Employment Counsel

About the RoleA leading financial services firm is seeking an experienced Employment Counsel to join its in-house legal team. In this role, you’ll act as the primary legal advisor to HR and business leaders on all employment law matters across the full employee lifecycle.This is an opportunity to drive strategy, mitigate risk, and partner closely with leadership inside a fast-paced, high‑performance culture.What You'll DoAdvise on all employment matters: recruiting, hiring, comp/benefits, leaves, accommodations, performance management, and terminations.Provide practical, business-oriented guidance on multi-state employment issues (IL, NY, and others).Draft, review, and negotiate offer letters, employment and separation agreements, restrictive covenants, and policies/handbooks.Lead and support internal workplace investigations and manage pre-litigation matters.Advise on industry-specific regulatory issues including FINRA, broker‑dealer requirements, compensation structures, and whistleblower protections.Support data privacy compliance (CCPA/CPRA, BIPA, SHIELD Act) and implement employment policies and legal training programs.Partner on organizational restructurings and employment aspects of M&A transactions.Monitor changes in employment law and translate them into actionable guidance for HR and leadership.What You BringJD from an ABA-accredited law school.Active bar admission in IL or NY (or willingness to obtain in-house registration.8+ years of employment law experience - MUST have in-house financial services experience.Strong experience with investigations, disputes, and agency charges.Excellent judgment, communication skills, and ability to advise in a fast-paced, high-performance environment.