Associate General Counsel, Labor, Employment & Litigation

Responsibilities:

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Employment Law Advisory & Strategic Counseling
• Serve as the primary legal advisor on all human resources and employment-related matters across the company’s business operations.
• Counsel senior management and team leaders on a broad range of employment and labor law issues, including hiring practices, workplace conduct, accommodations, wage and hour compliance (Fair Labor Standards Act), benefits, separations, employee relations, and M&A-related employment issues, all while appropriately balancing business needs and risk mitigation.
• Advise on the employment law implications of organizational changes, corporate structure, and business strategy.
• Provide legal guidance on employee benefits and compensation structures.

Litigation & Dispute Management
• Manage all aspects of employment, medical malpractice and other commercial litigation, arbitration, and internal investigations, including overseeing strategy, discovery, and resolution.
• Respond to and draft legal correspondence, including communications with federal and state agencies and correspondence from attorneys and other relevant parties.
• Represent the company before government/administrative agencies in matters involving discrimination, wage disputes, and other employment claims, and in response to threatened claims.
• Represent company employees in licensing boards and similar administrative matters.
• Develop and implement litigation strategies in collaboration with internal stakeholders and external counsel.

Regulatory Compliance & Risk Mitigation 
• Monitor and analyze legislative, judicial, and regulatory developments affecting employment law.
• Develop and implement company-wide policies, procedures, and training to ensure compliance and mitigate legal risk.
• Facilitate responses to regulatory complaints and inquiries.
• Assist in developing internal processes to ensure continued compliance with evolving employment regulations and standards.

Outside Counsel & Legal Team Management
• Lead and supervise external employment counsel and other legal professionals to ensure high-quality and cost-effective legal support.
• Manage outside counsel budgets, forecasts, and reporting related to employment matters.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for employment legal matters requiring external legal resources.

General Legal Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Provide support for non-employment litigation matters and assist with other general legal issues as needed.
• Conduct review and administration related to employment agreements and policies.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Human Resources, Compliance, and other departments to ensure alignment between legal strategy and business objectives.

Required Qualifications:

• A J.D. from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar; must be eligible to practice law in California (either directly or through in-house registration).
• 8+ years of legal experience focused primarily on employment counseling and litigation, with a combination of law firm and in-house experience (experience in in-house high-growth and/or healthcare environments is strongly preferred). 
• Deep expertise in federal, state, and local employment laws, including multi-state compliance, employee relations, workplace investigations, wage and hour, and discrimination matters.
• Strong litigation management skills, including hands-on experience with strategy, case evaluation, agency responses, and resolution of claims across varied forums.
• Proven ability to deliver clear, practical, and risk-balanced legal advice to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders in a fast-paced environment; an ability to distill complex legal issues.
• Demonstrated business acumen and strategic thinking, with a proactive approach to r