Associate General Counsel, Corporate

Department: Legal

At Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc., a leading designer, marketer and distributor of small household and commercial appliances, our culture is one of hard work, ethical behavior, and teamwork.  We roll up our sleeves and work hard to create products that have been pleasing customers for over 100 years.   We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which includes health, dental, and vision insurances, HSA contributions, Profit Sharing, and a 401(k) plan with vested contributions beginning Day One.  We provide paid vacation and holidays, summer hours and a paid charitable day off. To offset the cost of staying fit we offer a quarterly subsidy, and you can purchase our products at a discounted cost. We have a casual dress code, flexible hours, and development opportunities. These are just a few of the advantages of working for this dynamic company. 

We are seeking qualified candidates for an Associate General Counsel at our Corporate in Glen Allen, VA. Responsibilities include protecting the company’s interests and reputation by overseeing a broad variety of legal and regulatory matters with global implications, including all litigation, claims, internal investigations, regulatory compliance, and global risk management and insurance.  This position participates on the Company’s Safety Committee, interacts directly and regularly with members of the Company’s Executive Committee, supervises lawyers and non-lawyers, and supports other Law Department initiatives and projects. This position is hybrid.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Global Claims and Litigation Management:

• Product Liability: Defend against insurance subrogation and first-party litigation/claims, including personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, and alleged noncompliance with state consumer laws. Manage state attorney general inquiries, Better Business Bureau complaints, escalated consumer complaints, and product inquiries from major retailers.
• Employment: Oversee defense of employment-related litigation/claims and related investigations and responses to governmental authorities.
• Intellectual Property: Manage intellectual property disputes, including prosecution and defense of patent infringement and trade secret litigation/claims.
• Environmental: Handle litigation/claims with private parties, regulators, and insurers concerning environmental impacts from past manufacturing sites in the US and Canada.
• Workers Compensation: Support the company's workers' compensation carrier in investigating and defending claims, including asbestos-related claims from former workers.
• Corporate and Commercial Litigation: Manage corporate and commercial litigation and claims, including those potentially arising from customer/supplier relationships, strategic partnerships, governmental authorities, cyber risks, etc..

2. Regulatory Compliance and Affairs:

• Consumer Product Safety: Oversee compliance with consumer safety regulations, including those promulgated by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Health Canada, PROFECO, and similar governmental authorities. Manage agency investigations, formal responses (e.g., 15(b) Full Reports), and corrective actions (e.g., recalls). Participate in the Company’s Safety Committee and advise during the Product Design Review process.
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Respond to detention actions, oversee medical device approval and compliance, and manage food safety regulations.
• Environmental Protection: Ensure compliance with regulations from the US EPA, Canada’s Ministry of the Environment, and other relevant bodies. Manage remediation of legacy environmental sites in multiple jurisdictions.
• Employment Agencies: Oversee investigation and response to discrimination charges from the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state agencies.
• Additional Regulatory Compliance: Ensure adherence to various laws including the Dodd-Frank Act, Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, ADA, OSHA, Medicare Secondary Reporting, and other relevant regulations.

3. Preventative Counseling:

• Guide settlement negotiations to achieve favorable outcomes.
• Advise on product warranties, use and care guides, and hazard communications.
• Provide counsel on crisis management and crisis communications.

4. Risk Management and Insurance Programs:

• Oversee global risk management and insurance programs including commercial general liability, marine cargo, property, workers’ compensation, non-owned aircraft liability, automobile liability, excess/umbrella coverage, executive risk/financial professional coverage, and D&O insurance.

Minimum Requirements:

• Education: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an ABA-accredited law school with a strong academic record.
• Licensure: Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Experience: At least 10 years of sophisticated litigation, regulatory, and risk management experience.

Key Qualifications:

• Litigation Experience:
  • Expertise in product liability defense and related customer and consumer matters (e.g., personal injury, wrongful death, property damage, state consumer laws).
  • Broad experience in commercial litigation, employment litigation, intellectual property litigation, and environmental litigation.
  • Experience in managing environmental remediation and workers' compensation litigation/claims.
• Risk Management & Insurance:
  • Knowledge of risk management and insurance programs including commercial general liability, marine cargo, property, workers' compensation, non-owned aircraft liability, automobile liability, and executive risk/financial professional coverage.
• Regulatory & Compliance Experience:
  • Experience with supply chain diligence, workplace safety regulations, and various state laws on material safety of consumer products.
  • Ability to lead internal investigations and interface with governmental authorities.
• Leadership & Team Management:
  • Proven track record of leading cross-functional and multidisciplinary teams (e.g., engineering, sales, marketing, external counsel) in evaluating and executing projects.
  • Strong negotiation, communication, and drafting skills with the ability to present complex information clearly.
• Additional Skills:
  • Exceptional organizational, teambuilding, and relationship-building skills.
  • Demonstrated success as a trusted advisor, leader, and team player with experience working with executive leadership.
  • Commitment to continuous improvement and innovative legal strategies to support business objectives.

Our employees enjoy working in a tobacco-free and drug-free environment. We do not consider candidates who use tobacco products.  Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc. is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce.  We are an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. Our company uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.E-Verify.gov.

If you are interested and qualified for this role, please apply  HERE