Lead Employment Counsel

The Economist Group; City of Westminster; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global publishing organization is seeking a Lead Employment Counsel to manage all employment-related legal matters. This role involves advising senior management on compliance and employment strategy, managing employment disputes, and providing effective legal support to the HR team. Candidates should have at least 5 years of experience in employment law and be a qualified lawyer in the UK or relevant EU jurisdiction. The position offers competitive benefits including flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Highly competitive pension or 401(k) plan

Private health insurance

24/7 access to counselling

Work From Anywhere program

Generous annual and parental leave

Dedicated days off for volunteering

Free access to all The Economist content

Qualifications

• 5+ years post-qualification experience in employment law.
• Ability to manage and advise on sensitive employment matters.
• Understanding of data privacy matters related to employment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage employment law matters worldwide.
• Shape and draft people-related policies and processes.
• Advise senior management on organisational changes.
• Provide employment law advice to the People team.
• Manage employment litigation and disputes.

Skills

Collaboration across People team

Exceptional oral and written communication

Time management and planning

Analytic capabilities

Interpersonal skills

Education

Qualified lawyer in the UK or relevant EU jurisdiction

Job description

Job Overview

We have an exciting opportunity for a Lead Employment Counsel to join The Economist Group's Legal team, reporting to the SVP, Legal, and working closely with our People (HR) team. The Lead Employment Counsel will be responsible for leading and managing all employment and people‑related legal matters worldwide in the Group, including managing organisational change, shaping and drafting people‑related processes and policies, managing employment disputes and contentious matters, and providing day‑to‑day legal advice. The role will also ensure that the Group maintains compliance with new employment laws and requirements, while upholding its values of trust and transparency.

Responsibilities

• Work with senior management to inform and shape the Group's people and employment strategy in a manner that is compliant with the Group's legal obligations.
• Manage employment litigation, disputes and contentious matters globally in coordination with the People team, including settlement agreements, pre‑litigation processes and management of external counsel as needed.
• Develop and implement employment policies and processes that ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and align with business objectives and legal requirements.
• Work with senior management to advise and guide on organisational changes.
• Provide clear, high‑quality employment law advice and support to the People team and wider business.
• Advise on and manage cross‑border employment law issues.
• Advise the People team on employee benefit strategy and related vendor contracting.
• Keep up to date with, and understand, relevant employment laws and regulations globally and advise the business teams in respect of any measures to be implemented.
• Advise on employee data subject access requests (DSAR) and other data privacy matters relating to Group colleagues.

Qualifications

• Admitted as a lawyer in the UK or a relevant EU jurisdiction.
• 5+ years post‑qualification experience.
• Ability to collaborate across a People team and business stakeholders on sensitive matters.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including distilling complex legal and technical issues into clear, concise messaging to a wide variety of audiences including executive leadership.
• Exceptional time management, planning, and organisational skills, with strong analytic capabilities.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with proven experience in relationship building and partnering.

About The Economist Group

We are an organisation that exists to drive progress. That's the "red thread" that connects everyone at The Economist Group (TEG). Our businesses share a devotion to innovation, independence and rigour in their fields of expertise. We empower people to understand and tackle the critical challenges and changes facing the world. Our analytical rigour, global expertise and evidence‑based insights enable individuals and organisations to make sense of these shifts and chart a course through them.

We deliver analysis and insights in many formats to subscribers and clients in 170 countries through our four businesses, The Economist, Economist Impact, Economist Intelligence and Economist Education, which uphold our global reputation for excellence and integrity.

Benefits

• Highly competitive pension or 401(k) plan.
• Private health insurance.
• 24/7 access to counselling and wellbeing resources through our Employee Assistance Program.
• Work From Anywhere program, allowing you to work from any location where you have the legal right to do so for up to 25 days per year.
• Generous annual and parental leave.
• Dedicated days off for volunteering and for moving home.
• Free access to all The Economist content, including an online subscription, our range of apps, podcasts and more.