Senior Counsel – Litigation, Product

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Michigan, +2 more states.

📋 Description

• Take ownership of Torc's litigation docket from start to finish, encompassing outside counsel, budgeting, strategy, and resolution.

• Establish and manage Torc's litigation readiness program, which includes legal hold procedures, response playbooks, and protocols for evidence preservation.

• Act as the legal lead on the cross-functional incident response team.

• Create frameworks for litigation readiness concerning driver-out commercial operations, autonomous driving incidents, and recalls.

• Oversee Torc's panel of outside litigation counsel.

• Inform the General Counsel and senior leadership about litigation exposure and trends.

• Provide guidance on record retention, insurance, and cybersecurity as they relate to litigation readiness and incident response.

• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Safety & Regulatory teams to identify and mitigate legal risks.

• Offer advice on product liability risks associated with Torc's autonomous driving system.

• Assist with NHTSA crash, defect, recall, and Early Warning Reporting.

• Conduct legal analysis on product release decisions and safety artifact requirements.

• Convert evolving AV regulations into actionable internal guidance and evaluate litigation risks.

• Provide counsel on go-to-market challenges for commercial freight operations.

• Review external communications, technical publications, and customer-facing materials for potential legal risks.

• Develop expertise in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, ADS exemption processes, and FMCSA requirements.

• Contribute to improvements in legal department processes, playbook development, and knowledge management.

⛳️ Requirements

• J.D. from a recognized law school.

• Active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.

• Over 7 years of legal experience, with significant involvement in litigation management, product liability, or related fields.

• Proven history of managing litigation and outside counsel, including budgeting, strategy formulation, and resolution.

• Demonstrated experience in building or maintaining litigation readiness frameworks, such as legal hold programs and incident response protocols.

• Strong judgment and the ability to provide clear, practical advice in a fast-paced, technically complex environment.

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

• Capacity to explain intricate legal concepts to executives, engineers, and other non-legal professionals.

• Collaborative approach and ability to build trust with Engineering, Safety, Product, and Operations teams.

• Owner's mentality and comfort in establishing and managing a function.

• Genuine curiosity about complex technologies and a desire to develop regulatory expertise over time.

• Availability to respond on short notice, including some evenings and weekends, for urgent incidents or matters.

• Integrity and discretion in managing sensitive and privileged information.

• Capability to obtain a passport for occasional international travel.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive compensation package that includes a bonus component and stock options.

• 100% coverage of medical, dental, and vision premiums for full-time employees.

• 401K plan featuring a 6% employer match.

• Flexible scheduling and generous paid vacation available immediately upon starting.

• Company-wide holiday office closures.

• AD+D and Life Insurance coverage.

• Occasional travel to Blacksburg, VA, Fort Worth, TX, and Ann Arbor, MI, estimated at 5-10% of the time.

• Capability to obtain a passport for occasional international travel.