Employment Counsel, EMEA

Millennium; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Millennium seeks a highly skilled Employment Lawyer to join its legal team in the UK, advising senior management on a wide range of employment law matters across the UK, EMEA and APAC. You will collaborate with HR, control functions and external counsel to manage risks and ensure regulatory compliance.

The role requires strong drafting, negotiation and advisory capabilities, with experience in contracts, bonuses, terminations, redundancies and workplace disputes.

Qualifications

• UK-qualified solicitor with hands-on experience advising senior management and board-level executives across the full range of employment law matters.
• In-depth understanding of UK employment law and familiarity with employment regulations across EMEA jurisdictions.
• Experience advising on complex contracts, bonus structures, terminations and employee relations issues.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and stakeholder management skills; ability to distill commercial issues and mediate viewpoints.

Responsibilities

• Provide direction on UK, EMEA and APAC employment law matters including recruitment, contracts, terminations, grievances and disputes.
• Draft, review and update employment contracts, handbooks and HR policies; monitor legislative changes across EMEA/APAC.
• Assist in developing AI use to streamline legal processes and knowledge dissemination.
• Support compliance, risk management and cross-border employment issues; handle disputes with external counsel.
• Support employment aspects of mergers, acquisitions and other transactions.
• Deliver training on employment law topics and compliance requirements.

Skills

Employment law

UK employment law

Contract drafting

Legal advisory

Stakeholder management

Education

Solicitor qualification (UK)

Job description

About Millennium

Millennium is a global, diversified alternative investment firm, founded in 1989. Defined by evolution, innovation and focus, Millennium’s mission is to deliver results for our investors.

About Millennium

Millennium is a global, diversified alternative investment firm, founded in 1989. Defined by evolution, innovation and focus, Millennium’s mission is to deliver results for our investors.

Our people are empowered with both independence and support: the autonomy to pursue ideas with conviction and the backing of a global network committed to collaboration, disciplined risk management and continuous learning. With opportunities to deepen expertise and accelerate development, talent at Millennium is equipped to adapt, evolve and build lasting impact over time. Discover how transformative growth accelerates impact.

Meet the Team

The Legal Department provides legal advice and guidance to the Firm globally regarding all aspects of the Firm’s business and operations and manages the legal aspects of Firm initiatives and numerous legally intensive projects. Within this function, the Employment Legal team supports employment law matters across multiple jurisdictions, working closely with internal stakeholders, HR, control functions, and external counsel to help the business navigate a complex international regulatory landscape across EMEA and APAC.

About The Role

We are seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented Employment Lawyer to join our legal team at a leading hedge fund based in the UK. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a dynamic and supportive environment, advising on employment law matters across multiple jurisdictions primarily across the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, but also extending to Asia-Pacific (APAC).

As an integral member of the Employment Legal team, you will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, external legal advisors, HR and other control function professionals to provide legal advice and manage employment‑related risks. This role involves handling a broad spectrum of employment law matters to achieve business goals whilst ensuring compliance with local laws, regulations, and best practices across EMEA/APAC jurisdictions.

What You’ll Do

• Legal Advisory:
• Provide direction and guidance on UK, EMEA and APAC employment law matters, including recruitment, contracts, terminations, grievances, disciplinary issues, redundancies, and employment disputes.
• Advise on the legal implications of HR policies, employee benefits, and workplace practices across jurisdictions.
• Policy Development:
• Assist in drafting, reviewing, and updating employment contracts, handbooks, and HR policies to ensure compliance with local laws and alignment with global and local business objectives.
• Assist in monitoring legislative changes across EMEA/APAC jurisdictions and advise on necessary adjustments to internal policies.
• Together with colleagues in the wider Legal team, assist in the development and expansion of AI use to streamline legal processes and effectiveness of capture and dissemination of legal knowhow.
• Compliance & Risk Management:
• Support efforts to mitigate legal risks and ensure compliance with employment regulations across multiple jurisdictions.
• Assist in resolving cross-border employment issues, including expatriate arrangements and secondments and supporting Employment Legal due diligence in establishment of offices in new jurisdictions.
• Dispute Resolution:
• Provide advice, direction and support in handling employment‑related claims, disputes, or litigation in collaboration with external counsel.
• Assist in managing responses to regulatory inquiries or investigations related to employment matters.
• Transactional Support:
• Support employment aspects of mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions, ensuring alignment with employment laws in EMEA/APAC jurisdictions.
• Training & Development:
• Assist in delivering training to HR and management teams on employment law topics and compliance requirements.

Essential

What You Bring

• UK-qualified solicitor with hands‑on experience advising senior management and board‑level executives across the full range of employment law matters (indicatively 8+ years of post‑qualification experience in employment law).
• In depth understanding of UK employment law and familiarity with employment regulations across EMEA jurisdictions.
• Experience advising on complex contracts and bonus structures, terminations, as well as multi‑faceted employee relations issues and workplace disputes.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to effectively distil key commercial issues and mediate diverse viewpoints.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work under pressure in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent legal drafting and analytical skills.

Desirable

• Experience working in financial services or advising clients in the hedge fund/private equity sector.
• Familiarity with cross‑border employment issues, including expatriation and secondments and setting up new offices.
• Knowledge of key employment law frameworks in jurisdictions outside the UK within EMEA and APAC.
• Previous experience of managing employment law issues in APAC jurisdictions.
• Fluency in additional languages relevant to the EMEA/APAC regions is a plus.