Employment Counsel [Contract -1 year] in London

Legal.io is working with a leading technology & gaming company who is seeking an Employment Counsel for a 12 month parental leave coverage. You will work directly with People Experience partners providing front-line and strategic support on a wide variety of employment related subjects. This is a hybrid position which requires 3 days per week at the Guildford, UK office.

Scope of Work

• Title: Employment Counsel (UK) (contract)
• Experience: 5-7+ Years
• Duration: 12 Months (From April 2026 - April 2027)
• Pay Rate: $85 - 110 / hr ($680 - $880 / day)

Role Overview

We are looking for an employment lawyer with 5 to 7 years of experience to support the Employment Legal team as a maternity cover for 12 months. You will work directly with People Experience partners providing front-line and strategic support on a wide variety of employment related subjects. This position is based in Guildford, UK, and expected to work in a Hybrid capacity (3 days per week in the office and 2 days per week working remotely).

What a Legal Counsel (Employment) does:

• Collaborate with the Global Employment Legal Team to ensure alignment and consistency in all regions where the company operates.
• Act as primary employment counsel for the company's operations in Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, and Romania and act as additional support in the UK, Ireland and Switzerland on an ad hoc basis.
• Manage all types of day-to-day employment law matters, like hiring; performance management and termination; wage and hour rules; disability accommodation; harassment, discrimination and bullying; contingent worker issues; investigations and related litigation.
• Support policy reviews and ensure all policies are as globally consistent as possible in the relevant territories.
• Support the management of investigations and complex employment issues.
• Liaise with external employment counsel where necessary to manage litigation or obtain advice on specific issues in the above territories.
• Advise on Union/works council employment law related matters.
• Advise on employment or other workforce related issues arising in transactions and other corporate arrangements.
• In coordination with the Privacy Team, advise on all employee privacy related matters.

Other skills and experience

• Practicing attorney with 5 to 7 years’ experience in employment law in an in-house legal department.
• Proficiency with applicable laws relating to employment matters in primary territories.
• Flexibility and willingness to work on a broad variety of legal matters.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and able to establish effective relationships with all levels of management.
• High integrity, well-organized, and able to manage numerous projects simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal skills, and a team mindset.
• Qualified attorney in the UK or other relevant European country.

Legal.io is committed to the principle of equal opportunity. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, religion (including religious dress and grooming practices), creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, military and veteran status or any other basis protected by the laws or regulations in the locations where we operate.