Senior Counsel

Western & Southern Financial Group; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Western & Southern Financial Group seeks an experienced Counsel specializing in labor and employment law. This role partners with HR, business leaders, and other legal teams to ensure compliance across the national enterprise while supporting business objectives.

The position requires a JD, eight+ years in a counsel role, strong drafting and advisory skills, and the ability to lead projects and collaborate across departments. Office setting with travel ~10% to meet obligations.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school is required.
• Eight+ years’ experience in Counsel or equivalent title is required.
• Significant experience handling labor and employment law issues including immigration-related matters.
• Proven leadership and supervisory skills with ability to lead projects and manage teams.

Responsibilities

• Advise on day-to-day HR and employment matters, including investigations and hiring considerations.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws through policy development and audits.
• Undertakes complex research for Law Department Senior Management.
• Communicate and negotiate with attorneys and regulatory authorities to resolve disputes.
• Lead complex cross-disciplinary projects with minimal supervision.
• Draft, negotiate and finalize complex legal documents within deadlines.
• Oversee outside counsel and contribute to budgeting processes.

Skills

Labor and employment law

Leadership and supervision

Analytical skills

Contract drafting

Client counseling

Communication skills

Working under pressure

Project management

Collaboration and influence

Ohio bar eligibility

Education

Juris Doctor degree

Tools

Microsoft Word

PowerPoint

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Provides legal advice and counsel in the area of labor and employment law within the Western & Southern Financial Group enterprise. This role partners closely with Human Resources, business leaders, and other legal team members to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws while supporting the organization's business objectives. Works with minimal supervision and escalates to Law and business unit senior management as appropriate.

Responsibilities:

• Advising on day-to-day Human Resources and employment-related matters, including workplace investigations, associate relations issues, leaves of absence and accommodations, and hiring considerations.
• Advising on compliance with various federal, state and local employment laws, to include policy development, audits, and assistance with implementing initiatives to effectuate compliance across the national enterprise.
• Undertakes complex research assignments from Law Department Senior Management.
• Communicates and negotiates with other attorneys and regulatory authorities to resolve disputes.
• Substantially contributes to and/or leads complex and/or cross-disciplinary projects with little direct supervision.
• Drafts, negotiates and finalizes complex legal documents as needed within prescribed deadlines.
• Effectively and efficiently manages outside counsel substantively on issues, as well as on budget. Contributes to annual budgeting process.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor degree from accredited law school and above average class standing – Required.
• Minimum of eight years’ experience in the role of Counsel or equivalent title - Required.
• Significant experience handling federal, state, and local labor and employment law issues, including some experience with immigration-related issues.
• General knowledge of, and familiarity with, financial services businesses – Required.
• Proven leadership and supervisory skills with ability to lead projects of all sizes, direct the work of other attorneys, paralegals, administrative staff, and others, and achieve tactical goals. – Required
• Strong analytical skills, including demonstrated experience identifying, defining and resolving complex problems, and collecting, quantifying or interpreting data to establish facts, draw valid conclusions and provide creative resolutions. – Required
• Demonstrated strong contract drafting. – Required
• Demonstrated ability to convey information, verbally and in writing, to internal and external customers in a clear, accurate, focused and concise manner. – Required
• Proven ability to work under pressure, prioritize and manage multiple tasks, and meet deadlines. – Required
• Ability to collaborate with other attorneys and colleagues in the organization on legal and regulatory matters, cases and/or issues. Proven ability to build collaborative relationships both internally and externally. Proven ability to influence others beyond direct control. – Required
• Licensed to practice law in Ohio (or ability to obtain a license to practice law in Ohio upon hire). – Required
• Proficient in the use of word processing, email, and PowerPoint. – Required
• Sound judgment and initiative in selecting the most effective solutions. – Required
• Proven excellent client counseling skills and strong strategic thinking. - Required
• Travel Requirements: 10%

Work Setting:

• This position works in an office setting and remains in a stationary position for long periods of time while working at a desk, on a computer or with other standard office equipment, or while in meetings.
• Requires visual acuity to read a variety of correspondence, reports and forms, and to prepare and analyze data and/or information.
• Position Demands:
• Extended hours required during peak workloads or special projects.