Employment Lawyer

Ankura is a team of excellence founded on innovation and growth.

Ankura Corporate Overview:

The goal of Ankura Business Services (ABS) is to provide support and assistance to Ankura’s client facing business groups and internal functions. All of Ankura’s ABS groups work together to achieve a common goal, which is to create innovative solutions for our clients. ABS includes Finance, Legal, IT Services, Marketing and Communications, Real Estate, Client Intake, Operations & Workplace Services, and the People Office. Collaborative lateral thinking, hard-earned experience, expertise, and multidisciplinary capabilities drive results. Together, Ankura’s ABS groups work in harmony to Protect, Create, and Recover Value for our clients. 

Role Overview:

This position supports the Legal Team within Ankura Business Services, our internal firm services function.  Due to our exceptional growth and success, Ankura is seeking a senior employment lawyer to serve as Associate General Counsel. This role reports to the Global Head of Litigation and will serve as a primary legal resource for employment-related matters across the firm. The successful candidate will work with functions across the Firm, both in the U.S. and internationally, to ensure compliance with the law and internal policies. We are seeking a motivated, collaborative team member with a strong desire to partner with different constituencies to ensure excellence and consistency in legal advice and counsel across the Firm. 

The selected candidate for this position is ideally based in the New York City area and is onsite at least 1 day per week in our New York City office. Candidates from additional locations may also be considered. 

Responsibilities:

• Employment Law Leadership: Provide legal counsel on employment and labor law matters across the Firm.

• Investigations: Assist with and conduct internal employee investigations.

• Contract Negotiation: Negotiate and draft employment contracts and separation agreements.

• Executive Compensation: Provide support on executive incentive and equity compensation matters, including advising on equity and incentive awards and plan documentation.

• Policies / Procedures: Monitor changes in employment laws across the country to ensure firm-wide compliance and update firm handbooks and policies to reflect the same.

• Education / Best Practice: Collaborate with the People Office and executive leadership to develop and deliver employment law updates and best practice education.

• Outside Counsel Management: Manage and oversee US and International outside counsel when necessary for specialized employment or litigation matters.

• Litigation & Subpoenas: Provide advice and support on litigation matters, collections, and responding to subpoenas. 

• Corporate Support: Assist the Legal Department with various corporate initiatives as needed, including in support of Ankura's client-facing business groups. 

• Risk Assessment: Engage in issue spotting, risk assessment, and problem-solving across all areas of responsibility. 

Qualifications:

• Education: J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school or equivalent foreign degree with significant U.S. legal experience.

• Licensure: Admitted to a U.S. Bar and licensed to practice immediately in-house. 

• Experience: Minimum 8+ years of experience specifically in employment law, with significant in-house experience required. Experience with international labor law is also an advantage.

• Adaptability: Must be flexible and willing to assist with broader corporate and litigation matters outside of the primary employment scope.

• Collaboration: Comfortable in a highly collaborative environment with the ability to easily network and build relationships with colleagues and external clients. 

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For individuals assigned and/or hired to work in California, Colorado, New York or other states with relevant pay transparency laws, Ankura is required to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This compensation range is specific to the said markets and considers a broad range of factors including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The disclosed range estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. The range does not include additional benefits outside of salary. At Ankura, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each role. A reasonable estimate of the current base pay range is between $220,000 to $250,000; this range is not a promise of a particular wage.

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Ankura is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against based on disability. Equal Employment Opportunity Posters, if you have a disability and believe you need a reasonable accommodation to search for a job opening, submit an online application, or participate in an interview/assessment, please email [email protected] or call toll-free +1.312-583-2122. This email and phone number are created exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues unrelated to a disability, will not receive a response.