Associate Corporate Counsel (Employment & Labor)

The Associate Corporate Counsel, Employment & Labor reports to the General Counsel and serves as a key legal partner to the company's Human Resources team and operational leaders. This attorney handles and manages the company's employment disputes – from agency charges and demand letters through litigation and arbitration – and provides practical, day-to-day advice on employment and labor matters across the company's multi-state workforce. The role calls for sound judgment and decision-making, often with limited information and tight timeframes. Travel requirement: this position may entail travel, estimated at 10% of work time annually for property visits or internal meetings.

Responsibilities

Report directly to the General Counsel and assist with reporting to the CEO and Board of Directors on all material legal matters affecting the company; Directly manage and respond to charges and inquiries before the EEOC, the Texas Workforce Commission, and other federal, state, and local agencies, including drafting position statements and representing the company in mediation and conciliation; Evaluate and respond to attorney demand letters and pre-suit claims, develop resolution strategy, negotiate settlements, and draft settlement and release agreements; Manage employment lawsuits and arbitrations, including wage-and-hour class and collective actions, in partnership with outside counsel; Draft and circulate legal holds, coordinate document preservation, collection, and production including e-discovery, and prepare employees for depositions; Engage and manage outside counsel, negotiate engagement terms, and review invoices against billing guidelines; Advise Human Resources and property leadership on terminations, corrective action, and high-risk or escalated workplace investigations; Advise on leave programs, disability and other accommodation requests, and return-to-work issues; Review and draft the employee handbook, HR policies, and employment-related agreements, and monitor multi-state employment law compliance; Partner with the insurance broker and carriers on employment practices liability (EPLI) claims; Collaborate with Human Resources and management to develop training materials and provide practical legal advice

Requirements

JD from an ABA-accredited law school; Active membership in good standing in at least one state bar; Attorneys not licensed in Texas must be eligible to register as in-house counsel with the Texas Board of Law Examiners; 3–5 years of employment and labor law experience at a law firm, in-house, or both, including handling agency charges and employment litigation; Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound, practical recommendations quickly; Direct, candid, and concise communication style, with the ability to explain legal issues in plain language to HR professionals and business leaders at all levels; Ability to manage a high volume of matters, prioritize effectively, and meet multiple deadlines; Highest ethical standards, a self-motivated and resourceful approach, and the ability to build credibility and trust with colleagues inside and outside the company; Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Nice to have

Experience in property management, real estate, or another multi-site industry; Familiarity with HRIS and e-discovery platforms