Description:
About the role:We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Associate General Counsel to join our Legal team as Coalition's global Employment counsel. You will guide our PeopleOps (Human Resources) and Talent organizations in support of Coalition's global operations, providing strategic direction on employment matters, setting regulatory guardrails in specific geographies, and analyzing upcoming regulatory trends that could impact Coalition's growth.
A successful candidate will be a trusted, practical advisor with outstanding communication skills, a strong sense of collaboration, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, innovative business. This individual must be adept at working in a fully remote environment and across multiple time zones.
Responsibilities:
- Strategic Employment Counsel
- Serve as the primary legal partner to PeopleOps and Talent, providing business-focused direction across the employee lifecycle, from hiring and compensation to leaves, performance management, workforce changes, and separations.
- Advise on complex employee relations matters, including investigations, terminations, and reductions in force.
- Global Guardrails & Expansion
- Develop practical, jurisdiction-specific guardrails for hiring and employing talent worldwide, including worker classification, employer-of-record structures, and local employment terms, and support Coalition's entry into new markets.
- Select and manage local outside counsel in non-U.S. jurisdictions.
- Regulatory Horizon Scanning
- Monitor and analyze emerging employment and workforce regulation (e.g., pay transparency, AI in hiring, restrictive covenants, employee data privacy) and translate it into clear recommendations for PeopleOps, Talent, and Legal leadership.
- Policies, Training & Dispute Resolution
- Draft and maintain employment agreements, policies, and handbooks tailored to each jurisdiction; and train People team members and managers.
- Manage employment disputes in coordination with outside counsel.
- Cross-Functional Partnership
- Build strong relationships across the company and deliver clear, practical advice; support special projects and strategic initiatives as needed.
Skills and Qualifications:
- Education & Bar Admission
- JD from an ABA-accredited law school and admission to, and in good standing with, at least one US state bar (or equivalent qualification).
Experience:
- 12+ years of relevant legal experience at a leading law firm, in-house, or a combination of both, with a focus on global employment laws and labor practices in highly regulated space (e.g., Insurance, Finance preferred)
- Demonstrated experience advising HR and Talent teams on employment matters across multiple jurisdictions, including outside the U.S.
- Proven track record of selecting, directing, and managing local outside counsel across multiple jurisdictions to deliver high-quality, timely results within approved budgets, including scoping engagements, negotiating fee arrangements, reviewing invoices, and monitoring spend against forecasts.
- Experience drafting contracts or agreements and using a contract database (CMS).
- Must have a successful track record in managing and responding effectively to client requests, follow through on projects in a timely manner, and adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment.
- Excellent legal and business judgment and ability to deliver practical, solutions-oriented advice, and to translate evolving regulations into actionable guidance for non-lawyers.
- Excellent communication and drafting skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities across functions and time zones.
- Ability to work independently, multi-task, meet deadlines, and effectively navigate a remote work environment.
- Strong attention to detail, proof-reading skills, and problem-solving capabilities.
- Superior follow-up and organizational skills; and the ability to work as part of a team.
- Strong negotiating skills in both legal and financial/commercial matters.
- Shows initiative and is willing to take ownership of projects.
Bonus points:
- In-house experience supporting People and Talent teams at a growth-stage or technology-driven company.
- Experience with employment law in the UK and other European markets, and familiarity with pay transparency, EU collective bargaining arrangements, AI in employment, and employee data privacy (e.g., GDPR/UK GDPR).
- Experience in Insurtech, cybersecurity, SaaS, or financial services, or with other regulated industries.
