Employment Counsel– Office of the General Counsel

Guidehouse•Chicago, IL

8d•$135,000 - $225,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Employment Counsel is an in-house attorney with 4-5 years of law firm and/or in-house experience who supports both U.S. and cross-border employment matters with an international focus on Europe (Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) and India. The role partners with HR leadership and local HRBPs to deliver practical advice across the employee lifecycle, coordinate with local counsel, and promote consistent global employment practices. Experience with restrictive covenant frameworks is preferred. Manage all aspects of US employment litigation – including initial fact gathering/interviews/EEO position statement drafting and reviewing; negotiation and settlement of post-termination demands; management of outside counsel, including advising on litigation/arbitration strategy and fulfilling discovery requests. Provide day-to-day employment law counseling in the U.S. and across Europe (Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, UK) and India, collaborating with local counsel as needed to ensure jurisdiction-specific compliance. Support investigations, disciplinary actions, and employee exits; manage documentation and stakeholder communications in line with local legal requirements and cultural norms. Review and localize offer letters, contracts, handbooks, and policies; contribute to harmonization initiatives and center-of-excellence templates. Coordinate responses to overseas claims and agency/labour authority inquiries; liaise with outside counsel and internal stakeholders on strategy, budgets, and timelines. Assess and advise on restrictive covenants and confidential information protections, including under relevant foreign laws, and draft post-termination obligations and cease-and-desist communications. Advise on wage-and-hour/working time, overtime, leave entitlements, and classification/contractor issues in covered jurisdictions. Support cross-border workforce changes (restructurings, RIFs, transfers), including consultation processes, works council engagement, and communications planning. Deliver training and practical guidance for HR and people leaders on global employment topics, highlighting differences among jurisdictions.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) or foreign equivalent; active bar membership in at least one jurisdiction.
Additional education may be substituted for experience.
5+ years of post-qualification experience in employment law at a law firm, with demonstrable exposure to matters in Europe and/or India preferred (experience in Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, and/or the UK is strongly preferred).
Additional education may be substituted for experience.
Experience coordinating with and managing advice from local counsel across multiple jurisdictions.
Exceptional writing and communication skills; ability to tailor guidance for diverse audiences and cultures.

Nice To Haves

Law firm, In-house or secondment experience supporting international HR/people operations.
Experience with restrictive covenant assessments
Familiarity with European works councils, TUPE/ARD transfers, collective consultation, and separation programs.
Exposure to privacy/data protection considerations related to employment (e.g., GDPR) and cross-border data transfer frameworks.
Strong cross-cultural communication and stakeholder management skills.
Structured problem solving and the ability to translate legal risk into clear, practical options.
Organization, follow-through, and comfort managing multiple matters across time zones.
Highest standards of integrity, confidentiality, and professional judgment.

Responsibilities

Manage all aspects of US employment litigation – including initial fact gathering/interviews/EEO position statement drafting and reviewing; negotiation and settlement of post-termination demands; management of outside counsel, including advising on litigation/arbitration strategy and fulfilling discovery requests.
Provide day-to-day employment law counseling in the U.S. and across Europe (Lithuania, Germany, the Netherlands, UK) and India, collaborating with local counsel as needed to ensure jurisdiction-specific compliance.
Support investigations, disciplinary actions, and employee exits; manage documentation and stakeholder communications in line with local legal requirements and cultural norms.
Review and localize offer letters, contracts, handbooks, and policies; contribute to harmonization initiatives and center-of-excellence templates.
Coordinate responses to overseas claims and agency/labour authority inquiries; liaise with outside counsel and internal stakeholders on strategy, budgets, and timelines.
Assess and advise on restrictive covenants and confidential information protections, including under relevant foreign laws, and draft post-termination obligations and cease-and-desist communications.
Advise on wage-and-hour/working time, overtime, leave entitlements, and classification/contractor issues in covered jurisdictions.
Support cross-border workforce changes (restructurings, RIFs, transfers), including consultation processes, works council engagement, and communications planning.
Deliver training and practical guidance for HR and people leaders on global employment topics, highlighting differences among jurisdictions.

Benefits

Medical, Rx, Dental & Vision Insurance
Personal and Family Sick Time & Company Paid Holidays
Position may be eligible for a discretionary variable incentive bonus
Parental Leave and Adoption Assistance
401(k) Retirement Plan
Basic Life & Supplemental Life
Health Savings Account, Dental/Vision & Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Short-Term & Long-Term Disability
Student Loan PayDown
Tuition Reimbursement, Personal Development & Learning Opportunities
Skills Development & Certifications
Employee Referral Program
Corporate Sponsored Events & Community Outreach
Emergency Back-Up Childcare Program
Mobility Stipend