Overview
This role is for a pragmatic, solution-oriented employment and litigation lawyer serving as Associate General Counsel, Americas. Responsibilities include overseeing employment and general litigation matters across the Americas, primarily the U.S. and Canada, and providing legal guidance on a wide range of employment-related issues. The position also provides oversight of legal operations and corporate governance functions supporting the region.
The Associate General Counsel will report directly to the General Counsel and oversee a small team of in-house counsel and legal operations support professionals.
Responsibilities
- Provide advice and counseling on a broad spectrum of employment law issues primarily in the U.S. and Canada, with a focus on California laws, including:
- Background checks
- AI
- Recruiting
- DEI
- Internal investigations
- Performance management
- Executive agreements
- Leaves of absence
- Accommodations
- Wage and hour
- Pay equity
- Terminations
- Reorganizations/role eliminations
- Identify, mitigate, and manage compliance and legal risk by developing, reviewing, and revising internal policies, procedures, and governance frameworks, and supporting related training and awareness efforts
- Provide legal representation and/or supervise outside counsel regarding:
- Employment litigation
- General litigation
- Government administrative agency charges, audits, and investigations (e.g., EEOC, DOL, OSHA, and state/local agencies)
- Pre-litigation demand letters and claims
- Enforce contracts with temporary staffing agencies and other contingent labor providers
- Oversee a small team of corporate counsel and legal operations professionals in the U.S., including setting priorities, developing talent, and ensuring consistent service delivery across the Americas
- Oversee the legal operations function, including:
- Matter and knowledge management
- Legal technology and systems
- Outside counsel engagement and panel management
- Legal spend and budget management
- Reporting and metrics
- Continuous improvement of department workflows
- Provide oversight of corporate governance matters for the Americas, including:
- Entity maintenance and corporate records
- Board and committee support
- Delegation of authority and signature policies
- Related regulatory filings
- Partnering with internal stakeholders and outside counsel handling day-to-day execution
- Partner with cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., People/HR, Product, Contracts, Finance, Operational Compliance, Privacy, Information Security, and business leadership) on enterprise initiatives, escalations, and risk governance
- Advise and assist with other general legal needs as they arise
- Serve as a senior member of the global Legal leadership team and take on additional responsibilities assigned by the General Counsel
Requirements
- Juris Doctor degree
- Member in good standing of a State Bar or the District of Columbia
- 10–15+ years of employment and litigation experience; preferably a combination of in-house and law firm experience
- California wage and hour / PAGA experience required
- Strong knowledge of labor and employment laws and regulations in various geographies
- Self-motivated with the ability to work with minimal supervision and assume significant responsibility
- Prior experience managing and developing a team of attorneys and/or legal professionals
- Experience overseeing or building legal operations capabilities (e.g., matter management, legal technology, outside counsel and spend management, process improvement, and department reporting)
- Working knowledge of corporate governance and entity management practices (including board and committee support, corporate records, and delegation of authority) (preferred)
- Track record managing outside counsel and litigation budgets across a distributed, multi-state/country workforce
- Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment and meet required deadlines
Preferred Qualifications
- Exposure to legal operations, corporate governance, or broader commercial/corporate matters
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary range: $200,000–$215,000 USD annually
- Salary rates are based on experience, skills, and geographical location
- Benefits may include:
- Unlimited PTO
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- Retirement planning
- Discounts and perks for tickets, travel, merchandise, and more
Location
Americas (primarily U.S. and Canada); California-focused employment law responsibilities are required.