Assistant General Counsel

NYRA; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the racing industry seeks an Assistant General Counsel to provide legal expertise in employment and labor matters. The ideal candidate will have a J.D. and at least 3 years of experience, managing client relationships and conducting negotiations. This position offers a hybrid work environment and a competitive salary range, reflecting the importance of the role in guiding the company’s legal approach.

Qualifications

• Minimum education of J.D. required.
• 3+ years in Employment/Labor law, either in-house or in a law firm.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Represents NYRA in labor negotiations and employment litigation.
• Advises Human Resources and Compliance departments on legal matters.
• Drafts various legal agreements and manages outside counsel.

Skills

Labor and employment law

Legal counsel

Client relationship management

Verbal communication

Project management

Problem-solving

Education

J.D.

Job description

Title: Assistant General Counsel

Employee Status: Regular Full Time

Work From Home Option: Hybrid - 2 Days/Week (40% Remote)

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Overview:

The Assistant General Counsel will play a vital and engaged role in the legal department of the New York Racing Association. Reporting to the General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel will be responsible for advancing the company’s strategies and objectives through advising the Human Resources and Risk departments as their primary internal clients. The successful candidate will advise on employment matters, labor matters and simple litigation.

Essential Functions:

• Represents the company in collective bargaining agreement negotiations as well as all labor and employment litigation matters including but not limited to labor arbitrations, New York State Public Employment Relations Board mediations/hearings, New York State Division of Human Rights fact-finding/hearings, Equal Employment Opportunity Board hearings and small claims court proceedings.
• Provides strategic legal counsel and guidance regarding labor and employment laws and their impact and application to NYRA.
• Manages the work of outside counsel with respect to unemployment insurance claims, all other labor and employment litigation matters and simple litigation matters (e.g., slip & falls, demand notices, etc.)
• Acts as a resource to the human resources department, including but not limited to: employee and union relations, subpoenas and union information requests, collective bargaining agreement interpretation, settlement of union grievances, recruitment, terminations, reductions in force, I-9 compliance, human resources policy development, compensation, and leave administration.
• Advises Compliance department on investigations of discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment and other violations of NYRA policies.
• Drafts employment, severance, non-disclosure, consultant services, vendor and settlement agreements.
• Handles ADA and ADAAA workplace accommodation requests.
• Provides aviewpoint on business opportunities and leads complex conversations, projects, and processes, developing strategies to drive successful execution.
• Partners with the General Counsel to manage on-going relationships with union leadership, with continued efforts to improve productivity, quality and partnerships.
• Manages shared legal administrative staff.

Qualifications:

• Education (minimum): J.D. required.
• Experience: 3+ years experience in the Employment/Labor department of law firm or in-house at a company with union labor.
• Experience handling grievances in the private sector.
• Demonstrated experience in labor negotiations.
• Extensive knowledge of labor and employment law.
• Demonstrated ability to manage client relationships.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective problem-solving skills with the ability to skillfully bring issues to resolution and suggest practical SOPs to avoid future pitfalls
• Excellent project management skills and the ability to multi-task.
• Familiarity/expertise with FLSA, FMLA, ADA, ADAAA, NYS UI, EEOC.
• Familiarity with NY tort litigation procedures.
  
  

Summary of Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

This is an office job with no special physical requirements.

Pay Range / Salary: $145,000 - $180,000