Corporate Counsel

Elior North America•Houston, TX

1d•$150,000 - $170,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Join Elior North America and help support our mission to nourish lives through exceptional food and hospitality services. As Corporate Counsel , you will provide legal guidance across a broad range of corporate matters, with a primary focus on employment law and workforce-related legal issues , while also supporting general corporate legal needs, litigation management, and commercial contracting. This role partners closely with executive leadership, Human Resources, Finance, and operational teams to help ensure the organization operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations while effectively managing legal risk. The position supports a multi-state organization , requiring strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and the ability to navigate varying regulatory requirements across jurisdictions. The ideal candidate brings a balanced in-house counsel mindset , capable of providing practical business-focused legal advice while supporting employment law matters, overseeing litigation, and advising on general corporate legal issues.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
5+ years of legal experience, preferably with a combination of law firm and in-house corporate experience.
Demonstrated experience in employment law within a multi-state organization , including knowledge of federal and state employment regulations.
Experience managing outside counsel and litigation strategy.
Experience reviewing and negotiating commercial contracts.
Ability to balance legal risk with practical business solutions.
Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
Prior in-house legal department experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting organizations with multi-state operations and distributed workforces.
Background in industries with large employee populations or multi-site operations (e.g., hospitality, retail, food service, healthcare, or services).
Experience advising senior leadership on complex employment, litigation, or regulatory matters.

Responsibilities

Employment Law & Workforce Legal Support Provide legal counsel on a wide range of employment-related matters including employee relations, disciplinary actions, investigations, terminations, wage and hour compliance, and workplace policies.
Advise Human Resources and leadership on multi-state employment law compliance , including federal, state, and local regulations such as FLSA, ADA, FMLA, Title VII, and other applicable labor and employment laws.
Provide guidance on sensitive workplace matters including harassment complaints, internal investigations, employee disputes, and risk mitigation strategies.
Support the development, review, and implementation of employment policies, procedures, and training programs to ensure legal compliance across multiple jurisdictions.
Partner with HR and leadership to proactively address workforce-related legal risks and evolving employment law requirements.
Litigation Management Manage and oversee employment-related and commercial litigation matters, including coordinating with and directing outside counsel.
Evaluate legal claims, develop litigation strategies, and assist with discovery, mediation, settlement negotiations, and case resolution.
Monitor litigation matters, manage legal budgets, and provide updates and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
Support dispute resolution efforts including mediation, settlement negotiations, and alternative dispute resolution strategies.
Commercial Contracts & Business Transactions Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements including vendor contracts, service agreements, NDAs, partnership agreements, and other business-related documents.
Partner with internal stakeholders to ensure contracts align with business objectives while protecting the organization from legal and financial risk.
Provide guidance on contract interpretation, risk mitigation, and compliance with company policies.
Support the development and maintenance of contract templates, playbooks, and review processes to improve consistency and efficiency.
Corporate Legal & Regulatory Support Provide legal guidance across business functions on corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and risk management matters.
Assist leadership with legal considerations related to business operations, strategic initiatives, and organizational policies.
Identify potential legal risks and provide practical solutions that balance legal compliance with operational needs.
Support internal compliance initiatives and help ensure adherence to applicable laws, regulatory requirements, and corporate policies.