Lead EMEA Employment Counsel

Unlocking a Leading Role in EMEA Employment Law: A Deep Dive into the Lead EMEA Employment Counsel Opportunity

This role as Lead EMEA Employment Counsel presents a compelling opportunity for experienced legal professionals to make a significant impact within a globally recognized organization. Positioned at the forefront of employment law across the EMEA region, this position offers a chance to blend strategic thinking with hands-on legal execution, shaping the employee relations landscape for a major multinational.

What Makes This Opportunity Stand Out?

• Strategic Regional Impact: You will be instrumental in supporting employment law provisions across the entire EMEA region, offering crucial legal guidance that influences business operations and employee well-being.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: This role thrives on partnership. You'll work closely with HR, Business Integrity, and other key stakeholders, providing expert advice on both contentious and non-contentious employment matters, including complex employee relations issues and collective bargaining.
• Global Project Involvement: Contribute your legal expertise to global initiatives, policies, and projects, ensuring alignment and compliance across diverse markets. This is your chance to shape overarching strategies.
• Risk Management & Thought Leadership: Proactively identify, assess, and manage legal risks. You'll be expected to stay ahead of evolving employment laws, providing valuable insights and thought leadership on their implications for the organization.
• Outside Counsel Management: Take ownership of the engagement and management of external legal counsel across the region, including budget oversight, demonstrating strong financial acumen alongside legal expertise.
• Talent Development: Play a vital role in building legal knowledge and conducting training for both HR and non-HR colleagues, fostering a culture of compliance and understanding.
• Flexible Working & Inclusive Culture: The organization actively promotes a family-friendly and inclusive workplace, and offers the possibility of discussing flexible working arrangements, demonstrating a commitment to employee well-being and work-life integration.
• Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: A strong emphasis is placed on diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a commitment to providing reasonable adjustments throughout the application and interview process.

Key Considerations for Your Career Path:

• Extensive EMEA Employment Law Expertise: This role requires a qualified UK lawyer with significant, in-depth experience advising on a broad spectrum of employment law issues across EMEA. Experience with cross-border collective bargaining and trade union matters is particularly valuable.
• Multinational Experience is Crucial: Previous experience working within a complex multinational organization, either directly or through secondment, will be essential for navigating the nuances of this global environment.
• Driving Change & Independent Judgment: A demonstrable ability to drive change and operate with independence and sound judgment in a fast-paced, evolving landscape is highly sought after.
• Stakeholder Influence & Delivery: The capacity to influence and manage a diverse array of internal and external stakeholders, coupled with the ability to deliver results through others and with limited resources, is key to success.
• Clear Communication Skills: You must be adept at translating complex legal concepts into clear, easily understandable terms for various audiences, including executive briefings and presentations.
• Adaptability & Resilience: Comfort with ambiguity and the ability to exercise sound judgment amidst uncertainty are critical attributes for this dynamic position.
• Language Skills: While fluent English is a prerequisite, proficiency in a second EMEA language would be a significant advantage.
• Location Flexibility: Be aware of the evolving location plans. The role is currently based at 100VE in London, with a proposed move to a new campus in Kingston-upon-Thames in early 2025. The final location will be confirmed following employee consultation.

For legal professionals seeking a challenging and rewarding role that offers significant regional impact, opportunities for strategic involvement, and a commitment to employee well-being, this Lead EMEA Employment Counsel position represents a significant career advancement.