Counsel (Executive Compensation)

Overview

A leading investment management firm is seeking an experienced Executive Compensation Counsel to join its New York-based team.

You will work on a variety of projects, focusing on compensation and employment matters. The position is based in New York, but the candidate will interface with the firm’s global offices. The candidate will be in a position to learn and receive supervision from senior members of the Legal team. A successful candidate will be well organized, tech-savvy, and have the ability to investigate the facts of a project, ensure key business and legal questions are answered, risks are properly vetted and approved before any contracts are signed and relevant deadlines are met. This is a fast-paced environment where the candidate will learn about the hedge fund industry as well as work on a wide range of employment-related documentation and projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel on all aspects of executive compensation and incentive arrangements, including the design, implementation, and administration of employment agreements, bonus programs, deferred compensation plans, retention arrangements, and severance programs.
• Partner with Human Resources, Finance, Tax, Compliance, and business leaders to develop and maintain competitive and compliant compensation programs aligned with the business.
• Advise on executive compensation matters across multiple jurisdictions, including international compensation arrangements, mobility issues, and related tax and employment law considerations.
• Monitor and analyze legal, regulatory, and market developments affecting executive compensation, incentive compensation, and employment practices, and provide practical guidance regarding their impact.
• Counsel on a broad range of employment law matters, including employee relations, performance management, workplace policies, accommodations, leaves of absence, disciplinary actions, and terminations.
• Help manage and provide support to conduct internal investigations involving employee complaints, workplace misconduct, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and other employment-related concerns.
• Advise on employment-related agreements and matters, including restrictive covenants, confidentiality obligations, employee mobility, recruiting, and separation arrangements.
• Help manage and provide support on employment-related disputes, claims, agency inquiries, and litigation matters, including coordination with outside counsel where appropriate.
• Help manage and provide support to develop, review, and update employment policies, employee handbooks, codes of conduct, and workplace procedures to ensure legal compliance and alignment with industry best practices.
• Participate in or lead cross-functional projects and strategic initiatives involving compensation, workforce management, organizational changes, and other employment-related matters.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Active membership, in good standing, in the New York bar (or ability to obtain registered in-house counsel status).
• ~3-7 years’ experience at a law firm or in the legal department of a financial services firm.
• Substantial experience drafting and negotiating sophisticated and complex compensation arrangements.
• Deep knowledge of executive compensation laws, regulations, and best practices. Tax-related knowledge in executive compensation matters is helpful.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent analytical, oral, and written communication skills where attention to detail is critical.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with stakeholders across the organization and on the Legal team.
• Solid understanding of employment law, including discrimination, wage and hour and benefits..
• International experience (useful).