Sr Counsel Commercial Litigation

OVERVIEW

Realize new levels of autonomy and professional ownership. At Ulta Beauty, our Legal, Risk & Governance team provides clarity and continuity in ways that have made our growth a seamless venture, with keen insights that have opened up new and previously unexplored areas of opportunity. Through superior leadership and work that continually challenges, you’ll have the chance to help set strategic direction through ethical and collaborative thought and practice.

* This role is Hybrid

We are seeking an experienced commercial litigator to manage and oversee all litigation facing Ulta Beauty, excluding employment and workers’ compensation litigation (though occasional support on employment and workers’ compensation matters may be required). This role is responsible for developing litigation strategies, managing outside counsel, and ensuring alignment with the company’s business objectives and risk tolerance. This role will protect the company’s interests across a diverse portfolio of commercial and consumer disputes that touch every corner of our business, including retail operations, supply chain, merchandising, marketing, real estate, and intellectual property.

The ideal candidate brings deep complex commercial litigation experience and business-oriented judgment, thrives in a fast‑past environment, and demonstrates the ability to manage complex cases from inception through resolution.

In this role, you will serve as a key member of Ulta Beauty’s Legal, Risk & Governance Department, supporting a Fortune 500 retailer in a complex, fast moving business environment. This is a hybrid role, blending remote work with regular on‑site collaboration to support enterprise stakeholders and ensure consistent, business‑aligned legal support across the organization.

• Lead and manage all the company’s non‑employment litigation including class actions and individual plaintiff matters involving commercial and contract disputes, supplier and manufacturer issues, consumer protection claims, product‑related matters, regulatory investigations, and general liability claims.
• Provide occasional support on employment and workers’ compensation litigation in partnership with labor and employment counsel and/or People Success.
• Select, retain and manage outside counsel, including budgeting and performance oversight, while acting as the primary in‑house contact for litigation strategy across a nationwide litigation portfolio and overseeing case assessments, pleadings, discovery, depositions, motion practice, hearings, mediations, settlement negotiations, and trial preparation.
• Serve as primary point of contact for internal stakeholders regarding litigation matters.
• Oversee and coordinate responses to government inquiries, audits, and enforcement actions.
• Proactively identify legal and regulatory developments, emerging risks, and litigation trends; translate requirements and collaborate with business partners to develop actionable guidance for business leaders.
• Develop and execute creative litigation strategies aligned with business objectives and the company’s risk tolerance that protect the brand, enable business imperatives, and optimize financial outcomes.
• Advise internal stakeholders and collaborate cross‑functionally with business units on litigation risks, potential exposure, and strategic options.
• Conduct legal reviews of retail initiatives and operations, ensuring alignment with commercial, consumer, and operational laws and regulations to provide proactive guidance that stops issues before they start.
• Mentor junior legal team members and support ongoing process improvement and knowledge‑sharing across the Legal, Risk & Governance Department.

• Manage litigation budgets responsibly, ensuring transparency and cost discipline.
• Support Finance and Legal Operations in the preparation of budgets, forecasts, reserves, reporting, and spend analytics.
• Drive process improvements for litigation management, including the adoption of technology and data analytics.
• Maintain accurate litigation tracking and reporting for senior leadership.
• Lead special…