Associate General Counsel, Employment, Labor and Litigation Counsel

ABOUT SOTHEBY'S

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.

THE ROLE

We are looking for an Associate General Counsel to support our employment and labor efforts across the globe with a majority of the focus on HR and employment law as the main client group, as well as supporting the Litigation & Compliance team, particularly with respect to general litigation issues.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Labor and Employment Focus

• Serve as primary support to the Human Resources department on a variety of legal matters related to the workforce, establishing standards, agreement templates and policies globally
• Provide legal support on all day-to-day employment-related matters for the US business including investigations, drafting agreements, developing internal policies and procedures, consistent agreement templates, and ensuring multi-jurisdictional regulatory compliance
• Work strategically with senior business leaders and HR partners to provide practical labor and employment legal advice. This responsibility includes legal research and oral and written advice on a broad range of employment and labor law issues (e.g., terminations and discipline, duty to bargain, leaves of absence and reasonable accommodations, wage and hour considerations, harassment and discrimination investigations and outcomes, and labor union practices)
• Provide counsel regarding employment-related matters under US federal, state, and local laws (e.g., compliance with Title VII, ADAAA, FLSA, FMLA and state/local sick leave laws), and advise on emerging legislative and regulatory changes affecting labor and employment matters
• Handle administrative matters and hearings before federal and state agencies if required, including the National Labor Relations Board, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state fair employment practices agencies, and the Department of Labor
• Partner with outside counsel on advising on and drafting employee benefit and compensation plans
• Partner with the Global Head of HR on executive compensation programs and proposals
• Work with outside counsel in other jurisdictions (particularly UK, France and Switzerland) to support local HR teams on legal employment matters where required
• Partner with HR to design internal investigation processes; analyze legal and factual issues; conduct legal research; independently develop and present recommended legal strategies and case handling

• Develop and deliver training to HR partners and other colleagues as necessary on employment processes and compliance subjects
• Serve as a thought leader in labor and employment law, staying ahead of emerging trends and proactively advising legal implications for business initiatives and policies
• Ensure that Company policies and procedures are followed and that all related documents comply with Company policies and applicable laws and regulations

Litigation Focus

• Lead and assist in managing litigation and outside counsel, including responding to demands, threats of litigation, information requests, and representing the Company in labor & employment, workers’ compensation, products liability
• Reporting to senior management on the potential financial exposure for the Company arising out of facts or circumstances related to the above matters and seeking corporate governance approvals as required
• Provide legal support with contentious matters arising from all aspects of Sotheby’s business in the Americas, including general litigation; contractual terms; title disputes; claims relating to mis-cataloguing, attribution, authenticity of works and / or negligence; and debt recovery related matters; this includes corresponding with clients and their legal and other representatives, and drafting and negotiating settlement agreements and related documentation
• Provide legal support with subpoenas, enquiries and disclosure requests received from law enforcement and regulators in the Americas. 

IDEAL EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES<