Lead APAC Employment Counsel — Shape Global People Programs

EngineersOfAI; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Anthropic is seeking a Lead Employment Counsel to build the legal foundation for our growing APAC workforce. You will partner with People and business leaders to design and run employment programs across Asia-Pacific, shaping structures that manage legal risk as our presence scales.

This role combines deep employment law expertise with pragmatism, helping colleagues worldwide understand local requirements for hiring, managing, and supporting people in APAC.

Qualifications

• Hold a law degree (JD, LLB, or equivalent) and meet local licensing requirements to work as in-house counsel.
• Have deep subject-matter expertise on employment law across multiple APAC countries.
• Write clearly and concisely, and can provide actionable guidance to non-lawyers.
• Balance legal risk with business practicality, and work collaboratively with legal and business cross-functional partners.
• Work effectively with colleagues and stakeholders across multiple time zones.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary employment lawyer for Anthropic's APAC region, partnering with People and business leaders across People programs, policies and day-to-day issues.
• Build and maintain the legal infrastructure for new and existing APAC jurisdictions, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore and India.
• Advise on market entry and workforce structuring, including acquisitions, employer of record arrangements, contractor classification, and headcount thresholds that trigger local obligations.
• Partner with Compensation, Benefits, and Equity teams so that global programs are compliant and scalable.
• Guide employee relations matters, including workplace investigations, in line with local law and practice.
• Develop and manage strategy on employment disputes across the region, from pre-litigation claims through tribunal and court proceedings, in partnership with outside counsel.
• Track legislative and regulatory developments across the region, including employee data privacy and emerging rules on AI in employment, and turn them into practical guidance.
• Develop scalable templates, playbooks, and training that enable stakeholders to operate compliantly.

Skills

Written communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Legal risk assessment

Education

Law degree (JD/LLB)

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)

Job description

Anthropic is seeking a Lead Employment Counsel to build the legal foundation for our growing APAC workforce. You will partner with People and business leaders to design and run employment programs across Asia-Pacific, shaping structures that manage legal risk as our presence scales.

This role combines deep employment law expertise with pragmatism, helping colleagues worldwide understand local requirements for hiring, managing, and supporting people in APAC.