Handshake
AI economy
SeniorDirectorLitigation&EmploymentCounsel
“Senior Director - Litigation & Employment Counsel at Handshake. Skills: Litigation, Employment law, Platform risk. Own company's litigation strategy and docket. Direct pleadings, discovery, depositions, motion practice”
What You'll Achieve.
Define how Handshake manages dispute and employment risk; Build and lead Handshake’s Litigation and Employment function; Set company’s approach to disputes and employment risk; Shape how Legal partners with Product, Engineering, and Operations; Grow the team and infrastructure required to support Handshake at scale
Industry & Context.
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
JD and active membership in good standing in at least one U. S. state bar (California admission or eligibility to register as in-house counsel in California), 12+ years of combined law firm and in-house experience at a high-growth technology, gig platform, or marketplace company, Hands-on litigation experience managing complex commercial, employment, and/or platform-related disputes from intake through resolution, including first-chair trial, arbitration, and/or hearing experience, Deep in-house employment expertise across wage and hour, leaves and accommodations, investigations, and agency practice (EEOC, DFEH/CRD); expertise in worker classification laws and proven compliance strategies for gig and contractor populations at scale, Demonstrated ability to advise Product, Engineering, and Operations teams on legal questions arising from platform or marketplace products, Exceptional judgment and communication skills
Nice to Have
Prior experience as the first or early litigationployment hire at a high-growth company, Familiarity with two-sided platform or marketplace businesses, including platform liability, user disputes, and trust & safety issues
What You'll Do.
Own company's litigation strategy and docket
Advise on employment- and litigation-adjacent legal questions
Provide risk-calibrated guidance to teams
Serve as in-house employment expert
Advise People team and managers on day-to-day matters
Manage agency investigations and claims
Negotiate severance and separation agreements
Maintain and evolve employee handbook
Lead rollout of new compliance requirements
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Partner cross-functionally with Product, Engineering, and Operations; Partner with the People team on root-cause learnings; Serve as a senior thought partner to the leadership team; Build alignment with peer leaders in Product, Engineering, People, Finance, and Communications
Communication Scope
Exceptional communication skills
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