Senior Counsel; Deputy Director

Location: New York, NY

Experience: At least 7-10 years

Reports To: International Department Legal Head

Employment Type and Class: Full Time, Exempt

Bar Admission: Must be admitted to the US Bar (New York strongly preferred)

Language: Mandarin proficiency highly desired

Industry Preference: Food & B experience strongly preferred, particularly within quick-service restaurants (QSR) operations

Base Salary: $175,000 - $210,000

We are seeking a highly skilled Employment Counsel to join our international legal team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in labor and employment law, including global mobility, significant litigation, government investigations, and union/collective bargaining matters. Prior in-house counsel experience is strongly preferred, along with the ability to navigate complex, multi-jurisdictional employment issues in a fast-paced business environment. This role will carry a particular focus on wage-and-hour and Fair Workweek compliance within QSRoperations.

This role will be pivotal in advising employment compliance, managing sensitive employee relations matters, and representing the company in high-stakes disputes. The candidate must be a strategic thinker, an effective communicator, and comfortable working directly with executives, HR, and operations teams. This is an excellent opportunity to join an expanding international legal team and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Provide day-to-day counsel on a full spectrum of labor and employment matters, including wage and hour compliance, discrimination/harassment prevention, workplace safety, leaves of absence, and employee discipline/termination.

• Lead compliance strategy for Fair Workweek and predictive scheduling laws applicable to quick-service restaurant (QSR) operations, including scheduling notice and predictability pay requirements and franchisor/franchisee joint-employer risk.

• Provide legal guidance on international assignments, permanent transfers, short-term assignments, and remote working arrangements across multiple jurisdictions.

• Represent the company in litigation, arbitrations, and administrative proceedings before federal, state, and local agencies (e.g., NLRB, DOL, state labor boards).

• Manage and respond to government investigations, audits, and enforcement actions.

• Advise on union-related matters, including collective bargaining, grievance handling, and strategy for labor relations.

• Draft, review, and update employment agreements, workplace policies, and employee handbooks to ensure legal compliance and alignment with business objectives.

• Partner closely with HR, Ops team and cross-functional stakeholders locally and globally to develop proactive risk mitigation strategies.

• Monitor and interpret developments in federal, state, and local labor and employment laws, particularly in jurisdictions where the company operates.

• Support cross-border employment matters and coordinate with legal teams in other regions as needed.

• A law degree from an ABA-accredited law school.

• Qualification to practice law in at least one state in the United States (NY or CA is preferred).

• At least 7-10 years of labor and employment law experience, with no less than 3 years in a top law firm, including litigation and government investigation defense. In-house counsel experience strongly preferred. Flexibility may be applied to this qualification for exceptionally qualified candidates.

• Union and collective bargaining experience preferred.

• Industry experience in food & beverage, retail or hospitality is strongly preferred, particularly within quick-service restaurant (QSR) operations.

• Demonstrated experience advising on Fair Workweek and predictive scheduling ordinances (e.g., NYC, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Oregon) and QSR-specific wage-and-hour issues, including tip credit, meal and rest break compliance, and joint-employer standards.

• Knowledge of corporate immigration, employment law, and tax implications related to mobility.

• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically, make sound, business-oriented legal judgments and provide practical legal solutions

• Strong negotiation skills and experience handling sensitive, high-profile employment matters.

• Mandarin language proficiency strongly desired but not required.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the…