Employment Counsel in London

A leading name in the luxury hospitality sector is seeking an Employment Counsel to join their Legal & Compliance function and lead on all employment issues globally. Reporting into the Head of Compliance and working closely with the SVP of HR and wider legal team, this role will manage, both in-house and via external law firms, all legal risks pertaining to the HR team including any litigation as well as providing employment law expertise toward acquisitions and restructuring initiatives. This role offers exceptionally broad international exposure, partnering with the business across complex and diverse EMEA markets as well as significant activities in LATAM and APAC.

Working from the global headquarters in central London, this role offers the chance to work alongside highly experienced colleagues, support your continued development, and contribute to a high-performing, collaborative culture. Due to the nature of the role and the fact many of the strategic stakeholders are based in London, we expect a hybrid model (three days per week in the central London offices) to be most appropriate for this position.

This is a well-established, consumer-facing business operating across a broad range of jurisdictions, offering an excellent opportunity for an employment lawyer seeking to take the next step in their career within a paced and complex environment. There will be opportunity to help drive and shape policy and take a leading role within the legal teams whilst also still being supported by the Head of Compliance and General Counsel.

Alongside a competitive base salary, the total compensation package includes bonus, private healthcare, life insurance, 25 days’ annual leave, and enhanced pension contributions (7% employer / 2% employee). One particularly notable benefit is the company’s programme of complimentary stays, experiences, and significant discounts on luxury holidays, an offering that extends to family and friends and is highly valued across the organisation.

For guidance only and dependent on experience, the base salary is likely to fall between £90,000 - £95,000 + bonus (some flexibility is afforded to candidates at the upper ends of the experience range, but please note this is a development role for a strong mid-level lawyer looking to step up).

To be successful in this role, you will already have strong experience in employment law, potentially already gained in-house in a multinational organisation. If your experience does come primarily from private practice then you will be motivated and excited by the challenge of tackling issues in varied jurisdictions (this is not a role for a lawyer keen to sit within a big employment law team of a large corporate). The role will require regular interaction with senior stakeholders and running your own workload so those with strong skills not only understanding and implementing employment policies but also adequately communicating and implementing these within the business will be essential.

For guidance purposes only, you’re likely to have 3-6+ years of PQE gained primarily within employment law (both contentious and non-contentious). Prior industry experience is not required, although the role will be well suited to those with experience working within companies that have complex international employee bases (especially in highly regulated markets like France).