Employment Lawyer, Director & Counsel

American Express; London; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

American Express is seeking a qualified employment lawyer to provide legal support across HR functions in the UK. The role involves advising on employment law, managing litigation, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. The ideal candidate will possess strong negotiation and drafting skills, alongside a collaborative approach to problem-solving. This position offers competitive benefits and a flexible working model.

Benefits

Competitive base salaries

Bonus incentives

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance

Flexible working model

Generous paid parental leave policies

Free access to global wellness centers

Confidential counseling support

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Qualified employment lawyer with a current practicing certificate.
• Expert knowledge of employment laws and solid litigation experience.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Provide general employment law support to HR functions across the UK.
• Lead on contentious issues and manage external counsel for litigation.
• Ensure compliance with employment law and create legal updates.

Skills

Employment law advice

Negotiation skills

Drafting skills

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Qualified employment lawyer

Job description

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. As part of Team Amex, you'll experience this powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career.

Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.

The General Counsel’s Organization is American Express’ legal, global security, and government affairs departments, along with the Corporate Secretary's Office (which is responsible for interactions with our Board of Directors). They are responsible for protecting and strengthening American Express through world-class expertise and strategic advice that help our business partners manage risk, identify opportunities and deliver on the Company's promise of exceptional products and services.

How will you make an impact in this role?

• Provide general employment law support to the Colleague Experience Group (CEG/HR) functions across UK to include CEG/HR Business Partners, Colleague & Labour Relations, Reward and Talent Acquisition. This includes a broad range of non-contentious employment issues from traditional employment and labour law topics to a wide range of impacts and initiatives with colleague impact.
• Strategic leadership to be provided for contentious issues including the negotiation of agreements, and the management of external counsel for litigation. TUPE advise and drafting is provided to our commercial teams. Employment law and leadership support for all M&A activity.
• Proactively ensuring good practice employment law compliance. Providing support on the implementation of legal developments and initiatives and review of related materials, drafting and negotiation of policies and procedures. Creation of legal updates through an audited protocol for maintenance and compliance with new employment laws. Create and deliver training sessions to CEG/HR.
• Develops, implements and assesses strategies, programmes, policies, and procedures to manage the organisation’s exposure to conduct risk.
• Aligning decisions with the institution’s risk appetite, mitigating the risk of anti-competitive practices and unethical employee behavior, maintaining alignment with peer practices, and meeting legal, regulatory requirements, supervisory expectations and commitments.
• Applies an understanding of relevant laws, regulations, and standards (e.g., SMCR and FCA requirements) affecting risk management of large banks and financial institutions, so risk practices comply with overall regulatory frameworks and expectations
• Identifies, assesses and monitors risks inherent to conduct, evaluates control effectiveness, and determines whether corrective actions are needed to complying with applicable regulatory expectations and laws.

Minimum Qualifications

• Qualified employment lawyer with current practicing certificate.
• Expert knowledge and experience of delivering advice on a wide range of employment laws with a flexible and approachable style, providing thoughtful guidance on complex and sensitive issues with the appropriate balance of commercial risk.
• Solid employment litigation experience. A keen negotiator. Excellent drafting skills.
• Calm under pressure, ability to work independently, an accountable self-starter.
• Strong collaboration skills and a team player.
• Creative and experienced problem solver.
• Organised and focused.

We back you with benefits that support your holistic well-being so you can be and deliver your best. This means caring for you and your loved ones' physical, financial, and mental health, as well as providing the flexibility you need to thrive personally and professionally:

• Competitive base salaries
• Bonus incentives
• Support for financial-well-being and retirement
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits (depending on location)
• Flexible working model with hybrid, onsite or virtual arrangements depending on role and business need
• Generous paid parental leave policies (depending on your location)
• Free access to global on-site wellness centers staffed with nurses and doctors (depending on location)
• Free and confidential counseling support through our Healthy Minds program
• Career development and training opportunities

Offer of employment with American Express is conditioned upon the successful completion of a background verification check, subject to applicable laws and regulations.