Employment Counsel - International (UK posting)

Overview

Employment Counsel – International will provide day-to-day HR-related legal support for international operations outside of the US. The role covers the full range of employer-employee legal matters, including:

• Recruitment
• Performance management
• Dismissals
• Internal investigations
• Union / Works Council relations
• Employee benefits
• Privacy issues
• Learning and development

This is a full-time role (up to 100% remote) based in EU / UK.

Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted advisor to business leaders and the human resources team on European employment matters (mainly France, Germany, UK, Hungary).
• Manage outside counsel on non-US employment matters (Europe, Japan, China, Australia).
• Review and facilitate updates to employment policies and procedures in coordination with HR partners, including employee handbooks, bonus plans, compensation guidelines, and severance programs.
• Ensure offer letters, employment agreements, and separation agreements are fit for purpose, legally compliant, and aligned to business requirements.
• Manage outside counsel on litigation matters in a manner that best protects the organization’s interests.
• Propose practical commercial solutions to legal and business risks by owning issues and driving them to resolution.
• Keep the HR team informed about significant employment legislation that may affect the organization’s business or HR policies in Europe / Asia.
• Operate comfortably in an international environment with clients and colleagues across different regions and legal systems.

Requirements

Required qualifications

• Law degree and member of good standing of the applicable bar association.
• 8+ years of post-qualification experience from an international law firm (in-house experience is an advantage).

Competencies

• Language skills: Excellent verbal and written English skills; French language skills are a significant advantage.
• Integrity: High level of integrity and discretion, aligned with legal department practices and policies.
• Confidence: Appropriate degree of skill and confidence in one’s own abilities.
• Judgment: A risk-based approach to prioritisation; ability to identify options to mitigate risks and add value.
• Communication: Ability to explain legal issues in a digestible format and communicate effectively with stakeholders at different levels of the organization.
• Problem solver: Proactively implements processes and procedures so improvements become systemic across multiple jurisdictions.

Location

EU / UK (full-time; up to 100% remote).