Senior Legal Counsel, Employment

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world’s most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world’s most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

We are seeking an experienced employment attorney to serve as a trusted legal advisor to Human Resources, Employee Relations, Compliance, Risk, and business leadership. This role provides strategic and practical counsel on a broad range of employment law matters across the employee lifecycle, helping the organization navigate complex workforce issues while balancing legal risk, regulatory requirements, and business objectives.

The successful candidate will partner closely with senior leaders to advise primarily on US related employee relations matters, internal investigations, employment litigation, workforce transformation initiatives, regulatory developments, and policy governance. This individual will play a critical role in promoting legally compliant employment practices, mitigating enterprise risk, and supporting a positive and productive workplace culture across a large, complex organization.

Key Responsibilities

Employment Law Counseling

• Provide legal advice regarding all aspects of the employment lifecycle, including:
  • Hiring and recruiting
  • Compensation practices
  • Performance management
  • Workplace accommodations
  • Leaves of absence
  • Discipline and terminations
  • Restrictive covenants
  • Retaliation, discrimination, and harassment issues
• Advise HR and Employee Relations teams on complex workforce matters.
• Deliver practical, business-focused solutions that appropriately balance legal risk and business objectives.

Investigations and Employee Relations

• Provide legal guidance on internal investigations involving:
  • Harassment
  • Discrimination
  • Retaliation
  • Misconduct
  • Ethics and compliance concerns
• Review investigation findings and recommend appropriate remediation and consequence management.
• Partner with Compliance, Internal Audit, and Risk functions when investigations involve regulatory implications.

Litigation and Agency Charges

• Manage employment-related litigation and administrative proceedings.
• Direct outside counsel and oversee legal budgets.
• Develop litigation strategy and settlement recommendations.
• Manage claims before federal, state, and local agencies, including EEOC and equivalent regulatory bodies.

Regulatory and Policy Support

• Monitor legal developments affecting employment practices.
• Draft and update employment policies, procedures, and employee communications.
• Advise on emerging legal requirements involving:
  • Pay transparency
  • Artificial intelligence in employment
  • Wage and hour compliance
  • Workplace accommodations
  • Data privacy
  • Whistleblower protections
• Support regulatory examinations and internal audits as needed.

Strategic Workforce Initiatives

• Support reorganizations, reductions in force, acquisitions, and integrations.
• Partner with HR leadership regarding workforce strategy.
• Advise on executive employment matters, severance arrangements, and retention programs.
• Help identify and mitigate employment-related enterprise risk.

Training and Leadership

• Develop and deliver employment law training for managers, HR professionals, and senior leadership.
• Promote legally compliant and effective employment practices throughout the organization.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on sensitive workforce matters.

Required

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active state bar membership in good standing.
• 10+ years of employment law experience.
• Significant experience in:
  • Employment litigation
  • Employee relations counseling
  • Internal investigations
  • Employment law compliance
• Experience supporting large, complex organizations.
• Experience advising senior executives and HR leadership teams.

Must possess a J.D. degree from an accredited law school and must meet attorney licensing requirements in the jurisdiction in which the position will be located, prior to and after commencing employment.

Salary Range:

$160,100 - 272,300 USD

Salary range is a good faith estimate of base pay. Northern Trust provides a comprehensive benefits package including retirement benefits (401k and pension), health and welfare benefits (medical, dental, vision, spending accounts and disability), paid time off, parental and caregiver leave, life & accident insurance, and other voluntary and well-being benefits. Northern Trust also provides a discretionary bonus program that may include an equity component.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future. Northern Trust will not sponsor applicants for U.S. work visa status for this opportunity (no sponsorship is available for H-1B, L-1, TN, O-1, E-3, H-1B1, F-1, J-1, OPT, CPT or any other employment-based visa).

Working with Us

As a Northern Trust partner, you will be part of a flexible and collaborative work culture, which has a strong history of financial strength and stability. Movement within the organization is encouraged, senior leaders are accessible, and you can take pride in working for a company committed to an inclusive workplace and assisting the communities we serve.

Philanthropy is deeply rooted in Northern Trust’s history and is an essential element of our culture. Employees around the world give their time and talent to work for the greater good of their communities.

Reasonable Accommodation

Northern Trust is committed to working with and providing adjustments to individuals with health conditions and disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please email our HR Service Center at [email protected], or alternatively you can discuss your individual requirements with the recruiter you are working with.