Assistant General Counsel - Litigation

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company.  Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers — large and small — package, transport and display products of all kinds.  Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence.  We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers.  Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People • Customers • Trust

The Assistant General Counsel (attorney) provides legal counsel and other services to clients at all levels in the corporation.  The attorney provides legal services from the Chairman of the Board to the operating management of specific company locations or management or staff employees of specific segments of a given location.  Services will include litigation, litigation management, counseling with some assistance on business transactions and risk management. The attorney is responsible for the legal affairs of a specific segment of the corporation or for the legal affairs of the entire corporation within a specialized area of law.  Assistant General Counsel will have direct and leading responsibility for the company’s litigation portfolio, which may be discharged by management of outside counsel retained to try the case or direct handling of the litigation process or by a combination of the two.

Principle Accountabilities: 

• Manages the company’s litigation with some assistance with business transactions and risk management.
• Develops legal strategies which effectively address and resolve problems consistent with the law and the interests of the company. 
• Follows through with the execution of a legal strategy and the tenacity to see the strategy through to a full and satisfactory result. 
• Engages in the active and processional practice of law by providing legal and law-related services to the company’s officers and managers at all levels of the corporation.  Requires the application of sound professional legal skill and judgment in analyzing complex legal problems and transaction, determining appropriate courses of action, and in planning, negotiating, and documenting solutions to the legal and business problems of a specific segment of the corporation or of the entire corporation.
• Has authority to select and hire outside counsel, consultants, and other professionals as necessary for handling litigation.  Outlines the task, negotiates fees, reviews work product, and approves the final product for payment.  These decisions may involve multiple parties and significant costs.
• Determine the best course of action among available alternatives by applying sound professional skill and judgment, a broad knowledge of company operations, policies, and procedures, and the ability to properly analyze legal, business, and practical issues of increasing complexity.
• Evaluate individual, departmental, and corporate processes and procedures to identify and implement improvements designed to reduce or avoid legal risks, to respond to changes in the legal environment, or to improve the delivery of legal services.
• Know and follow policies and procedures of the company, share information that would benefit other members of the team and find ways to improve the delivery of service to our customers.
• Strive to continually strengthen PCA’s business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectation for customers specifically supporting PCA’s Commitment to Service which involves doing what’s right for our customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make.

Decision Making:

Problems encountered by the Assistant General Counsel involve a wide range of legal issues of substantial complexity and business sensitivity.  The attorney possesses the ability to distinguish between those issues which are critical to the resolution of an issue and those which, although technically involved, will not ultimately be of material importance and by utilizing these distinctions in developing and implementing a strategy to resolve the problem.  Includes the ability to anticipate the personal reaction of individuals on both sides or a transaction or litigation to a pending issue.

Interactions:

The attorney interacts frequently with people at all levels, including senior executives inside and outside of the company.  The attorney possesses a variety of traits that add up to a polished delivery of legal services.  This includes appropriate demeanor, punctuality, respect for others, and a strong desire to ensure that the quality of the service delivered is always first rate.  The attorney demonstrates integrity by accepting responsibility for actions, dealing with opposing parties and their counsel in a forthright and straightforward manner and other always conducting oneself on an honest basis.  Adherence to legal ethical standards and business standards is required.

Position Requirements:

• Must be a graduate of an ABA accredited law school and a member of the Bar Association. 
• Strong verbal and written communications with the ability to convey thoughts, concepts, positions, and arguments in a clear, concise, professional, and effective manner appropriate to the audience and circumstances.
• Knowledge of a broad range of legal areas which are commonly encountered in PCA’s business or an in-depth knowledge of a specific legal area which is of importance to PCA.
• Ability to conduct in-depth investigation involving all necessary persons and resources.  Ability to give proper, focused instructions to support staff or clients regarding gathering of information and to successfully coordinate efforts of the company. 
• Ability to gather information efficiently and knowing when enough information has been gathered.
• Demonstrates sufficient personal initiative to recognize the need for, and to undertake, appropriate tasks and projects without the need for specific instructions to do so.
• Previous work experience as a member of a team, or a strong understanding of the importance of open communication and information sharing between team members.

All qualified applicants must apply at Careers.packagingcorp.com to be considered.

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories.