Employment Counsel

About the role

The employment counsel serves as the primary legal advisor on all employment law matters across Sigma Computing, ensuring that all people operations initiatives are legally sound and aligned with company goals. This role owns the full lifecycle of employment-related transactions, from drafting and negotiating agreements to guiding their practical implementation in day-to-day operations. The counsel will act as a strategic partner to People Operations and business leadership, translating complex legal requirements into practical, business-oriented solutions. They will manage external legal relationships and oversee litigation matters to protect the company's interests. A core responsibility is to conduct thorough workplace investigations with impartiality and care, ensuring factual accuracy and legal compliance. The counsel will also monitor evolving legal landscapes and proactively recommend updates to policies and practices. Finally, they will support integration and due diligence efforts during mergers and acquisitions with a focus on employment-related risks.

Key facts

What you'll do

Draft, review, and negotiate employment agreements, offer letters, contractor agreements, policies, and employee handbooks to ensure clarity, enforceability, and alignment with business objectives.

Provide ongoing legal advice to People Operations, leadership, and business teams regarding onboarding, performance management, disciplinary actions, and terminations, including reductions in force.

Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations in the United States, and applicable international requirements where applicable.

Lead and manage workplace investigations into complaints, concerns, or potential misconduct, applying best practices to ensure thorough, fair, and legally defensible outcomes.

Oversee and coordinate with outside employment counsel and manage external litigation matters, serving as the central point of contact for all employment-related legal proceedings.

Partner with People Ops and Governance, Risk, & Compliance teams to design, deliver, and refine compliance training programs and policy implementations that mitigate risk and promote ethical conduct.

Monitor legislative, regulatory, and judicial developments in employment law and provide proactive recommendations for updates to company policies, procedures, and practices.

Advise on employee relations issues and dispute resolution strategies, aiming to preserve working relationships while protecting the company's legal interests.

Support Sigma's M&A, due diligence, and integration efforts by assessing employment-related risks, liabilities, and transition considerations.

Serve as a subject matter expert on employment classification, wage and hour compliance, including FLSA, and ensure proper worker categorization across the workforce.

Provide practical, business-oriented legal counsel that balances risk management with the need to support a positive, high-performance employee experience.

Collaborate on the development and maintenance of global workforce policies, with an eye toward scalability and consistency as the company grows.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.

5+ years of post-qualification experience practicing employment law, with in-house experience at a technology or SaaS organization strongly preferred.

Demonstrated workplace investigation training and professional experience, including conducting fair and impartial inquiries.

Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. employment and labor laws, including but not limited to FLSA, ADA, FMLA, Title VII, wage & hour rules, and classification requirements.

Proven ability to deliver practical, business-oriented legal advice that supports company objectives while managing legal risk.

Strong written and verbal communication, judgment, and stakeholder management skills to effectively counsel senior leadership and cross-functional partners.

Experience working closely with HR/People teams and senior leadership to develop policies, lead projects, and implement programs.

Commitment to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality, integrity, and professionalism in all matters involving sensitive people data and legal issues.

Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and meet aggressive deadlines without compromising quality.

Experience with employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence, integration planning, and post-close transition support, is required.

Familiarity with employment law considerations in a global or distributed workforce is strongly preferred.

Nice to have

Experience supporting global or distributed workforces.

Familiarity with immigration and mobility considerations in a tech environment.

Prior experience in a high-growth or startup company.

Experience with employment aspects of M&A transactions.

Practical notes

This role operates in an in-office work environment at all Sigma Computing offices, including San Francisco, New York City, London, and Sydney.