The Legal Department at JPMorganChase manages legal and other risks, advises on products and services, interprets laws and regulations that impact the firm, and advises the firm on other matters.  Our global team is made up of 2,000 lawyers and legal professionals with a reputation as thought leaders who deliver best-in-class services. As trusted advisors, we help the firm’s clients while also safeguarding the integrity of the firm.  We are committed to a culture of inclusivity and belonging, where people can grow and succeed throughout their careers while working for a first-in-class financial institution doing cutting-edge work. If these values resonate with you, we would like to hear from you. 

The HR Law Practice Group for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) handles and advises on a broad portfolio of contentious and non-contentious employment matters, counselling stakeholders and an innovative Human Resources function in respect of all the firm’s lines of business in EMEA (the Commercial and Investment Bank, Asset and Wealth Management and International Consumer Business) and corporate firmwide functions, working across 35+ locations in the region, with opportunities to work on cross-border employment issues arising within the US as well as the Latin America and Asia Pacific regions.

 As a Vice President in the EMEA HR Law Practice Group you will work as part of a team of seven employment lawyers in London within the EMEA Legal Department with significant responsibility for handling and advising on your matters. As part of your role, you will work with HR professionals, legal colleagues, control partners, business stakeholders and outside counsel on HR strategies and products, litigation, risks, and challenges for the firm.

 Job responsibilities:

Working closely with Human Resources to provide legal support across EMEA, including HR and other stakeholders in locations outside the UK, working with outside counsel as necessary and directly delivering employment law advice. Managing a portfolio of employment litigation in EMEA; instructing and liaising with outside counsel, determining and discussing strategy, supervising disclosure, proofing witnesses, reviewing draft documents and advising stakeholders, including Legal, the business, Employee Relations (ER) and HR. Supporting HR and ER with advice on investigations, grievances, disciplinaries, dismissals, appeals, redundancies, recruitment, contracts of employment, termination agreements, restrictive covenants, matters relating to diversity, opportunity and inclusion, and employee data protection issues. Providing advice and support on legal developments across the region and firm initiatives, including reviewing, drafting and updating related materials. Advising on regulatory issues in the context of conduct and remuneration matters and assisting in the handling of regulatory inquiries. Advising generally in relation to non-contentious employment issues, including outsourcings and transactions involving TUPE/ARD and share acquisitions, which often involve more than one jurisdiction, either in EMEA or on a global basis. Managing relationships with outside employment counsel across EMEA.

Required qualifications, capabilities and skills

Strong academic qualifications. Solid employment law experience from either the employment department of a law firm, preferably with experience of acting for banks, or equivalent experience within a legal department of a large financial institution. Sound knowledge of all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, whistleblowing, grievance procedures, disciplinaries, changes to terms and conditions, redundancies, TUPE/ARD and reorganisations, drafting and negotiating settlement agreements and experience in employment litigation. Strong relationship management and people skills with an ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with HR, control partners, business stakeholders and legal colleagues. Ability to demonstrate ownership of matters and drive them forward, act with urgency as appropriate and, when needed, respond to issues under time critical deadlines. Lawyer must be licensed to practise law and a member in good standing in the state/jurisdiction in which the position is based or otherwise in compliance with the in-house counsel registration rules of that state/jurisdiction and successfully complete a conflicts of interest clearance review prior to commencement of employment.

 Preferred qualifications, capabilities, and skills

Previous in-house experience, whether on secondment or in employment. Familiarity with the regulatory requirements applicable to a firm like JPMorganChase. Experience in dealing with multi-jurisdictional matters and/or advising on local employment law requirements across EMEA.