The word corporate sounds massive and essential. The word litigator sounds even more critical. Perhaps foreign to your shared knowledge.
If you combine these two words, an even bigger title comes up: corporate litigator.
At first glance, you might think that a corporate litigator is just another typical lawyer — people in expensive suits who always carry a briefcase. You are correct in a sense, but there is more to a corporate litigator than just appearing in court.
Lawyer vs. Litigator
To understand a corporate litigator’s job, you must first distinguish the difference between a lawyer and a litigator.
- A lawyer is a professional who has achieved the appropriate educational level to represent someone in court and partake in legal matters.
- On the other hand, a litigator is a type of lawyer who specializes in litigation. Furthermore, a corporate litigator represents a business or company entangled in a lawsuit.
Some of the most common lawsuits that companies face include:
- Breach of contract
- Employee discrimination
- Customer discrimination
- Accidents in the workplace
- Negligence claims
- Harassment
- Work-related injury or sickness
- Right to Intellectual Property
What Does a Corporate Litigator Do?
Now that you know what it is, what exactly does a corporate litigator do?
Defend the Corporation
Companies are some of the favorite targets of lawsuits. Typical cases include negligence claims, employee discrimination, and contract disputes. As a representative of the company, a corporate litigator must protect its best interests.
In the early stages, a corporate litigator responds to the primary complaint. Then he proceeds to investigate the allegation. While doing so, he must gather resources and prepare the legal defense. In addition to that, a litigator is in charge of the deposition of witnesses. The acquisition of legal documents to counter claims is crucial to protect the company.
When it comes down to the worst, the litigator must do his best to defend the company in a court trial.
Spearhead a Lawsuit
Companies do not always have to be the ones defending in court. Sometimes, they might need to take legal action against a competitor or an employee. Cases like these involve copyright infringement or breach of contract. In these cases, the corporate litigator prepares the complaint and initiates the lawsuit.
With this, she must have substantial evidence to back up the stated accusations. Otherwise, it will backfire to the company. Disputes like these are settled either through lawful negotiations or court trials.
Prevent Legal Disasters
Corporate litigators are not limited to going on the defensive. They are also crucial in making sure that a company avoids potential lawsuits in the future.
Some of their tasks that ensure the legal welfare of a company include:
- Making sure to comply with wage and anti-discrimination laws
- Compliance with tax, accounting, and governance regulations
- Reviewing contracts to omit anything that may harm the company’s interests
- Careful monitoring of changes to current laws that may affect the company
- Preparing relevant documents in advance just in case the company must take a legal stand
To sum it up, corporate litigators are crucial to keep a business up and running. They are the heart of the legal sectors for a lot of corporations. You can depend on a corporate litigator to envisage possible legal affairs and safeguard the interests of your company.