Principal Corporate Counsel (Employment, EMEA) (Hybrid)

Cisco Systems; City Of London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A multinational technology company in the UK is seeking a Principal Corporate Counsel, Employment to join their People Legal Team. The ideal candidate will provide legal counsel on employment law across the EMEA region, handling disputes and legislative changes. A qualified lawyer with at least 7 years of experience is essential, along with strong interpersonal and communication skills. This role offers a dynamic environment where legal expertise shapes employee experience.

Qualifications

• 7+ years’ post-qualification experience in employment law.
• Strong background advising on employment matters across EMEA.
• In-house legal experience within a fast-paced, high-growth multinational technology company is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide counsel on all areas of employment law.
• Shape Cisco’s people practices and develop a comprehensive legal environment.
• Handle employment disputes and advise on investigations across EMEA.

Skills

Employment law

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Advising on employment matters

Relationship building

Education

Qualified lawyer (LLB, JD, or equivalent)

Job description

Principal Corporate Counsel, Employment (EMEA)

Meet the Team

Join Cisco’s People Legal Team (Employment Legal) and be a trusted and creative legal partner to Cisco’s People & Communities (HR) organization and the entire enterprise in the EMEA Region. You’ll pave pathways that will enhance Cisco’s employee experience and solve problems that have no easy answers. The People Legal Team consists of pragmatic lawyers and legal professionals responsible for the full portfolio of the company’s employment law matters who sit at the intersection of law and culture. We take pride in collectively thinking through the practical implications of risk and how to help run a company that is consistently ranked, throughout the world, as one of the best places to work. In this role, you’ll report to the Director, Associate General Counsel, EMEA People Legal.

People Legal is part of a Cisco Legal organization with 450+ Legal and Compliance professionals in 25+ countries committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative environment as we work together to drive Cisco’s success. We serve as trusted advisors to the business - problem solving, navigating complexities, and enabling transformation along the way. We use technology to make life easier - leveraging Cisco’s innovative networking and collaboration tools to enable flexible, hybrid work. And we embrace the responsibility to be a force for good - donating our time and expertise through pro bono and community impact initiatives.

Your Impact

• Provide counsel to leaders and People & Communities on all areas of employment law, including recruitment, onboarding, compensation, benefits, flexible working, performance management, employee relations, and workplace changes.
• Shape Cisco’s people practices, offer learning opportunities, investigate concerns, and develop a comprehensive legal environment.
• Handle employment disputes, litigation, and advise on employee investigations across EMEA, managing outside counsel to maximize value.
• Monitor legislative changes, assess their impact on Cisco’s people practices, and advise accordingly.
• Build training programs to enable and empower People & Communities (HR) partners.

Minimum Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer (LLB, JD, or equivalent) in any EU jurisdiction (England & Wales preferred), with 7+ years’ post-qualification experience in employment law.
• Strong background advising on employment matters across EMEA, ideally in a multinational or leading law firm.
• In-house legal experience within a fast-paced, high-growth multinational technology company or similar is preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills in English; additional European languages are an advantage.

Preferred Qualifications

• You have a real passion for employment law. You love partnering with leaders, HR professionals and Cisco team members to find the best solutions. You have a deep understanding of employment-related issues.
• You ask the right questions, think strategically, and are willing to question the status quo. You listen to and understand the needs of your clients.
• You are agile, think on your feet, and are not afraid to make decisions through intentional assessment of risks.
• You have strong relationship building skills and are able to lead cross-functional projects.
• You also are a self-starter, able to work independently, and have excellent written and oral advocacy and interpersonal skills.
• You embrace continuous learning and adaptability, with a sense of humour.

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Why Cisco?

At Cisco, we’re revolutionizing how data and infrastructure connect and protect organizations in the AI era – and beyond. We’ve been innovating fearlessly for 40 years to create solutions that power how humans and technology work together across the physical and digital worlds. These solutions provide customers with unparalleled security, visibility, and insights across the entire digital footprint.

Fueled by the depth and breadth of our technology, we experiment and create meaningful solutions. Add to that our worldwide network of doers and experts, and you’ll see that the opportunities to grow and build are limitless. We work as a team, collaborating with empathy to make really big things happen on a global scale. Because our solutions are everywhere, our impact is everywhere.

We are Cisco, and our power starts with you.

Cisco is an Affinative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Cisco will consider for employment, on a case by case basis, qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.