Legal Counsel, Litigation

About The Role

In this role, you will manage general liability defense matters for Kohl's, handling a wide range of litigation and pre-litigation issues, with a primary focus on premises liability, personal injury and related general liability claims. You will work closely with internal business partners, outside counsel, and insurers to develop effective defense strategies that minimize legal exposure and protect Kohl's interests.

What You'll Do

• Manage and oversee general liability claims and litigation, including premises liability, customer incidents, product liability and related tort matters
• Partner with outside counsel on strategy, case assessment, discovery, depositions, mediation and trial preparation
• Evaluate and respond to pre-litigation demands, settlement negotiations and claims investigations
• Evaluate cases to ensure proper allocation of expense and liability reserves, supporting accurate financial forecasting
• Advise internal stakeholders on liability trends, risk mitigation and claim prevention
• Develop cost-effective litigation strategies while balancing business and reputational considerations
• Review and analyze insurance coverage, coordinate with insurers and ensure compliance with notice and reporting obligations
• Draft, review and revise pleadings, motions, discovery responses and settlement agreements as necessary
• Track and report on litigation trends, outcomes and exposure to senior leadership
• Assist in training store and field employees on liability avoidance and claims handling best practices
• Additional tasks may be assigned

What Skills You Have

Required

• 4-7 years of experience in private practice and/or corporate legal department, with a focus on litigation and general liability
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school
• Member of the state bar or licensed by the state bar

Preferred

• Prior in-house experience
• Experience handling general liability cases within the retail, merchandising or consumer-facing industry
• Familiarity with related areas of law, including employment, premises liability and product liability
• Broad-based knowledge on various legal issues