Associate Counsel, Employment and Commercial

Summary:

The Associate Counsel, Employment & Commercial will provide legal support across a broad range of employment, labor, commercial contracting, and general business matters. This role will partner closely with Human Resources, business leaders, an members of the Legal Department to deliver practical, risk-based legal advice, support employee relations matters, and draft, review, and negotiate a variety of employment-related and commercial agreements.

The ideal candidate is an early-career attorney with strong employment law fundamentals, experience drafting and negotiating contracts, sound business judgment, and a desire to develop as a well-rounded in-house counsel supporting diverse legal matters across the organization. This individual must be capable of balancing legal risk with business objectives while providing practical and solutions-oriented guidance.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide legal guidance and support on day-to-day employment law matters, including hiring, performance management, employee relations, accommodations, leaves of absence, wage and hour matters, discipline, terminations, and workforce changes.
• Conduct legal research and provide clear, practical guidance regarding federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
• Assist with employment-related investigations, including reviewing documentation, identifying legal considerations, and providing guidance on appropriate next steps.
• Draft, review, revise, and negotiate employment-related agreements, including offer letters, employment agreements, separation and release agreements, confidentiality agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, and other employee-related documents.
• Draft, review, and negotiate routine commercial agreements, including consulting, independent contractor, vendor, professional services, confidentiality, and related business agreements.
• Review contract terms to identify legal, operational, and business risks and recommend appropriate revisions or escalation.
• Assist with the development, review, and revision of employment policies, handbooks, procedures, templates, and other HR-related documentation.
• Partner with Human Resources on employee relations matters to identify legal risk and support consistent application of company policies and employment practices.
• Support organizational changes by reviewing documentation and identifying employment law considerations.
• Coordinating documentation, assisting with discovery, conducting research, and partnering with outside counsel as needed.
• Monitor developments in employment law and assist with communicating relevant legal and regulatory changes to internal stakeholders.
• Support contract management activities, including maintaining templates, tracking agreements, and promoting consistency in contractual terms.
• Collaborate with other members of the Legal team on corporate, commercial, compliance, and other legal matters as needed.
• Maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive employee, business, and legal information.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance.

Other Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Performs other related duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• This position is an individual contributor.

Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

• Working knowledge of federal and state employment laws and regulations.
• Foundational experience advising on or supporting employment and employee relations matters.
• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and other legal agreements.
• Ability to identify legal and contractual risks and translate legal requirements into practical business guidance.
• Strong legal research, analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to review complex documents accurately.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential and sensitive information.
• Ability to communicate effectively with HR professionals, business leaders, employees, outside counsel, and other stakeholders.
• Collaborative approach with the ability to work independently and escalate complex or higher-risk matters appropriately.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn legal, contract management, and HR systems.

Education and/or Experience:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school required.
• 5-8 years of relevant legal experience preferred, including experience with employment law and contract drafting, review, or negotiation.
• Experience may be gained through a law firm, corporate legal department, government agency, clerkship, or similar legal environment.
• Experience partnering with Human Resources or supporting employee relations matters preferred.
• Experience reviewing commercial, vendor, consulting, or professional services agreements preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations:

• Active license to practice law and good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction required.

Work Complexity:

Problems and issues faced are difficult and complex, and may require understanding of broader set of issues. Problems typically involve consideration of multiple issues and understanding of the financial/mortgage industry. Problems are typically solved through drawing from prior experience and analysis of issues.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Work is normally performed in a typical interior office work environment which does not subject the employee to any hazardous or unpleasant elements. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The company is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, ethnicity, color, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, religion, national origin, age (40 and over), disability, military status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Americans with Disabilities Act:

Applicants as well as employees who are or become disabled must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential job functions of the position either with or without reasonable accommodation. Applicants as well as employees are encouraged to meet with Human Resources as the organization shall review reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis in accordance with applicable law.

Job Responsibilities:

The statements reflect the general duties and responsibilities considered necessary to perform the essential functions of the job and should not be considered as an all-inclusive list of all the work requirements of the position. The company may change the specific job duties with or without prior notice based on the needs of the organization.

Archwell creates, buys, and grows companies to build a strong, comprehensive portfolio to help businesses thrive, even in the toughest of markets. Our teams build essential corporate services, technology, and consulting to help the mortgage, finance, and banking industries succeed.