Legal Counsel

IMC•Chicago, IL

6d•$170,000 - $230,000

About The Position

IMC is seeking an experienced Employment Counsel to join our in-house legal team and serve as a trusted partner to our HR and business leadership on all things employment law. Your Core Responsibilities Serve as the primary legal advisor on employment matters across the full employee lifecycle, including recruiting, hiring, compensation and benefits, leaves of absence, accommodations, performance management, and terminations Provide practical, business-oriented counsel on multi-state employment law issues, with a focus on jurisdictions such as Illinois, New York, and other states where employees are located Partner closely with HR to deliver proactive, solutions-oriented legal guidance; support risk identification and mitigation through ongoing collaboration, mentorship, and training Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of employment-related documents, including offer letters, employment and separation agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, and company policies/handbooks Lead or support internal investigations into workplace complaints (e.g., harassment, discrimination, policy violations) and manage pre-litigation matters, including demand letters and coordination with outside counsel Advise on employment issues specific to the financial services and trading industry, including regulatory considerations (e.g., FINRA licensing), broker-dealer requirements, compensation structures, and whistleblower protections Counsel on employee data privacy and protection obligations, including compliance with U.S. state laws (e.g., CCPA/CPRA, Illinois BIPA, New York SHIELD Act) and relevant international frameworks Develop, implement, and maintain employment-related policies, and design and deliver training programs for managers and employees on key legal topics (e.g., anti-harassment, accommodations, wage and hour compliance) Partner with senior leadership and the General Counsel on strategic workforce initiatives, including organizational restructurings, and support employment aspects of M&A transactions (due diligence and integration) Monitor and analyze changes in employment laws, regulations, and enforcement trends, and translate developments into actionable guidance for HR and business leaders

Requirements

Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school
Active bar admission in Illinois and/or New York, with willingness to obtain in-house counsel registration as needed
8+ years of employment law experience, either in-house or at a law firm, with significant exposure to multi-state employment issues
Strong working knowledge of wage and hour laws, leave and accommodation requirements, and restrictive covenant enforceability across multiple jurisdictions (particularly Illinois and New York)
Experience advising on reductions in force (RIFs), restructurings, and executive separations
Excellent judgment and ability to deliver clear, practical legal advice in a fast-paced, high-performance environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into actionable guidance for business stakeholders
Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision, while exercising sound judgment on when to escalate issues

Nice To Haves

Experience advising organizations in financial services, trading, or other highly regulated industries strongly preferred
Demonstrated experience managing workplace investigations, agency charges, and employment-related disputes or litigation
Familiarity with FINRA and SEC employment-related regulations is a plus

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary legal advisor on employment matters across the full employee lifecycle, including recruiting, hiring, compensation and benefits, leaves of absence, accommodations, performance management, and terminations
Provide practical, business-oriented counsel on multi-state employment law issues, with a focus on jurisdictions such as Illinois, New York, and other states where employees are located
Partner closely with HR to deliver proactive, solutions-oriented legal guidance; support risk identification and mitigation through ongoing collaboration, mentorship, and training
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of employment-related documents, including offer letters, employment and separation agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, and company policies/handbooks
Lead or support internal investigations into workplace complaints (e.g., harassment, discrimination, policy violations) and manage pre-litigation matters, including demand letters and coordination with outside counsel
Advise on employment issues specific to the financial services and trading industry, including regulatory considerations (e.g., FINRA licensing), broker-dealer requirements, compensation structures, and whistleblower protections
Counsel on employee data privacy and protection obligations, including compliance with U.S. state laws (e.g., CCPA/CPRA, Illinois BIPA, New York SHIELD Act) and relevant international frameworks
Develop, implement, and maintain employment-related policies, and design and deliver training programs for managers and employees on key legal topics (e.g., anti-harassment, accommodations, wage and hour compliance)
Partner with senior leadership and the General Counsel on strategic workforce initiatives, including organizational restructurings, and support employment aspects of M&A transactions (due diligence and integration)
Monitor and analyze changes in employment laws, regulations, and enforcement trends, and translate developments into actionable guidance for HR and business leaders