Counsel

Your role at Samsonite:

As a part of a small and collegial legal team you will be the primary legal contact for the Human Resources department.   In this role you will oversee employment related matters primarily for the Samsonite Group’s Americas region and from time to time, provide employment law and executive compensation support on projects for other regions and the Group’s corporate function. You will work directly with all members of the Human Resources department across the Samsonite Group’s family of brands and with other internal clients throughout the organization. The role is also responsible for advising, and liaising with, the Group’s Risk Department in connection with the management of workers’ compensation related claims, disputes, and litigation.

In addition to these responsibilities, you will be responsible for a wide range of matters such as drafting, reviewing and negotiating contracts; identifying and advising internal clients on a variety of legal issues,  managing litigation and administrative matters; and providing general legal support to company stakeholders throughout the U.S. and Canada.

You will work on-site 4 days per week with the opportunity to work remotely one day per week.

• Provides legal advice and support to the HR department on employment issues including: leaves of absence and accommodations, wage and hour matters, compliance, internal investigations, recruiting, work authorizations, compensation, benefits, performance management, and internal investigations.

• Drafts and reviews employment related agreements and policies.  Conducts relevant trainings for the HR team and other departments.

• Drafts, reviews and negotiates various types of contracts and advises internal clients on contract interpretation and legal ramifications of contract terms.

• Proactively monitors legal developments and regulatory trends.

• Works closely with other departments to foresee and protect company against legal risks.

• Manages outside counsel, disputes and litigation.

• Assists Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel, the Americas with various matters.

We're excited if you have:

• 5+ years’ experience

• JD from an accredited law school and admission to at least one state bar (in good standing)

• Strong foundation in employment law, client counselling and relationship building skills

• Experience providing legal advice to multi-state clients

• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts and advising clients of contractual risks in a concise manner

• Experience advising internal clients on U.S. employment law matters (Canadian employment law knowledge a plus)

• Excellent communication, interpersonal and writing skills.  A collaborative client focused approach while being detail-oriented

• Ability to simultaneously manage numerous projects consistent with the company’s business objectives and prioritize work to meet deadlines

• Ability to work independently and perform effectively in a fast paced environment as part of a small team

• Ability to assess issues from both legal and business perspectives to clearly define risks and plan next steps

• An understanding of business objectives and the role of in-house counsel in helping achieve such objectives

• Deliver the overall objectives of the legal team

• Consumer product/retail and in-house experience a plus