Senior Counsel, Employment & Litigation

Overview

This role involves providing legal support on employment law and litigation matters for the organization's North America offices and other global locations as assigned. The Senior Counsel, Employment & Litigation will advise Human Resources and business partners on a broad range of employment, benefits, and compliance issues, as well as manage non-employment litigation and third-party claims affecting the global business. This position requires handling complex legal projects independently in a fast-paced, rapidly growing environment and collaborating proactively across legal and functional teams.

This is an individual contributor role reporting to the Senior Director and Deputy General Counsel, Employment & Litigation.

Responsibilities

• Advise and support Human Resources and business partners on employment law matters including hiring, performance management, terminations, discrimination, harassment, accommodations, leaves of absence, wage and hour issues, incentive compensation, benefits (plan design, implementation, administration, communications), employee investigations, restructuring, and corporate development (M&A) activities
• Monitor new laws, regulations, and legal decisions affecting employment and benefits matters and provide strategic advice
• Draft and negotiate offer letters and employment-related agreements such as severance, separation, restrictive covenants, retention agreements; draft employee policies, handbooks, and related resources
• Design and lead training events on employment law and benefits topics
• Manage pre-filing demands by investigating claims, communicating with opposing counsel, and negotiating resolutions
• Draft and review pre-litigation and litigation documents including correspondence, pleadings, and mediation/arbitration statements
• Manage outside counsel for employment and non-employment litigation, including budget oversight, litigation strategy, and document review
• Support employment-related aspects of mergers, acquisitions, strategic investments, and divestitures, including due diligence and integration
• Provide advice on day-to-day issues as well as strategic and systemic initiatives
• Respond to attorney demand letters and government agency inquiries and audits
• Participate in legal department projects as assigned

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited institution
• Admission to a State Bar within the United States and in good standing
• Minimum of 8 years of employment law and litigation practice experience in a law firm and/or in-house corporate legal department

Preferred Qualifications

• Employment law and litigation experience at a major law firm
• Licenses to practice law in California or Washington State
• Experience advising senior leaders and benefits professionals on ERISA, fiduciary compliance, plan governance, legal compliance, and related plan documentation
• Executive compensation experience in-house and/or at a major law firm
• Prior in-house legal experience
• Proven ability to work efficiently with a client-service focus in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Experience supporting international business operations and collaborating with HR and other professionals across multiple regions
• Strong interpersonal skills to maintain productive work relationships and collaborate with legal specialists

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Ranges (Base Salary)

• California: $164,700 - $266,000
• Illinois, Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota: $158,300 - $223,625
• Washington, Maryland, New Jersey, New York (including NYC metro area): $158,300 - $232,575
• Washington DC: $164,700 - $232,575
• Ohio: $137,800 - $194,650

Additional Compensation

• Bonus: Eligible for company bonus plan based on performance; sales personnel eligible for variable incentive pay based on sales goals
• Stock: Eligible to receive Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Benefits

• Paid Time Off including earned time off and paid company holidays based on region
• Paid Parental Leave up to six months following birth, adoption, or foster care placement
• Full health benefits plans with options for 100% employer-paid coverage and minimal employee contributions from day one
• Retirement plans with potential employer contributions
• Learning and development opportunities including coaching, online courses, and education reimbursements
• Compassionate care leave for paid time off following loss of a loved one or other life-changing events

Location

• This position is remote; the employee works from a designated remote work location for the majority of the time and is not required to be in or near an office frequently.
• This position is not eligible for employment in Alaska, Hawaii, Maine, Mississippi, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent basis without the need for current or future visa sponsorship or immigration support.

Equal Opportunity

The organization is an equal opportunity employer and makes hiring decisions based on experience, skill, aptitude, and approach. Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, domestic partner status, caregiver status, marital status, veteran or military status, or any other legally protected category is prohibited.