Director and Asst Gen Cnsl - Litigation and Employment

CME Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 161,000 - 268,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus opportunity

Equity program

Health coverage

401(k) and pension plan

Education reimbursement

Paid time off

Mental health benefit

Job summary

CME Group is seeking an Employment Attorney to act as a principal legal partner to the global HR team and business leaders across the US. You will provide strategic counsel on federal, state, and local employment laws and guide workplace policy developments while balancing business needs.

Responsibilities include drafting and negotiating employment arrangements, managing external counsel in disputes, updating handbooks, conducting investigations, and delivering training on employment law topics.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and an active license to practice law in Illinois or New York.
• 5+ years of dedicated US employment law experience, preferably with a mix of law firm and in-house corporate legal department experience.
• In-depth understanding of US federal employment laws (e.g., Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, ADEA) as well as multi-state employment regulations.
• Experience drafting, negotiating and implementing employment related agreements and policies.
• Strong communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills with a proven track record of advising executive stakeholders effectively.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice to HR and business leaders regarding all aspects of employment law (hiring, discipline, termination, wage & hour, reasonable accommodation, restrictive covenants, leaves of absence, employee benefits, employment policies and training).
• Manage external employment counsel in litigation, administrative charges (EEOC/state agencies), mediations, and arbitrations to ensure cost-effective, high-quality representation.
• Draft, review and negotiate employment agreements, severance agreements, restrictive covenants, and third-party vendor contracts related to HR services.
• Monitor legislative developments, regulatory changes, and legal trends across relevant jurisdictions to ensure company compliance and update employee handbooks and policies accordingly.
• Conduct or oversee internal workplace investigations concerning allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or ethics violations, recommending appropriate remedial actions.
• Design and deliver training programs for managers and HR staff on key employment law topics, risk management, and workplace compliance standards.

Skills

Employment law expertise

Legal drafting

Negotiation

Communication

Stakeholder advising

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Tools

Legal research

Job description

Employment Attorney (US)

This role serves as a key legal partner to the global Human Resources team and business leaders, providing primary employment law support and strategic legal counsel across all US entities and locations. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical expertise in federal, state, and local labor and employment laws with practical business acumen to navigate complex workplace matters, mitigate legal risk, and support corporate initiatives.

Principal Accountabilities

• Provide legal advice to HR and business leaders regarding all aspects of employment law (hiring, discipline, termination, wage & hour, reasonable accommodation, restrictive covenants, leaves of absence, employee benefits, employment policies and training).
• Manage external employment counsel in litigation, administrative charges (EEOC/state agencies), mediations, and arbitrations to ensure cost-effective, high-quality representation.
• Draft, review and negotiate employment agreements, severance agreements, restrictive covenants, and third-party vendor contracts related to HR services.
• Monitor legislative developments, regulatory changes, and legal trends across relevant jurisdictions to ensure company compliance and update employee handbooks and policies accordingly.
• Conduct or oversee internal workplace investigations concerning allegations of harassment, discrimination, retaliation, or ethics violations, recommending appropriate remedial actions.
• Design and deliver training programs for managers and HR staff on key employment law topics, risk management, and workplace compliance standards.

Qualifications & Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school and an active license to practice law in Illinois or New York.
• 5+ years of dedicated US employment law experience, preferably with a mix of law firm and in-house corporate legal department experience.
• In-depth understanding of US federal employment laws (e.g., Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, ADEA) as well as multi-state employment regulations.
• Experience drafting, negotiating and implementing employment related agreements and policies.
• Strong communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills with a proven track record of advising executive stakeholders effectively.

Total Rewards & Benefits

The pay range for this role is $160,600-$267,600. Actual salary offered will be dependent on a wide array of factors including but not limited to: relevant experience, skills, education and comparison to internal employees (where relevant).

Our compensation program also includes an annual target bonus opportunity for all employees, as well as the opportunity to become an owner in the company through our broad-based equity program.

Through our benefits program, we strive to offer flexibility, value and choice.

• From comprehensive health coverage
• to a retirement package that includes both a 401(k) and an active pension plan
• to highly competitive education reimbursement provisions
• paid time off and a mental health benefit

CME Group offers a holistic benefits package for our team and their dependents.

About CME Group

CME Group: Where Futures are Made CME Group is the world’s leading derivatives marketplace. But who we are goes deeper than that. Here, you can impact markets worldwide. Transform industries. And build a career by shaping tomorrow. We invest in your success and you own it – all while working alongside a team of leading experts who inspire you in ways big and small. Problem solvers, difference makers, trailblazers. Those are our people. And we’re looking for more.

Company Values & Diversity

At CME Group, we embrace our employees’ unique experiences and skills to ensure that everyone’s perspectives are acknowledged and valued.

As an equal-opportunity employer, we consider all potential employees without regard to any protected characteristic.

Employee Experience & Care

A rewarding career is only the beginning. Best Place to Work.

Employment Eligibility

For U.S. employment, CME Group is legally required to validate a new hire’s employment eligibility by having them complete an Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) accompanied with legally acceptable proof of identity and work authorization (as listed on the Form I-9). CME Group uses E-Verify, which is an online system operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration to verify employment eligibility and validate social security numbers. Through participation in the E-Verify program, information entered on Form I-9 will be provided and compared to information available at both of these agencies.