Corporate Counsel, Litigation & Privacy

Want to help pets live their best lives?

We're proud to be where the pets go and where the pet people go. If you want to make a real difference, create an exciting career path, feel welcome to be your whole self and nurture your wellbeing, Petco is the place for you.

Our core values capture that spirit as we work to improve lives by doing what's right for pets and people.

• Pet First - Protect & Empower. All pets should Live their Best Life. We put the needs of pets and pet parents at the center of everything we do.
• Foster the Fun - Connect & Bond. Our Passion for pets brings us together! We celebrate the journey of pet parenthood through district experiences, products, and services.
• Let's Go! Own & Commit. We are stronger as One Petco team. We bring our unique superpowers and champion authenticity in everyone to drive success.

We're proud to be "where the pets go" to find everything they need to live their best lives for more than 60 years - from their favorite meals and toys, to trusted supplies and expert support from people who get it, because we live it. We believe in the universal truths of pet parenthood - the boundless boops, missing slippers, late night zoomies and everything in between. And we're here for it. Every tail wag, every vet visit, every step of the way. We are 29,000+ strong and together we nurture the pet-human bond in more than 1,500 Petco stores across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals, hundreds of preventive care clinics and eight distribution centers. In 1999, we founded Petco Love. Together, we support thousands of local animal welfare groups nationwide and have helped find homes for approximately 7 million animals through in-store adoption events.

Job Profile Summary:

Petco is seeking a highly motivated and talented attorney to join our in-house legal team as Corporate Counsel, Litigation & Privacy. This is a unique hybrid role designed for a skilled litigator with a strong desire to maintain their existing skills, while having an opportunity to develop expertise and experience in the rapidly evolving fields of data privacy, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence compliance.

Approximately 70% of your time will be dedicated to managing a diverse portfolio of litigation and pre-litigation matters. The remaining 30% will be focused on learning, training, and advising on cutting-edge privacy, cyber, and AI issues, while working closely with senior members of our legal, privacy, and information security teams. This is an approximate annualized time split provided for directional purposes only and could vary subject to the needs of the business from time to time.

You do not need deep or hands-on experience in privacy, cybersecurity, or AI for this role, but the right candidate will have an aptitude, interest, and ability for learning new, complex areas of the law; becoming comfortable providing business-savvy guidance on highly nuanced topics; and learning to expand their skillset to become a well-rounded in-house attorney. This role is ideal for a curious and ambitious lawyer looking to build a dynamic legal career at the intersection of litigation, regulatory compliance and defense, and innovation.

Essential Job Functions:

Litigation Defense & Management: Manage an active docket of litigation, pre-litigation disputes, and responses to third-party subpoenas. This includes commercial disputes (breach of contract claims), consumer claims (for unfair & deceptive acts/practices; invasion of privacy; Prop 65 violations; antitrust issues; and more), IP litigation (such as patent infringement claims), real estate disputes (such as commercial landlord-tenant issues), and other general litigation matters. Direct and manage outside counsel, including developing case strategies, setting budgets, and ensuring high-quality, cost-effective legal representation. Oversee all phases of discovery, including legal holds, document collection and review, written discovery, and preparing for depositions. Conduct and manage internal investigations related to legal and compliance issues related to pending and threatened litigation. Provide practical, risk-weighted advice to business partners to proactively mitigate litigation risk. Represent the company in mediations, settlement negotiations, and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Develop and maintain litigation reporting on trends, costs, and outcomes.

Privacy, Cyber, & AI Compliance: Under the oversight of the Associate General Counsel I, Litigation & Privacy, actively learn and stay current on U.S. privacy laws (e.g., CCPA/CPRA, VCDPA, etc.), cybersecurity regulations, ad tech regulations, and emerging AI legal frameworks. Assist senior counsel in advising on privacy-by-design principles for new products and services, including those involving AI and machine learning. Support the review and negotiation of data processing addendums (DPAs) and other privacy and security-related contractual clauses. Help manage the company's response to data subject rights requests and learn how to assist in the investigation and management of potential data security incidents. Track and analyze new legislation, regulatory guidance, and enforcement trends in privacy, cyber, and AI to help the business anticipate and adapt to change.

Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience defending corporate clients against commercial, consumer, or general litigation matters at a large law firm. In-house experience is a plus, but not required.
• An appreciation of and experience dealing with consumer protection laws, regulatory trends, or similar litigation defense topics, such as UDAAP laws, FTC enforcement actions, attorney general complaints, consumer class action trends, and similar topics.
• An interest and ability to continuously learn about U.S. consumer and/or employee privacy laws, such as the CCPA/CPRA and other state equivalents.
• Ability to learn, understand, draft, negotiate, and advise on Data Privacy Addenda and privacy-related contract terms, such as indemnification clauses and liability caps.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to simply explain complex legal concepts to business stakeholders.
• Excellent judgment, and experience assessing and advising on legal risks, litigation outcomes, and/or compliance issues.

• Comfort operating and advising fast-moving teams on legal issues that require nuance, risk-balancing, and navigating areas of law with substantial gray areas.
• Strong analytical skills and a practical, business-oriented approach to problem-solving.
• Exceptional attention to detail; curious and solution-oriented mindset; and an ownership mindset and attitude toward their work.
• Ability to sort through complex scenarios, fact patterns, and data flows and to persist in investigation and fact-finding in order to provide sound legal advice.
• Strong legal research, analytical, critical thinking, and risk assessment skills.
• Ability to multitask and operate independently; self-motivated and strong time-management skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with business teams on time-sensitive matters.
• Proficient in Outlook, Word, Teams, and PowerPoint.

Education/Experience:

• J.D. from a top-25 law school.
• College degree.
• At least five years' experience at a large law firm focused on defensive litigation, consumer class actions, regulatory investigations, and/or similar, transferrable practice areas.
• Member in good standing of at least one state bar.

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Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

The pay ranges outlined below are presented in accordance with state-specific regulations. These ranges may differ in other areas and could be subject to variation based on regulatory minimum wage requirements. Actual pay rates will depend on factors such as position, location, level of experience, and applicable state or local minimum wage laws. If the regulatory minimum wage exceeds the minimum indicated in the pay range below, the regulatory minimum wage will be the minimum rate applied.

Salary Range: $142,100.00 - $213,100.00

Hourly or Salary Range will be reflected above. For a more detailed overview of Petco Total Rewards, including health and financial benefits, 401K, incentives, and PTO - see https://careers.petco.com/us/en/key-benefits

Petco Animal Supplies, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or any other protected classification.

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