Senior Counsel, Employment

The Senior Counsel, Employment provides practical advice and counsel on all aspects of employment law to business units and HR teams, supporting business objectives while complying with applicable legal requirements.  The Senior Counsel is also responsible for handling agency claims, attorney demand letters, and overseeing employment law litigation.

Responsibilities:

• Provide Advice and Counsel on Employment Law Matters:  Provide advice and counsel to business units and HR teams on a broad range of employment law matters, including discrimination, harassment, leaves of absence, disability and religious accommodations, internal complaints and investigations, hiring practices, employment contracts, terminations and reductions in force, and wage and hour issues.  Advise on employment law issues in vendor agreements. 
• Respond to Agency Claims and Demand Letters: Handle the Company’s response to agency claims, including investigating claims, preparing written responses, and representing the Company at settlement conferences and hearings.  Respond to demand letters from attorneys, including investigating allegations, advising on legal risks and options to resolve, preparing for and handling mediations, and negotiating and documenting settlements.
• Oversee Employment Law Litigation: Manage litigation, including managing outside counsel and overseeing litigation strategy.  Coordinate fact gathering and witness interviews, and review pleadings, motions and discovery responses. 
• Advise on Company Policies:  Review, draft and provide guidance on Company policies, procedures and practices to ensure compliance with applicable law.
• Maintain Awareness of Legal Developments:  Keep abreast of employment law developments and proactively advise the Company on potential impacts and necessary changes.

Requirements:

• 5-8  years of employment law practice at a law firm or global company required.
• Experience advising entertainment industry clients a plus.
• J.D. Required
• Admission to California state bar required 

The successful candidate will be able to:

• Communicate effectively with all levels of HR and business executives on legal issues
• Provide legal advice in a practical and easy to understand manner to allow stakeholders to appropriately evaluate risk
• Manage multiple projects with competing priorities and tight deadlines
• Think quickly, practically and strategically in a complex and creative environment
• Work independently
• Provide cost-effective management of outside counsel
• Write clearly and concisely for both a legal and non-legal audience

Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

SPE will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with applicable law.

To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process, you may contact us at [email protected].