Senior Employment Attorney

About the Firm

This is a confidential search. The hiring firm is a New York-based full-service boutique law firm that has been delivering responsive, high-quality legal services to sophisticated business clients since 1995. It is one of the only boutique law firms ranked Top 10 globally in Venture Capital transactions by Pitchbook — sitting alongside global firms many times its size, in a 77-person entrepreneurial environment.

The firm's capabilities span venture capital and private equity financings, fund formation, mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings and capital markets, real estate and hospitality, maritime and commercial litigation, intellectual property, executive compensation, and international taxation. Its mission: blend sound legal advice with practical, efficient business solutions.

About the Role

The firm is looking to add a Senior Employment Attorney to help lead and grow its employment practice. This is a high-autonomy, high-upside opportunity for an entrepreneurially minded attorney who wants to build a practice — not just service one.

You will join a highly profitable, debt-free platform with a 1,600 billable hour target (significantly below Big Law), generous origination sharing, and a clear, merit-based path to partnership. The firm explicitly allocates time beyond the billable target for business development.

What You'll Do

●       Advise companies and C-suite executives on employment matters, separation negotiations, and equity incentive issues

●       Counsel clients on restrictive covenants, non-competes, and employment issues across multiple US jurisdictions — with particular depth in New York and California

●       Support employment-related matters arising from the firm's venture capital and emerging company practice

●       Draft and revise employment agreements, separation agreements, offer letters, demand letters, and restrictive covenant agreements

●       Handle employment litigation in state and federal courts, agency proceedings, arbitrations, and mediations as needed

●       Develop and grow your own client base with the firm's marketing resources, brand, and origination structure behind you

Qualifications & Requirements

Experience

●       10–25 years of experience practicing employment and labor law

●       Demonstrated experience advising C-suite executives and companies on separations, restrictive covenants, and employment agreements

●       Employment litigation experience in New York state and federal courts, arbitrations, and mediations

●       Background with employment issues in a venture-backed or emerging company context (e.g., firms such as Fenwick, Cooley, Gunderson, or similar VC-focused practices) is a strong plus

●       Some portable book of business strongly preferred — ideal range $750K–$1M; minimum acceptable threshold $300K–$400K; exceptional candidates with demonstrated business development potential but no existing book will be considered

Technical / Legal Skills

●       Deep knowledge of New York and California employment and labor law, including non-competes and restrictive covenant frameworks

●       Expertise in drafting employment agreements, separation agreements, offer letters, and restrictive covenant agreements

●       Experience handling equity incentive issues in the context of separation negotiations

●       Ability to manage matters across multiple US jurisdictions independently

Education & Bar Admission

●       JD from a reputable law school

●       Admitted to and in good standing with the New York State Bar — required

Soft Skills & Mindset

●       Entrepreneurial mindset — motivated to develop and grow your own client base, not simply service existing work

●       Stable tenure history with clear rationale for any lateral moves

●       Based in or near New York City; able to work in-office approximately 3 days per week

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

✓  Top 10 globally in VC transactions (Pitchbook) — the credibility of a global firm in a 77-person, partner-led boutique where your voice matters

✓  1,600 billable hour target — significantly below Big Law, with time explicitly set aside for business development and practice growth

✓  Billable rates ~30% lower than competing firms — makes it substantially easier to retain and expand your client base without constant fee pressure

✓  Generous origination sharing — base of $250K–$300K with meaningful upside on originations, well above the 5–10% structures typical at larger firms; marketing dollars actively deployed behind you

✓  True partnership — one partner, one vote; debt-free firm; premium office space in the Lipstick Building (Midtown East, NYC); transparent and merit-based path to partnership

✓  Entrepreneurial platform — you are building something, not being handed a seat at a table. The firm provides support, brand, and infrastructure; the practice is yours to grow

Role Details at a Glance

Salary

$250,000 – $300,000 base + origination upside

Equity

N/A

Work Policy

Hybrid — approximately 3 days in-office (some partners work 2 days)

Location

Lipstick Building, Midtown East, New York, NY

Experience

10–25 years in employment / labor law

Visa Sponsorship

Not available — US work authorization required

Headcount

1 hire

Billable Target

1,600 hours per year

Bar Requirement

Active New York State Bar admission required

Confidential Job Description  —  Client Name Withheld  │  For External Distribution