Labor And Employment Attorney

The Research Foundation for The State University of New York is seeking an attorney with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience to focus on labor and employment law matters. The selected candidate will also work as a generalist as part of a collaborative team on the wide variety of legal matters arising out of the Foundation's sponsored programs, innovation and partnerships activity, and corporate status as a non-profit foundation.

Functions include advice on employee and human relations issues, labor relations in a complex matrixed environment that involves close interrelationships among SUNY, the RF, and affiliated entities. Duties include advising management on employee relations issues, policy development and training; employment and commercial litigation, responding to administrative charges, employment and commercial litigation; contract drafting, review, and negotiation; workplace investigations, and dispute resolution;

and negotiating labor contracts and managing labor relations issues. Reporting to the General Counsel and Secretary, the selected candidate will work closely with RF executive management as well as campus academic and business leadership, managers of entities affiliated with the RF, and SUNY's counsel. Day-to-day responsibilities will involve a wide range of matters reflecting the complex, diverse and extremely interesting work of the Research Foundation.

• Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, lead the legal human relations and employee relations functions and advising corporate and operation location managers on labor and employment law issues, including but not limited to performance and disciplinary matters, accommodations and leave issues, separations, hiring, layoffs and reductions in force, visa and immigration matters, wage and hour issues.
• Develop and review policies, procedures and handbooks, monitor and communicate legal developments to corporate and operating locations, develop and present labor and employment related training to RF and SUNY campus leaders, managers and employees on issues such as sexual harassment prevention, discrimination, and retaliation prevention and legal updates and developments; labor campaigns, and other relevant topics.
• Represent the RF in all stages of employment litigation before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including court appearances, research and prepare briefs, complaints, answers and replies, motions to dismiss, to compel and motions for summary judgment and supporting briefing; discovery, including e-discovery, draft and implement litigation holds, document collection and review for RF litigation and manage outside counsel as needed in litigation matters.
• Represent the RF in responding to/defending administrative charges, including drafting position statements, responding to information requests, witness preparation, and appearing and presenting evidence at administrative hearings;
• Represent the RF in arbitrations and mediations and engage in effective dispute resolution;
• Represent the RF in other litigation matters, including commercial litigation;
• Counsel RF and SUNY business and academic leadership on a broad range of complex and novel legal, business, and strategic issues, relating to RF work in support of SUNY sponsored activities;
• Prepare, negotiate, and manage contracts, leases, and other legal documents with contractors, vendors, research sponsors, and governmental entities;
• Respond to information requests and subpoenas;
• Conduct and/or assist with conducting internal investigations; work with SUNY counsel on corresponding investigations as needed;
• Supervise and work effectively with external counsel as appropriate.
• Promote and support company policies, procedures, mission, values, and standards of ethics and integrity; support the corporation's control environment by helping to identify, assess, and manage legal risks and liabilities, assist with the creation, implementation, and enhancement of corporate processes, polices, and procedures, and partner with business unit leaders to identify and facilitate business process improvement initiatives; and
• Perform other legal and administrative functions to support the RF's strategic and operating plans.

• J.D. from an accredited law school, membership in good standing or eligibility for membership in NY State bar
• A minimum of 5 years of experience, including in-house counsel or related law firm practice
• Legal experience focused on employment, litigation, and human resource matters, including knowledge of employment discrimination laws, including but not limited to Title VII, FMLA, ADA, ADEA/OWBPA, FLSA, New York State Human Rights Law, New York Labor Law, New York City Human Rights Law, and other federal, state and local employment laws
• Experience with legal research, discovery, document collection, motion drafting, and other matters relating to litigation
• Experience with investigations and compliance matters
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word;…