Senior Counsel, Employment

You are an employment lawyer based in the Province of Québec in need of a new challenge? You want to work for a global technology company, publicly listed on the TSX, in one of the hottest markets in the world? You want to be part of a legal team of 10+ individuals dubbed internally as “the best legal team to have existed”? As Senior Counsel, Employment, you will be a trusted legal partner to Coveo’s executive team, HR team and key business leaders, helping them navigate complex people matters with practical, business-minded advice. 

Reporting directly to our Senior Vice President and General Counsel, you will take ownership of employment law matters across our global operations, bringing sound judgment and a thoughtful approach to decisions across the entire employee lifecycle. You will work with a very high degree of autonomy (director-level autonomy), and have broad authority with respect to the conduct of your matters. You will also help strengthen the tools and processes that make our approach to the employee lifecycle effective and scalable. 

As our Senior Counsel, Employment, you will: 

• Advise HR and business leaders across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, employment terms, day-to-day employee management (performance and attendance management), discipline, compensation and terminations. 
• Draft, review and negotiate employment-related documents, including employment and executive agreements, workplace policies, separation agreements and other arrangements, ensuring they reflect both legal requirements and business objectives. 
• Guide sensitive employee relations matters and workplace investigations, helping stakeholders assess risk, navigate difficult situations and reach well-supported decisions. 
• Manage employment disputes and litigation, developing strategy, coordinating with external counsel and pursuing resolutions aligned with Coveo’s interests. We are supportive of our Senior Counsel, Employment leading judicialized cases personally if that is the counsel’s preference. 
• Support organizational changes and strategic initiatives, including restructurings, acquisitions, integrations and cross-border employment matters, in partnership with HR, Finance and other stakeholders. 
• Anticipate and assess employment law developments across the jurisdictions where Coveo operates, drawing on local counsel where appropriate and translating legal requirements into clear recommendations and practical action. 

Here is what will qualify you for the role: 

• A law degree and membership in good standing with the Barreau du Québec or another Canadian provincial bar. 
• At least 5 years of relevant employment law experience, gained in private practice, in-house or a combination of both, with demonstrated ability to independently manage complex and sensitive matters. 
• 75% of our company’s employees are located in the Province of Québec. Therefore, strong expertise in Québec employment law, and the judgment to recognize when specialized or local advice, is required.  
• This role is directly exposed to Coveo’s executive team. As such, we are looking for an exceptional communicator - someone who has the ability to translate legal complexity into clear, actionable advice, balancing legal risk, business priorities and the employee experience.  
• This role requires weekly collaboration with all of Coveo’s departments, and daily collaboration with HR. We are therefore looking for someone with an exceptional ability to work cross-functionally, and someone who has high emotional intelligence and is able to adapt to their audience. 
• This role is exposed to very sensitive and delicate matters, sometimes dealing with humans in difficult situations. Empathy, and the ability to navigate difficult personal situations, are requirements. 
• Strong French and English communication given the global nature of the role. 

What would make you stand out:

• Experience in-house, and experience working in a technology company. 
• Exposure to international employment matters, and experience coordinating advice across jurisdictions. A “plus” if you also have experience handling international employment matters directly. 
• Experience advising on workplace investigations. 
• An interest in improving legal processes and using technology, including AI, to make legal support more efficient, consistent and accessible. 
• Experience with disputes outside of employment. There is an opportunity to also own disputes more generally for the right candidate. 

Coveo has approximately 800 employees worldwide, with about 600 located in Québec, as well as teams and offices across the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. This role offers broad exposure, strong autonomy and room to grow into broader responsibilities, alongside competitive compensation, equity and a comprehensive benefits package.

Do you think you can bring this role to life? Send us your application, we want to hear from you!

Join the Coveolife!

We encourage all qualified candidates to apply regardless of, for example, age, gender, disability, gaps in CV, national or ethnic background.

This job description was written by humans, assisted by AI. We may leverage technology in our hiring process to help us see the person behind the resume.

Coveo is committed to providing accessible employment practices. If you require accommodation due to a disability at any point during the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] to discuss your needs.