Legal Counsel – Employment Law
£330 per day Inside IR35
London | 4 days office / 1 day remote
3 Month Contract
We're looking for an experienced Legal Counsel, Employment Law to join this Business & Legal Affairs team of a leading global media and publishing organisation.
This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified employment lawyer to provide UK and international employment law advice across a broad range of employee matters, working closely with senior stakeholders and the global People Team.
You'll play a key role in supporting the business across employment relations, compliance, investigations, international employment matters, immigration and workforce-related issues, while helping to ensure employment practices remain legally compliant and commercially effective across multiple markets.
The Role
Working closely with the Executive Director, International Employment & Compliance, you will provide pragmatic legal advice across the full employee lifecycle and support the business across its international markets.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Providing advice on a broad range of UK and international employment and labour law matters.
- Partnering with the global People Team to develop and maintain best practice around employee relations.
- Supporting and coordinating employee investigations, including matters across Europe and APAC.
- Advising on individual and collective consultation processes.
- Providing guidance on diversity, inclusion and workforce-related legal issues.
- Advising on day-to-day employment matters including contracts, disciplinary and grievance processes, redundancies and restructures.
- Overseeing employment contracts and exit documentation where appropriate.
- Supporting matters involving works councils and employee representative bodies.
- Monitoring changes in employment legislation and regulation across relevant international markets and advising stakeholders on their impact.
- Supporting employment litigation and managing relationships with external counsel where required.
- Advising on people compliance queries, investigations and issues raised by auditors or regulators.
- Preparing and contributing to employment law guidance, policies and training for colleagues.
- Supporting UK immigration and visa matters, including compliance with the UK visa sponsorship licence and associated record keeping and reporting.
- Supporting the organisation's global mobility and immigration requirements, working with external advisers and third parties.
- Working collaboratively with the wider Business & Legal Affairs team on broader legal and compliance matters.
AI & Employment Law
A key element of the role will be advising the People Team and wider business on the legal, regulatory and compliance implications of using AI in the workplace.
You'll ideally have experience using AI tools yourself and be comfortable advising on areas such as:
- AI-related employment law considerations
- Data privacy and workplace technology
- Risk mitigation
- Internal AI policies and governance
- The responsible deployment of AI within the workplace
About You
We're looking for a qualified legal professional with 2+ years PQE and strong experience in UK and international employment law, gained either in private practice or in-house.
You'll ideally bring:
- Strong UK employment law experience, alongside exposure to international employment matters.
- Proven experience handling employee relations, investigations, disciplinary matters and consultations.
- Experience coordinating employment matters across European and/or APAC markets.
- The ability to provide clear, pragmatic and commercially focused legal advice.
- Experience working closely with senior business stakeholders and People/HR teams.
- An understanding of employment compliance and regulatory requirements.
- Experience or an interest in immigration and global mobility matters.
- Experience working with or advising on ethical compliance and corporate policies would be advantageous.
- Demonstrable experience using AI tools and understanding their implications within a workplace and employment context.
- The confidence to work independently in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- A proactive, solutions-focused approach and a genuine "can do" attitude.
- Additional European language skills would be advantageous.
- An interest in the media and publishing industry would be highly desirable.
Why This Role?
This is a fantastic opportunity to join a globally recognised media business in a role offering genuine breadth across international employment law, employee relations, compliance, AI, immigration and global mobility.
You'll work with senior stakeholders across the organisation and have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on how employment and people compliance is managed across multiple international markets.
Rate: £330 per day Inside IR35
Location: London
Working pattern: 4 days in the office, 1 day remote
Contract: 3 month Contract
