Senior Counsel – Employment

Latham & Watkins

Senior Counsel managing US employment law matters while supporting HR and internal clients. Focus on employee relations, discrimination, performance management, and compliance.

Posted 6/11/2026full-timeCalifornia, Illinois, New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesSenior💰 $220,000 - $250,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Conducting legal research and analysis on a variety of employment law topics across all U.S. jurisdictions, and providing practical guidance to internal stakeholders
Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating employment-related documents, including offer letters, separation agreements, settlement agreements, secondment agreements, employment-related memos, and local counsel engagement agreements
Assisting with potential and actual US employment litigation, disputes, and administrative charges
Drafting and preparing responses to employment-related subpoenas and personnel file requests
Monitoring employment related legislation and other employment law developments across all U.S. jurisdictions, providing legal advice to internal stakeholders impacted by updates, ensuring firm compliance by all relevant deadlines, and assisting in developing internal communications and training
Protecting and maintaining any highly sensitive, confidential, privileged, financial, and/or proprietary information that Latham & Watkins retains

Requirements

What you’ll need

Possess broad and ongoing knowledge of US employment laws and regulations in the jurisdictions in which the firm operates in the US
Demonstrate the ability to conduct legal research, analysis, and draft written work product with strong attention to detail
Display strong client counseling skills, with the ability to communicate complex legal concepts in a clear, practical manner
A Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
An active bar membership in good standing in a jurisdiction in which the firm has a U.S. office
A minimum of four (4) years of employment law experience, including counseling and/or employment litigation responsibilities
Prior experience working directly with a law firm Office of General Counsel or prior in-house experience, preferably

Benefits

Comp & perks

Healthcare, life and disability insurance
A generous 401k plan
At least 11 paid holidays per year, and a PTO program that accrues 23 days during the first year of employment and grows with tenure
Well-being programs (e.g. mental health services, mindfulness and resiliency, medical resources, well-being events, and more)
Professional development programs
Employee discounts
Affinity groups, networks, and coalitions for lawyers and staff

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

legal researchemployment law analysisdrafting employment documentsnegotiating agreementsemployment litigationresponding to subpoenasmonitoring legislationclient counselingattention to detailwriting legal work product

Soft Skills

communicationanalytical thinkingpractical guidanceconfidentialityclient relationship management

Certifications

Juris Doctorateactive bar membership