Associate Counsel

RYZE

About The Position

RYZE is seeking a sharp, self-sufficient Associate Counsel to join its lean, in-house legal team. This is primarily an employment law role: the Associate Counsel will be the go-to resource for employment law matters across the organization while supporting the Lead Counsel on transactional matters and other legal work as directed. In a fast-moving startup environment, the role owns matters ranging from day-to-day HR questions and leave issues to policy development and employment separations. The Associate Counsel will work directly with the in-house Legal Counsel, advise People Operations and management, and help maintain compliant employment practices across multiple states and countries. The role calls for ownership, sound judgment, efficiency, adaptability, and a business-minded approach to issues that may not have an established playbook. The position also supports commercial contracting and answers legal questions from cross-functional teams as needed.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Active bar admission in at least one state.
Five to eight years of legal experience, primarily focused on employment law; law firm or in-house experience is acceptable, with a combination of both preferred.
Working knowledge of FMLA, state leave laws, ADA accommodations, wage and hour requirements, and general employment compliance.
Experience drafting employment policies, separation agreements, and independent contractor or consultant agreements.
Comfort advising on terminations and navigating employee relations issues with sound judgment.
Ability to draft and negotiate employment-related agreements independently without heavy supervision.
Ability to translate legal risk into clear business language.
Ability to manage a wide range of matters simultaneously without dropping the ball.

Nice To Haves

Transactional or commercial contracting experience.
Experience in CPG, food and beverage, or e-commerce.
Experience handling EEOC or state agency charges or workplace investigations.
Familiarity with FTC guidelines, comparative advertising, or influencer marketing compliance.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary point of contact for employment law matters, working closely with People Operations and management.
Handle day-to-day employment issues, including hiring practices, offer letters, performance management, discipline, and terminations.
Draft, review, and negotiate independent contractor and consultant agreements, and advise on general worker issues.
Develop, review, and maintain employment policies, keeping them current as laws change across states.
Advise on leaves of absence, including FMLA, state-specific leave laws, and reasonable accommodation requests under the ADA.
Support management on workplace investigations, employee relations matters, and general employment policy questions.
Advise on multi-state compliance, including wage and hour, worker classification, and state-specific requirements.
Work with outside counsel on employment claims, agency charges, and related matters.
Draft and negotiate separation agreements, employment agreements, and restrictive covenant agreements; advise on onboarding and offboarding processes.
Support Lead Counsel, as needed, in drafting, reviewing, and redlining commercial agreements, including vendor contracts, NDAs, partnership agreements, influencer and brand deals, and manufacturing agreements.
Triage and answer day-to-day legal questions from cross-functional teams.