Associate General Counsel – Healthcare Litigation

Role Overview

• Assist in managing and resolving medical malpractice and general liability claims and lawsuits involving Emory Healthcare.
• Handle assigned litigation matters directly, including factual investigation, legal research, drafting pleadings, discovery, motions, and trial preparation.
• Participate in depositions, mediations, arbitrations, and court proceedings as needed.
• Develop case assessments, liability analyses, and damages evaluations to inform litigation strategy.
• Assist in identifying, recommending, and implementing strategies to reduce risk exposure.
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date information on all claims and litigation matters within Emory Healthcare’s claims management system.
• Serve as a key liaison between the Office of the General Counsel and outside counsel.
• Support the CHLC in supervising, evaluating, and managing outside counsel performance and litigation budgets.
• Review drafts of pleadings, motions, reports, and settlement recommendations prepared by outside counsel.
• Provide timely, practical legal advice to clinicians, administrators, and leadership regarding liability exposures, litigation developments, and risk mitigation.
• Collaborate with the Office of Quality, Risk Management, Insurance, various committees, and clinical and operational leadership to facilitate responsive, informed litigation management.
• Assist with preparation of litigation reports and updates for Emory Healthcare leadership, including senior executives and board committees.
• Support insurance-related functions, including reviewing coverage issues, assisting with communications with insurance carriers, and participating in claims reviews.
• Conduct or participate in educational sessions for physicians, residents, nurses, and staff on risk management, documentation, and litigation avoidance.
• Stay informed of developments in relevant healthcare laws, medical malpractice trends, and legislative changes affecting litigation.
• Maintain positive working relationships with internal stakeholders, opposing counsel, insurers, and court personnel.
• Represent Emory Healthcare in professional associations or relevant bar groups as appropriate.

Requirements

• Graduation from an ABA accredited law school.
• Four years of related experience.
• Member in good standing of the State Bar of Georgia or the ability to become a member within one year.
• Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
• License in good standing to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 8 years of litigation experience, preferably with significant exposure to medical malpractice, healthcare litigation, or professional liability claims.
• Experience conducting and managing discovery, depositions, motion practice, and negotiation in complex litigation matters.
• Strong analytical, research, writing, and advocacy skills.
• Admission to the Georgia Bar or eligibility to obtain Georgia licensure promptly upon hire.
• Experience representing hospitals, healthcare providers, or health systems.
• Familiarity with insurance coverage issues and defense-side litigation budgeting.
• Prior in-house, government, or firm experience involving medical malpractice defense.
• Trial experience (first
• or second-chair) or substantial evidentiary hearing experience.

Benefits

• A generous contribution from the university, in an amount up to an additional 9% of your salary, to your 403(b) tax-deferred retirement savings plan.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, including a three-tier plan that lowers your deductibles and out of pocket maximums even more.
• Eleven paid holidays and two paid floating holidays.
• Three additional paid days off during the Winter Recess (Christmas to New Years).
• Four weeks of paid vacation per year, which increases with length of service.
• FMLA and six weeks of paid parental leave.
• A Courtesy Scholarship program that covers between 50% and 100% of tuition for your children who apply and are admitted for enrollment in Emory University.
• An exceptional gym, which employees can join for $360 annually.