Corporate & Employment Counsel - US-Based
About Toptal
Toptal is a global network of top talent in business, design, and technology that enables companies to scale their teams, on-demand. With $200+ million in annual revenue and team members based around the globe, Toptal is the world’s largest fully remote workforce.
We take the best elements of virtual teams and combine them with a support structure that encourages innovation, social interaction, and fun. We see no borders, move at a fast pace, and are never afraid to break the mold.
Job Summary
This is a fully-remote, in-house Legal Counsel position that will be primarily responsible for drafting and negotiating employment, contract worker, and People related contracts and compensation arrangements with Toptal’s current and prospective team members and advising Toptal on global employment matters pertaining to its business offerings. The Corporate and Employment Counsel will focus on People issues but will also provide legal counsel and have advice responsibilities for Toptal’s various functional units in areas such as commercial contract matters and associated areas of risk and compliance.
This is a remote position that can be done from anywhere. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. at the time of hire, and must be attorneys admitted and in good standing with a bar in the United States. Resumes and communication must be submitted in English.
Responsibilities:
The following information is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or required skills.
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated employment and People related expertise in the US and globally (preferably in the staffing or contingent worker area), substantial experience supporting fast-paced business negotiations, outstanding legal and business acumen, excellent customer service and leadership skills, and a positive, proactive, “can-do” attitude. This person must be a self-starter and bring their expertise to bear to identify, manage, and mitigate risks by a business-practical application of Toptal’s policies, processes, and procedures. The ability to understand risks, balance competing interests, and provide appropriate advice is critical to success for this position. They will have significant responsibility for the development and on-going review of relevant processes, guidelines, and procedures, including those relating to Toptal’s Employment and People related practices. They will maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment laws and provide legal advice on related matters, including wage and hour laws, state minimum wage laws, leave of absence laws, discrimination, harassment, and privacy laws, and other laws. This role will make recommendations regarding compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
This is an important position that will entail partnering with multiple functional areas at Toptal. Like all roles within Toptal’s Legal department, it requires collaboration with others but ultimately will entail direct work more than managing the work of others. It is expected that the Corporate and Employment Counsel will cultivate productive relationships with our team members and business partners and foster a people-centric approach that is simultaneously protective of Toptal’s legal and business interests and reputation.
In the first week, expect to:
- Onboard and integrate into Toptal and the team.
- Obtain an understanding of organizational tools and processes.
In the first month, expect to:
- Begin to familiarize yourself with our employment and People related agreements and the organizational best practices relating to negotiation points.
In the first three months, expect to:
- Exercising discretion and independent judgment, begin to take on assignments and negotiations with increasing levels of responsibility and complexity, with a focus on familiarity with recognizing and implementing Toptal’s best practices, primarily on negotiations based on Toptal’s contract templates or vendors.
- Develop strong personal relationships with other Legal team members and with the People and Finance teams to help drive the documentation that supports our employment and People related efforts.
In the first six months, expect to:
- Be prepared to lead increasingly more complex negotiations and finalize agreements with our People team, with a focus on negotiations centered on employment matters such as job offer letters, severance agreements, compensation matters, and commission plans.
- Begin to get involved with contract interpretation issues, including involvement with dispute resolution matters.
- Possibly assist with various commercial contracts and new business initiatives that may touch upon US and global employment and People related laws and practices.
In the first year, expect to:
- Be viewed as a go-to expert in the employment and People related negotiation space, with additional expertise developed in one or more areas such as commercial contract, data privacy, and regulatory compliance matters.
- Continue to identify areas to improve efficiency and uplevel the speed and efficiency of the negotiation process.
- Be called upon to assist the People team and other functional leaders with interpretation and implementation of contract terms and resolution of People related questions and disputes.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree is required.
- Admission to and good standing in a U.S. State or the District of Columbia bar.
- 5-10 years of experience across both law firm and corporate settings.
- Strong experience negotiating and drafting employment and People related contracts.
- Experience dealing with US and global employment law matters, including independent contracting and People issues.
- Strong experience with litigation and/or arbitration of employment law matters, including termination disputes and company enforcement of post-termination obligations.
- Experience structuring and advising clients on commercial transactions, including master service agreements, statements of work, NDAs, licensing agreements, and partnership or referral agreements.
- Excellent customer service (internal and external), interpersonal, and organizational skills.
- The ability to quickly master and integrate legal, business, technical, and practical analysis.
- An extremely sharp eye for detail with exceptional business judgment and a knack for coming up with creative solutions–and being able to take a lead in helping implement them. This is a ‘roll-up your sleeves and get into it’ role among similar roles at Toptal.
- The ability to support and scale in a fast-growing company with a focus on execution.
- The ability to work in a fast-paced, rapidly growing company and handle a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a diverse array of contacts.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- You must be a world-class individual contributor to thrive at Toptal. You will not be here just to tell other people what to do.
Essential Job Functions
- Regularly and reliably attend scheduled virtual team meetings on camera.
- Work independently with minimal supervision.
- Use all required digital collaboration tools.
- Prioritize and self-manage workflows and deadlines.
US FLSA Classification: Full-Time/Exempt
The US-based salary range for this full-time position is $160,000 - $230,000 per year. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.
Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Please note that the US-based salary range does not include the value of Toptal’s benefit offerings. In the US, Toptal’s benefit offerings include participation in a 401(k) retirement plan; medical, dental, and vision health insurance plans; basic life insurance coverage and short-term and long-term disability coverage; access to flexible spending, dependent care, and health savings accounts; access to telehealth virtual doctors; an employee assistance program; and flexible paid time off.
