Senior Employment Counsel & Policy Lead

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

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.