Counsel Labor & Employment Specialist

Job title:Counsel Labor & Employment Specialist

Contract: March 2025

Role Summary

The Counsel Labor & Employment position will join our global Labor & Employment Law Team. The role will be based in our London offices and be expected to provide both UK and global labor and employment law guidance to business and functional leaders across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with UK leaders, UK and global subject matter experts, regional legal teams, and business colleagues to create proactive strategies designed to avoid or minimize exposure to legal liability.
• Provide support on strategic initiatives and projects, including UK and global policy development, as well as day-to-day employee lifecycle issues for UK employees, including but not limited to hiring, performance management, conduct issues, leave, disability, wage payment, reorganization, and termination matters.
• Help business colleagues understand the risks and consequences of the given situation; effectively communicate the consequences and develop alternatives to manage identified risks.
• Develop and provide training on current employment law issues and legislation to managers and People & Culture to help develop awareness and capabilities.
• Efficiently gather and distill relevant information from appropriate sources; identify and analyze legal issues and know when to escalate them
• Stay current with legal developments, best practices and benchmarks in the UK and global labor and employment law and assist internal clients in implementing policies and procedures in response.
• Help maintain a professional culture emphasizing dignity, respect, and inclusion.
• Actively collaborate with other attorneys in the Labor & Employment Law team and across the Legal & Compliance Department, including the Regions and markets on day-to-day advice and key initiatives for the Company.
• Oversee outside counsel, including negotiation of fee agreements and ensuring billing complies with Department policy.

Critical Skills

• Deliver expert legal counsel on labor and employment matters of the Company in a timely manner.
• Partner with People & Culture (HR), Inclusion & Diversity Workplace Experience, IT, Legal Privacy and others to help ensure compliance with current and developing local and country legislation.
• Leverage experience to identify and proactively manage employee and labor relations matters.
• Strategically manage and provide legal support as needed for employment pre-litigation and litigation matters.
• Assist and consult with various stakeholders in the development of the collective bargaining strategy and participate and/or advise in the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements.
• Assist with the effective management of grievances and other employment conflicts and claims; oversee the arbitration process including case preparation, briefing and presentation.
• Act as a team player and role model for the legal function, encouraging collaboration and standards of excellence.

Executing for Results

• Demonstrate the detail orientation and the technical, planning and project management skills to ensure flawless execution.
• Take initiative and operate with a sense of urgency, decisiveness, and responsiveness.
• Strong work ethic with ability to handle a fast-paced vigorous schedule.
• Able to solve problems and offer creative solutions.
• Anticipate and proactively address emerging issues.
• Make nuanced recommendations and business decisions based on facts and the culture of the constituents served.
• Marshall the appropriate level and mix of resources as required by circumstances.
• Demonstrate self-motivation and initiative to prioritize work and otherwise perform the job with minimal supervision.
• Hold oneself to the highest standards of accountability.
• Able to operate in a dynamic, high stress environment with a demonstrated ability to handle crisis.
• High energy and drive, a charismatic and positive management style with a passion for driving results, and unquestioned integrity.

Knowledge and experience desired to undertake this role

• UK qualified solicitor or barrister with a minimum of 5 years post qualification experience gained in employment law in either a top international or national law firm and or well-respected (and preferably multi-national) organization.
• Experience with a demonstrated in-depth understanding of UK employment law and regulatory legal matters. Both in house and major law firm experience preferred.
• Previous experience with life sciences or technology industry preferred.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handle multiple, conflicting priorities while managing a substantial workload and client expectations.
• Demonstrated understanding of how government officials develop and implement policy, with an ability to analyze government regulations/legislation.
• Experience of working successfully in a highly results-oriented and performance-driven environment with a focus on excellence.
• Robust interpersonal, networking, public speaking, and writing skills, with the confidence and credibility to act quickly, communicate effectively with diplomacy and civility, and command respect of both internal and external audiences.
• Proven ability to think strategically and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to oversee complex projects and lead them to successful completion in an organized, efficient, and effective manner.
• Ability to lead and work in a multi-disciplinary setting to achieve consensus.
• Extreme attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain an appropriate perspective regardless of the delicacy or pressure of a situation.
• Ability to travel as necessary.
• Ability to maintain the highest level of confidentiality and preserve the integrity of information and processes.