Associate General Counsel- Litigation

Wild Bill’s Tobacco is seeking a highly skilled litigation attorney with specific experience in employment law to join our in-house legal team. This role will be the key legal partner for our legal, HR, and management teams, balancing active litigation matters with litigation management, preventative counseling, and compliance initiatives. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record handling employment disputes in court and before government agencies, while also excelling at advising HR and leadership on policies, training, and compliance strategies that minimize legal risk and support the company’s multi-state operations.

Key Responsibilities

• As a member of our in-house litigation team, the attorney in this role will handle a diverse portfolio of litigation and pre-litigation disputes, including employment claims, landlord tenant actions (commercial), and other commercial litigation matters.
• The Attorney will take reasonable steps to make certain that the Company, its team members, dealers, and third-party service providers are complying with Company policies and procedures and applicable laws and regulations.
• The Attorney will actively prosecute and defend lawsuits, prepare and respond to pre-suit demands, and manage outside counsel where necessary.

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Defend the company in employment-related litigation and arbitration, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, and retaliation claims.
• Represent the company in federal and state agency proceedings (EEOC, DOL, NLRB, state civil rights/labor agencies).
• Manage all phases of litigation—pleadings, discovery, depositions, motion practice, mediation, settlement, and trial strategy.
• Oversee and direct outside counsel where necessary, ensuring alignment with company strategy and cost control.

Preventative Counseling & Compliance

• Serve as an advisor to HR and management on day-to-day employment issues such as discipline, accommodations, terminations, wage/hour practices, and workplace investigations.
• Draft, review, and update employee handbooks, workplace policies, and compliance programs to reflect evolving laws and best practices.
• Develop training programs for managers and HR on employment law compliance, workplace conduct, and risk management.
• Monitor changes in federal, state, and local employment laws across multiple jurisdictions and implement proactive compliance measures.
• Partner with executive leadership to align employment law compliance with broader business objectives.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive base salary commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, and vision coverage.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• CLE and professional development support.

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school 
• Active Michigan bar license Required
• Law license in other states where Wild Bill’s operates (Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, or Missouri) is a plus
• 5–10 years of litigation experience, with a focus on employment law. Some experience with commercial litigation matters is a plus.
• Deep knowledge of employment laws including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, and state/local regulations.
• Demonstrated success in handling employment litigation through trial/arbitration or significant motion practice.
• Strong ability to translate complex legal issues into practical, business-oriented guidance for HR and management

Preferred Skills

• Experience supporting multi-location retail or service-based companies with large hourly workforces.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for building trust with HR, management, and frontline leaders.
• Ability to balance proactive compliance with reactive defense in a fast-paced business environment.