Employment Counsel

Adyen•San Francisco, CA

1d•$135,000 - $275,000•Onsite

About The Position

Adyen is seeking an Employment Counsel to join its global Legal team, based in New York or San Francisco. The role owns US employment litigation and disputes, manages external counsel, and advises the business and HR colleagues on high-risk or complex employment issues. As Adyen’s only dedicated US employment legal role, it also involves building reusable frameworks, templates, playbooks, policies, and training that help HR colleagues handle routine matters and escalate issues appropriately. The Employment Counsel will work closely with Employment Counsel in Amsterdam, the global Corporate Legal team, and HR Business Partners worldwide. The role requires a practical, globally minded lawyer who can make sound recommendations amid legal uncertainty, connect legal advice to business objectives, and help shape global employment legal strategy across the US, LATAM, EMEA, and APAC.

Requirements

Around 7 or more years of employment law experience, in-house or at a law firm.
Strong US employment litigation experience, including managing matters through agencies and courts and directing external counsel.
Employment law generalist comfortable advising where the law is unsettled and making clear recommendations while owning the associated risk.
In-house mindset, with the ability to connect legal advice to business objectives and distinguish material risks from theoretical ones.
Ability to work autonomously and build the employment legal function, including as the only employment lawyer in the region.
Global approach and ability to collaborate with legal and HR colleagues across the US, LATAM, EMEA, and APAC.
Discretion and sound judgment when handling sensitive and confidential matters.
Ability to structure and prioritize work in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
Admission to practice in the United States and in good standing.
Availability to work from the New York or San Francisco office and travel to other offices periodically.
Fluent written and spoken English.

Nice To Haves

Fluency in an additional language.

Responsibilities

Own US employment disputes and litigation, aligning the company’s position with global strategy and managing matters through resolution.
Instruct and manage external counsel, ensuring appropriate scope, budget, and quality, and develop a reliable panel of firms across jurisdictions.
Advise on employment risk and balance legal exposure with practical business outcomes.
Partner with HR colleagues on escalated employee matters, providing legal judgment and privilege where needed.
Partner with Employment Counsel in Amsterdam to build frameworks and playbooks and provide legal review of important policies.
Advise on general employment matters, including wage and hour, discrimination and accommodation, classification, leave, and pay transparency.
Build frameworks that can be used beyond the US and help shape global employment legal strategy with colleagues in EMEA, APAC, and LATAM.
Train and upskill HR colleagues, people leads, and managers.