In-House Dispute Resolution Solicitor

Job Description

Morgan McKinley is working with a state organisation to source a senior dispute resolution solicitor for a permanent job opportunity in either Dublin or Cork.

The organisation currently works a hybrid working arrangement of two days in the office/three days at home.

The Role:

The Legal team ensures the organisation has the required legal expertise and support required to meet its day to day legal needs including in relation to; dispute resolution and avoidance, litigation, property, construction, environmental, supply chain, corporate and commercial, including reviewing and providing input to legal documentation such as internal policies & contracts and advising on regulatory matters.

Reporting to the Dispute Resolution Lead (Solicitor), the Dispute Resolution Solicitor will have the responsibility of supporting the business to meet its day-to-day legal needs, and in particular the Legal area and the Chief Legal Officer in the management of any contentious matters (including matters with the potential to become contentious) as well as providing general ad-hoc legal advices on a case-by-case basis.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

* Supporting the Dispute Resolution Lead (Solicitor) in providing proactive in-house legal advice for all contentious matters, whether involving litigation (including criminal prosecutions), arbitration (including arbitrations in relation to the CPO of interests in land), mediation, adjudication, conciliation or any other alternative dispute resolution

* Advising on case strategy, developing and managing implementation of strategy for resolving any contentious matters, with a view to balancing likelihood of success with business imperatives

* Case management to include drafting pleadings, meeting filing and Court deadlines, advising on document preservation, drafting and negotiating settlement agreements and drafting and reviewing contractual dispute resolution provisions, managing the discovery process (and associated FOI or SAR requests), coordinating witnesses and instructing and briefing Counsel, assessing settlement opportunities and preparing for and running trials where required

* Advising on dispute avoidance

* Developing governance procedures to be observed in dispute resolution

* Managing relationships with law agents in Local Authorities and recommending best course of action for the organisation to pursue

* Providing day to day support to the Chief Legal Officer and the business, managing and supporting third party specialists, including external lawyers to deliver required business outcomes

* Managing escalation of customer queries and developing responses with a view to dispute avoidance

* Actively liaising with the organisation's finance and auditing teams to ensure that financial risk in relation to disputes or potential disputes is accurately estimated and recorded

* Inputting and maintaining the legal register with precedents & legislation, keeping registers of dispute matters up to date

* Review and contribute to Board papers and provide legal opinion, as required

* Promoting legal awareness and communicating to the business when legal input should be sought, including in the avoidance of disputes

* Monitoring and keeping business areas advised of relevant legislative changes and case-law affecting the conduct of the company's business

* Ensure that Continuing Personal Development is maintained, and that professional knowledge remains current, by participating in appropriate training / courses / seminars, as agreed with the Dispute Resolution Lead (Solicitor)

* Work closely with the other organisation Legal teams to ensure an aligned approach on related matters

* Other duties as required from time to time

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

* Qualified Solicitor or Barrister with at least 7 years' post qualification experience in dispute resolution

* Experience in advising on environmental and planning matters is preferable (but not essential)

* Detailed knowledge of District, Circuit, High and Supreme Court procedures (and, in particular, JR processes)

* A working knowledge of mediation, arbitration, adjudication and conciliation procedures

* Able to demonstrate proactiveness and a commitment to the highest quality of outputs

* Excellent relationship skills and ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams, including external legal advisers and internal stakeholders

* Ability to deal confidently and professionally on day to day issues and handle complex legal issues with minimal supervision

* Ability to demonstrate self-sufficiency and prioritisation

* Team oriented and collegiate with a willingness to share knowledge with and support of other members of the team

* Ability to manage and instruct junior team members and external counsel

* Excellent communication skills

* Solution-orientated, i.e. ability to adopt a commercial perspective rather than an 'academic' approach to legal issues

Morgan McKinley is acting as an Employment Agency and references to pay rates are indicative.

BY APPLYING FOR THIS ROLE YOU ARE AGREEING TO OUR TERMS OF SERVICE WHICH TOGETHER WITH OUR PRIVACY STATEMENT GOVERN YOUR USE OF MORGAN MCKINLEY SERVICES.