Legal Counsel - Labor and Employment Law

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JLL is seeking an experienced employment law attorney to serve as Senior Counsel - Labor and Employment Law for the EMEA region. This is a high-visibility leadership role at the center of two of the region's most consequential employment law shifts: the transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive into national law across EMEA jurisdictions, and the evolving works council and co-determination landscape reshaping how multinationals operate in Europe. The Senior Counsel will set strategy, not just respond to it — shaping JLL's regional compliance roadmap, advising senior business leaders directly, and building the frameworks other markets will follow.

This position plays a critical role in supporting JLL's European, Middle Eastern, and African operations by providing sophisticated legal counsel on complex employment matters across multiple jurisdictions. The successful candidate will work collaboratively within our global employment law team while independently leading a diverse portfolio of labor- and employment-related matters spanning the EMEA region — with direct ownership of the strategic priorities that will define the function's regional agenda over the next several years.

The role requires a strategic legal professional who can provide practical counsel to business leaders, ensure compliance with evolving employment laws across diverse jurisdictions, and effectively manage complex cross-border employment matters and investigations. This position offers significant growth opportunities within JLL's dynamic legal department and the chance to shape employment practices across a leading global organization's EMEA operations at a formative moment for European labor regulation.

Strategic EMEA Priorities

• Lead JLL's EMEA-wide legal strategy for transposition of the EU Pay Transparency Directive, including gap analysis across member states, coordination with local counsel on divergent national implementing legislation, and design of compliant pay-reporting and pay-equity frameworks

• Serve as JLL's senior lead on works council strategy across EMEA, including co-determination and information/consultation obligations, and represent JLL in works council negotiations on organizational change, policy rollouts, and workforce initiatives

• Own the regional roadmap for pay transparency and works council priorities, briefing senior legal and business leadership on risk, sequencing, and cross-jurisdictional trade-offs

• Build repeatable playbooks and governance models for pay transparency and employee-representation matters that can scale across EMEA markets and inform JLL's global approach

Key Responsibilities

EMEA Regional Leadership & Cross-Border Support

• Serve as primary contact person for HR and business inquiries related to employment law across the EMEA region and for international projects 

• Provide cooperation and support to HR and legal teams in individual EMEA countries

• Advise and support cross-border issues and projects throughout the EMEA region

• Monitor compliance with evolving federal, national, and regional employment laws across EMEA jurisdictions and advise on implementation strategies

• Handle employment law matters across diverse EMEA markets with varying legal frameworks

• Coordinate with local legal teams to ensure consistent application of employment policies across the region

Legal Counsel & Compliance

• Provide comprehensive guidance on wage and hour matters, working time directives, and compensation structures across EMEA jurisdictions

• Advise on leave laws and administration, including statutory leave entitlements, parental leave, and reasonable accommodation requirements under local disability legislation

• Draft, review, and revise employee agreements including employment contracts, offer letters, restrictive covenants, secondment agreements, and independent contractor arrangements compliant with local laws

• Review compensation plans to ensure legal compliance with local regulations and alignment with business objectives

• Conduct comprehensive policy reviews and updates to maintain current compliance standards across multiple EMEA jurisdictions

• Lead labor-related proceedings, including works council matters, collective bargaining, trade union negotiations, and employment tribunal proceedings

Strategic Business Support & External Counsel Management

• Provide legal advice to support Culture and Employee Experience initiatives across EMEA

• Cost-conscious commissioning and management of external lawyers together with local legal teams 

• Support sourcing and procurement activities, including review of public institution agreements and RFPs for employment-related considerations

• Advise on hiring and recruitment matters, including GDPR compliance, day-to-day pay transparency requirements, and background check compliance within various EMEA jurisdictions

• Review commercial contracts and provide employment-related guidance to contracts attorneys

• Independent commissioning and management of external lawyers with focus on cost management

Litigation & Risk Management

• Advise on internal investigations of potential ethics and compliance violations, misconduct, and criminal conduct matters 

• Advise and support in disputes with employees, supporting legal teams in countries with local disputes

• Coordinate responses to government audits from various EMEA regulatory agencies and employment authorities

• Manage diverse pre-litigation and regulatory proceedings, including alternative dispute resolution mechanisms available in EMEA jurisdictions

• Analyze vulnerabilities and patterns and develop cross-country solutions

Training & Advisory Services

• Conduct employment law training sessions for HR and business teams across EMEA region

• Review and advise on company-wide training programs related to employment issues

• Provide ongoing counsel on performance management, terminations, and workplace investigations

• Support and advise during investigations

Operational Excellence

• Collaborate with Human Resources and Culture and Employee Experience teams to align legal requirements with diverse EMEA business objectives

• Work within the global employment law team structure while maintaining independent judgment on complex regional matters

• Support employment aspects of talent acquisition, benefits administration, and workforce planning initiatives across EMEA markets

• Identify weak points and develop solutions for regional employment law challenges

Reporting Structure & Organizational Context

This position reports directly to the Global Head of Labor and Employment Law and works collaboratively with regional Human Resources and Culture and Employee Experience teams across EMEA. The role includes coordination with local legal team members and external counsel as needed to support JLL's comprehensive EMEA employment law strategy.

Location:

On-site –Madrid, ESP

If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements.  We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

At JLL, we harness the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently accelerate meaningful connections between candidates and opportunities. Using AI capabilities, we analyze your application for relevant skills, experiences, and qualifications to generate valuable insights about how your unique profile aligns with the specific requirements of the role you're pursuing.

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