scope, the Vice President of Litigation will shape global litigation strategy, advise senior leadership, and align legal decisions with business objectives and across some of the most sophisticated projects in the industry.

Unlike a traditional litigation role, the focus is on strategic oversight, risk stewardship, and executive judgment - not courtroom advocacy.

This position is intentionally designed for a mature leader motivated by impact, mentorship, and legacy.

What You’ll Do

Lead Enterprise Litigation Strategy

• Oversee a complex, global portfolio of litigation and disputes, including construction, commercial, insurance, legacy, and investigative matters.
• Develop and implement litigation strategies aligned with enterprise risk tolerance and financial objectives.
• Provide senior-level judgment on matters involving significant financial, operational, and reputational exposure.

Serve as a Strategic Advisor to the Business

• Partner closely with leadership across operations, finance, insurance, and risk to shape dispute strategy and outcomes.
• Translate complex legal risks into clear, actionable insights for executives and, where appropriate, the Board.

Drive Outside Counsel Strategy

• Own relationships with external law firms across the global litigation portfolio.
• Set expectations on strategy, staffing, budgets, and performance while ensuring alignment with business priorities.

Lead a High-Caliber Team

• Provide leadership, mentorship, and strategic guidance to an experienced litigation and claims team.
• Support succession planning and talent development within the function.
• Foster a collaborative, relationship-driven culture.

Oversee Specialized Risk Areas

• Guide strategy on major construction and EPC disputes, insurance matters, and legacy liabilities.
• Provide oversight for investigations, subpoenas, and sensitive matters.

The Ideal Candidate

Experience

The ideal candidate brings 20+ years of experience managing complex, high-value litigation, with a track record of handling enterprise-significant matters and advising senior leadership and presenting to Boards or Board committees.

This individual will have deep expertise in litigation strategy, outside counsel management, and leading and mentoring experienced legal teams.

This individual will have:

• experience in construction, EPC, infrastructure, energy, mining, or industrial sectors.
• exposure to complex global or public company environments.
• experience with insurance recovery, coverage disputes, or legacy liability portfolios.

Key Attributes

Success in this role will require the ability to operate as a trusted enterprise leader, combining strategic judgment with a collaborative and low-ego leadership style.

• A strategic thinker with strong commercial judgment.
• A trusted advisor with credibility at executive and Board levels.
• A leader and mentor who values developing others.
• A low-ego, relationship-driven professional who builds trust over time.
• A calm, decisive presence in high-stakes situations.

Compensation: $350k-400k base + 40% target bonus + LTI