Corporate Counsel - Litigation

Career Area:

Legal and Compliance

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

This is Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is seeking an attorney to join the Global Litigation Group of its in-house legal division. The successful candidate will provide legal support on a broad range of pre-litigation and litigated matters involving commercial, products liability, and mass torts litigation. The candidate is expected to be familiar with eDiscovery, legal holds, case strategy, taking and responding to discovery, motions practice, trial experience, and/or appellate practice. This role will work directly with outside counsel on matters, including early case assessments, budgets, and review and management of outside counsel billings. The cases often require the attorney to work with Caterpillar attorneys in other practice areas or personnel in the Global Government and Corporate Affairs Division.

The attorney will be responsible for working internally with other Caterpillar attorneys, litigation paralegals, engineers, the eDiscovery group, Legal IT and employee witnesses in a variety of roles and may be expected to participate on cross-functional teams with other members of the legal department. A successful candidate should be comfortable counseling business managers about risk management and commercial issues.

What You Will Do:

• Providing day-to-day legal counseling on commercial, products liability and mass torts matters
• Drafting, reviewing and monitoring pleadings, briefs and discovery
• Working with paralegals and witnesses to develop cases for trial
• Counseling business clients on litigation risks, as necessary, and providing training
• Working with insurers and Caterpillar Risk Management personnel to establish insurance coverage and working with accounting teams on case reserves
• Working with outside counsel and leading teams of attorneys to develop case strategy
• Maintaining excellent relationships with outside counsel and work to be a valued member of the Caterpillar litigation program

What You Have:

• Risk Management: Knowledge of processes, tools and techniques for assessing and controlling an organization's exposure to various kinds of risks; ability to apply knowledge of risk management appropriately to diverse situations
• Decision Making and Critical Thinking: Knowledge of the decision-making process and associated tools and techniques; ability to accurately analyze situations and reach productive decisions based on informed judgment
• Effective Communications: Understanding of effective communication concepts, tools and techniques; ability to effectively transmit, receive, and accurately interpret ideas, information, and needs through the application of appropriate communication behaviors
• Managing Multiple Priorities: Knowledge of effective self-management practices; ability to manage multiple concurrent objectives, projects, groups, or activities, making effective judgments as to prioritizing and time allocation
• Problem Solving: Knowledge of approaches, tools, techniques for recognizing, anticipating, and resolving organizational, operational or process problems; ability to apply knowledge of problem solving appropriately to diverse situations
• Resource Management: Knowledge of the resources required to achieve business objectives; ability to plan, mobilize and distribute resources to fulfill business objectives and plans; ability to work effectively and efficiently with outside counsel
• Legal Analysis: Knowledge of methods and tools used in legal analysis; ability to read, interpret and draw accurate conclusions from both legal and factual information
• Legal Function: Knowledge of the major responsibilities, accountabilities, and organization of the legal function or department; ability to provide legal consulting, advice and assistance

Education and Experience Required:

• J.D. from an accredited law school with strong academic credentials
• Active membership in at least one U.S. state bar and qualifications for admission as in-house counsel under the Texas and/or Illinois rule
• Minimum 5 years of active litigation experience at a top firm and/or in-house, including significant roles in litigated cases, managing complex and high exposure litigation matters
• Familiarity and a strong background on eDiscovery issues

Additional Info:

• The primary location for this position is Peoria, IL
• Domestic relocation assistance is available for those who qualify
• Sponsorship is not available
• Travel is required, and the frequency varies according to the matters on the attorney’s docket

About Caterpillar

Caterpillar Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For over 100 years, we’ve been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed to and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed.

Final details:

Please frequently check the email associated with your application, including the junk/spam folder, as this is the primary correspondence method. If you wish to know the status of your application – please use the candidate log-in on our career website as it will reflect any updates to your status.

#LI

Summary Pay Range:

$136,320.00 - $204,480.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Caterpillar. 

Benefits:

Subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines. This is a summary list of benefits.

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits*

• Paid time off plan (Vacation, Holidays, Volunteer, etc.)*

• 401(k) savings plans*

• Health Savings Account (HSA)*

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)*

• Health Lifestyle Programs*

• Employee Assistance Program*

• Voluntary Benefits and Employee Discounts*

• Career Development*

• Incentive bonus*

• Disability benefits

• Life Insurance

• Parental leave

• Adoption benefits

• Tuition Reimbursement

       

* These benefits also apply to part-time employees

This position requires working onsite five days a week.

Relocation is available for this position.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position. This employer is not currently hiring foreign national applicants that require or will require sponsorship tied to a specific employer, such as, H, L, TN, F, J, E, O. As a global company, Caterpillar offers many job opportunities outside of the U.S which can be found through our employment website at www.caterpillar.com/careers.

Posting Dates:

October 6, 2025 - October 20, 2025

Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen.     

Caterpillar is an Equal Opportunity Employer, Including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities.  Qualified applicants of any age are encouraged to apply.

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