Sr. Lead Counsel, Labor & Employment

Overview

This role supports employment law strategy and execution across the employee lifecycle. You will serve as a trusted legal partner to People Team leaders and business stakeholders, advising on workforce decisions and helping manage legal and reputational risk while enabling business objectives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted senior advisor to executives, People Team leaders, and cross-functional stakeholders on complex employment matters, including workforce strategy, organizational change, global mobility, employee relations, accommodations, leaves, classification, and contingent workforces.
• Independently assess complex and ambiguous legal and business risks, synthesize competing considerations, and provide decisive, practical recommendations aligned with organizational objectives.
• Lead the development and implementation of employment-related agreements, policies, guidelines, and other legal documents and operating practices.
• Develop and lead complex, cross-functional employment-law initiatives, including compliance programs, policy rollouts, process improvements, training, and other strategic People Team priorities.
• Partner with senior stakeholders to identify emerging risks, set priorities, secure resources, and drive alignment and accountability across interconnected workstreams.
• Manage significant employment disputes, litigation, agency investigations, and regulatory matters; develop practical resolution strategies balancing legal, business, employee-experience, and reputational considerations.
• Manage outside counsel relationships, budgets, and legal work to budget, maintaining appropriate quality, efficiency, and strategic oversight.
• Monitor developments in employment law and translate them into clear, actionable guidance, policies, training, and scalable business practices.
• Act as an AI-forward legal partner by identifying responsible opportunities to use AI to improve legal research, risk spotting, workflow efficiency, knowledge management, and service delivery, while applying sound judgment regarding confidentiality, accuracy, bias, transparency, and human oversight.

Requirements

• JD and active bar admission, with a minimum of 10 years of experience handling complex employment matters in a sophisticated law firm or in-house environment.
• California or New York bar admission preferred.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. employment law and experience advising senior business and People leaders on high-impact, complex matters.
• Exceptional judgment and decision-making skills, including the ability to assess ambiguity, balance competing considerations, and make timely recommendations.
• Excellent communication and executive-influence skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly and build trusted partnerships.
• Proven ability to independently lead complex, cross-functional initiatives and drive alignment and accountability across stakeholders.
• Strong experience negotiating and managing employment litigation, agency investigations, regulatory matters, and outside counsel relationships.
• AI-forward mindset, including the ability to evaluate and responsibly apply AI tools to legal work and scaling efficiency.
• Impeccable integrity, discretion, resilience, and commitment to an inclusive environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• In-house experience in a fast-paced organization.

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary range: $178,255—$366,996 USD
• The position is also eligible for equity.
• Final salary is based on a number of factors including location, travel, relevant prior experience, or particular skills and expertise.

Location

• US based applicants only
• This position is not eligible for relocation assistance.
• In-office requirement: in the office for in-person collaboration approximately 1-3 times per year.
• Role can be situated anywhere in the country.