Senior Employment Counsel - Elite Trading Firm | Chicago, IL, USA | Hybrid

We are currently partnering with an elite trading firm in Chicago looking for a seasoned Employment Counsel. This is a high visibility role that will advise on every aspect of their People function. We are currently partnering with an elite trading firm in Chicago that is seeking an experienced employment counsel to join their Legal team. You will be in a high visibility role reporting directly to the General Counsel and working closely with the Head of HR. This position will also act as a strategic partner to the heads of various business units across the firm across a wide range of employment, labor, and workplace matters. They take their People function very seriously as fostering the best talent and a high-performance culture is something they view as a key to their business performance. Responsibilities: • Advise on all aspects of U.S. employment and labor law, including hiring, performance management, discipline, terminations, and reductions in force • Draft, review, and negotiate employment‑related agreements, including offer letters, employment agreements, restrictive covenants, incentive and bonus plans, separation agreements, and confidentiality arrangements • Partner closely with HR and senior management on employee relations matters, investigations, and sensitive workplace issues • Provide guidance on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (including FLSA, Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, state wage‑hour laws, and non‑compete frameworks) • Support litigation strategy and manage outside counsel in employment‑related disputes, arbitrations, and agency matters • Advise on compensation, benefits, and incentive structures in coordination with HR, Finance, and business leaders • Assist with employment issues arising from business growth, restructuring, or organizational change • Monitor and assess evolving employment law developments and proactively advise on risk mitigation and best practices • Contribute to internal policies, training materials, and compliance initiatives Qualifications: • J.D. from an accredited law school; active license to practice law (Illinois preferred) • 7+ years of employment law experience, gained in a law firm, in‑house legal department, or a combination of both • Strong working knowledge of employment and labor laws applicable to financial services or similarly regulated, high‑performance environments • Experience advising on restrictive covenants, employee mobility issues, and executive employment matters is strongly preferred • Demonstrated ability to provide practical, business‑oriented legal advice in a fast‑moving setting If interested, please do not hesitate to apply and we will be in touch for a confidential discussion.