Associate Corporate Counsel (Employment & Labor)

Overview

This role, Associate Corporate Counsel (Employment & Labor), reports to the General Counsel and serves as a legal partner to Human Resources and operational leaders. The attorney manages employment disputes and provides practical, day-to-day advice on employment and labor matters across a multi-state workforce.

Responsibilities

• Assist the General Counsel and support reporting to the CEO and Board of Directors as necessary on material legal matters.
• Agency charges: Manage and respond to charges and inquiries before the EEOC, the Texas Workforce Commission, and other federal, state, and local agencies, including drafting position statements, responding to information requests, and representing the organization in mediation and conciliation.
• Demand letters & pre-suit resolution: Evaluate and respond to attorney demand letters and pre-suit claims; develop resolution strategy; negotiate settlements; draft settlement and release agreements.
• Litigation & arbitration management: Manage employment lawsuits and arbitrations, including wage-and-hour class and collective actions, in partnership with outside counsel. Formulate strategy, review pleadings, discovery, and motions, monitor budgets, and make recommendations to outside counsel and the General Counsel.
• Litigation support: Draft and circulate legal holds; coordinate preservation, collection, and production of documents (including electronic discovery with the IT team); communicate with current and former employees with relevant knowledge; prepare employees for depositions and attend as needed; respond to subpoenas and non-party discovery.
• Outside counsel management: Engage outside counsel as needed, negotiate engagement terms, review invoices to enforce billing guidelines, ensure appropriate counsel experience for each matter, and maintain case files and matter summaries for reporting to the General Counsel.
• Terminations & investigations: Advise Human Resources and property leadership on terminations, corrective action, and high-risk or escalated workplace investigations to support consistent, compliant outcomes.
• Leave, accommodations & return-to-work: Advise on leave programs, disability and other accommodation requests, and return-to-work issues under federal, state, and local law.
• Policies, handbook & multi-state compliance: Review and draft the employee handbook, HR policies, and employment-related agreements. Monitor developments in federal, state, and local employment and labor laws and help maintain compliance across a multi-state footprint.
• EPLI & insurance claims: Partner with the insurance broker and carriers on employment practices liability claims, including claim notices, tenders, coverage questions, and coordination with carrier-appointed counsel.
• Training & business partnership: Collaborate with Human Resources and management teams to develop training materials and provide prompt, practical legal advice to support operational decision-making.
• Travel: May require travel estimated at 10% of work time annually for property visits or internal meetings.

Requirements

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school and active membership in good standing in at least one state bar.
• Attorneys not licensed in Texas must be eligible to register as in-house counsel with the Texas Board of Law Examiners.
• 3–5 years of employment and labor law experience at a law firm, in-house, or both, including handling agency charges and employment litigation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound, practical recommendations quickly.
• Direct, candid, and concise communication style, with the ability to explain legal issues in plain language to HR professionals and business leaders at all levels.
• Ability to manage a high volume of matters, prioritize effectively, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Highest ethical standards; self-motivated and resourceful approach; ability to build credibility and trust with colleagues.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook); familiarity with HRIS and e-discovery platforms is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in property management, real estate, or another multi-site industry.

Compensation & Benefits

California Pay Range

$110,000 - $150,000 USD

Colorado Pay Range

$110,000 - $150,000 USD

Location

Multi-state workforce. Travel may be required (estimated at 10% of work time annually) for property visits or internal meetings.

Notes

This job description is not all-inclusive and may be modified at any time. At the request of a supervisor, additional duties may be assigned without notice. This is a safety-sensitive position and may be subject to additional compliance requirements.