Senior Counsel Employment - Manager

Location: New York, Stamford, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Hoboken, Iselin, Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, McLean, Chicago.

Senior Counsel Employment – Manager

At EY, you’ll have the chance to build a career as unique as you are, with the global scale, support, inclusive culture, and technology to become the best version of you. Our General Counsel’s Office (GCO) supports EY’s business by serving as trusted advisors to the EY community and providing the highest quality legal services to EY’s service lines and business enablement functions.

The opportunity

The Senior Counsel, Employment Law, serves a critical advisory and risk management function, addressing, among other things, compliance with all relevant laws, regulations and firm policies governing the human resources aspects of the firm’s business. The primary responsibility is to provide advice, counsel, and representation of the firm in all areas of employment law.

• Represent the firm in various legal proceedings, including litigation, mediation and arbitration matters as well as agency proceedings under applicable federal and local employment laws.
• Review and interpret restrictive covenants applicable to incoming executive level personnel, advise with respect to these and the Firm’s own covenants, and litigate if necessary.
• Analyze and counsel on workforce resource management, and other projects and policies to support an innovative and evolving workforce.
• Conduct sensitive investigations relating to alleged violations of firm policies, including discrimination, harassment, and equal employment opportunity violations, and other allegations of misconduct involving firm personnel.
• Provide employment law risk management advice on the full range of human resources/EEO issues.

The preferred work location for this position is the New York metropolitan or DMV area; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas or Houston, Texas.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Manage and participate in active Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Labor (DOL), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and state agency proceedings as well as active disputes alleging violations of various state and federal employment statutes, including Title VII, the ADEA, the ADA, the FLSA, the FMLA.
• Manage a docket of employment litigation cases in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) – mediations and arbitrations. Actively participate in strategy and budget for legal proceedings referred to external counsel.
• Conduct internal investigations with respect to allegations of unlawful behavior, such as sexual or racial harassment, other alleged discriminatory conduct, or retaliation.
• Vet proposed terminations and consult with human resources professionals and business leaders to devise and articulate selection criteria for reductions in force (RIF), exit incentives and early retirement programs.
• Draft, review and/or negotiate employment and separation agreements, and other employment-related contracts.
• Advise with respect to compensation/wage and hour matters, recruiting policies and practices, leave and accommodation requests, benefits plans and occasional immigration matters.
• Advise on firm employment-related policies, learnings, presentations, and training, including inclusiveness materials.
• Provide strategic guidance to Talent Team, business leaders and other internal functions on “best practices” pursuant to legal guidelines and maintaining a respectful work environment and assist with the resolution of workplace issues.
• Create, update, and participate in educational training sessions for the firm’s practice leaders and Talent Team professionals on current employment regulations and laws and their impact on firm policies and procedures.
• Monitor emerging employment laws and regulations, and provide strategic guidance by advising, developing, and overseeing necessary policy or practice changes to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Advise with respect to human resources issues relating to international assignments of firm personnel or cross-border matters.
• Provide legal advice to practice leaders regarding strategic initiatives such as the acquisition or divestiture of practice groups or businesses or programs.
• Assist with projects from a public policy perspective (e.g., reviewing amicus briefs and legislative initiatives to determine business nexus and to offer recommendation for firm position).

Skills And Attributes For Success

• Provide creative and timely business-driven and practical advice that complies with applicable law and the firm’s risk management goals, while also meeting the firm’s business needs and policy objectives.
• Strive for better – examine existing policies and procedures, identify areas of weakness or improvement opportunity, implement change, and disseminate knowledge to Talent Team professionals and others, as appropriate.
• Zealous advocacy and strong litigation skills grounded in superior knowledge of employment law.
• Ability to prioritize among and accomplish multiple diverse tasks.

To qualify for this role, you must have

• 5+ years of experience as a practicing attorney, preferably in a law firm or corporate legal department.
• Subject matter expertise in a wide range of federal, state, and local employment laws and rules and regulations affecting the human resource aspects of the firm’s business.
• Advanced knowledge of trial work, litigation/arbitration/mediation rules, procedures, and tactics.
• Working knowledge of international employment issues, including immigration and related international mobility issues.
• ERISA experience or familiarity, and willingness to expand such as needed.
• Strong organizational skills: demonstrated ability to create, plan, and successfully execute projects; the ability to meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Superior verbal and written communication and presentation skills; ability to interface and communicate effectively and diplomatically with all levels of EY personnel, including firm leadership and managing partners across the firm.
• Excellence and interest in working collaboratively as part of a high-performing legal team of professionals.
• A Juris Doctor (JD) from a top law school; top of class preferred.
• Membership in good standing in the State Bar as an attorney qualified to practice law in one or more states referenced above and current with Continuing Legal Education (CLE) requirements in such state(s).
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year college/university; top of class preferred.
• Ability to travel as needed within the US and the willingness to work alongside the GCO Employment Law team in the NYC office as needed or requested.

Supervision Responsibilities

• Position reports to the Associate General Counsel/Head of Employment Law in the GCO and may operate under the supervision of other experienced employment counsel on the team.
• Operates independently in various matters with discretion and decision-making authority.
• Manages outside counsel in defense of the firm.
• Provides advice and direction to Talent Team professionals and business leaders.
• Provides frequent briefings and strategic plans on active cases and important matters to GCO leaders, including the Head of Employment Law, the Deputy General Counsel-Disputes, and to business leaders.
• Provides direction to GCO employment law paralegals.

What We Look For

We’re interested in agile individuals who have critical thinking skills along with a strong business acumen and deep knowledge of the law. Individuals who are practical, committed to professionalism and excellence and able to work in an environment in which flexibility, resilience and interpersonal relations are critical to success.

What We Offer You

At EY, we’ll develop you with future-focused skills and equip you with world-class experiences. We’ll empower you in a flexible environment, and fuel you and your extraordinary talents in a diverse and inclusive culture of globally connected teams.

• We offer a comprehensive compensation and benefits package where you’ll be rewarded based on your performance and recognized for the value you bring to the business. The base salary range for this job in all geographic locations in the US is $177,800 to $332,400. The base salary range for New York City Metro Area, Washington State and California (excluding Sacramento) is $213,300 to $377,800. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
• Join us in our team‑led and leader‑enabled hybrid model. Our expectation is for most people in external, client-serving roles to work together in person 40‑60% of the time over the course of an engagement, project or year.
• Under our flexible vacation policy, you’ll decide how much vacation time you need based on your own personal circumstances. You’ll also be granted time off for designated EY Paid Holidays, Winter/Summer breaks, Personal/Family Care, and other leaves of absence when needed to support your physical, financial, and emotional well‑being.

Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.

EY accepts applications for this position on an ongoing basis.

EY provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected basis, in accordance with applicable law.

EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities including veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during any part of the application process, please call 1‑800‑EY‑HELP3, select Option 2 for candidate-related inquiries, then select Option 1 for candidate queries and finally select Option 2 for candidates with an inquiry which will route you to EY’s Talent Shared Services Team (TSS) or email the TSS at