Senior Counsel, Employment & Litigation

At Serve Robotics, we’re reimagining how things move in cities. Our personable sidewalk robot is our vision for the future. It’s designed to take deliveries away from congested streets, make deliveries available to more people, and benefit local businesses. The Serve fleet has been delighting merchants, customers, and pedestrians along the way in Los Angeles, Miami, Dallas, Atlanta and Chicago while doing commercial deliveries. We’re looking for talented individuals who will grow robotic deliveries from surprising novelty to efficient ubiquity. Who We Are We are tech industry veterans in software, hardware, and design who are pooling our skills to build the future we want to live in. We are solving real-world problems leveraging robotics, machine learning and computer vision, among other disciplines, with a mindful eye towards the end-to-end user experience. Our team is agile, diverse, and driven. We believe that the best way to solve complicated dynamic problems is collaboratively and respectfully. The Senior Counsel, Employment & Litigation serves as a strategic legal partner to the business, providing day-to-day employment law guidance and managing litigation matters for Serve. This role requires deep expertise in California employment law, including wage and hour requirements, and the ability to manage non-employment litigation and dispute resolution matters. This position reports to the General Counsel and operates with a high degree of autonomy in a fast-paced environment. JOB DUTIES Manage all phases of employment-related litigation, including wage and hour class actions, PAGA representative actions, wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims, from pre-litigation assessment through trial or resolution. Provide day-to-day employment law counsel to the Human Resources department on a wide range of employment law matters, including hiring, performance management, discipline, terminations, compensation, and workplace conduct. Draft, review, and update employment policies, handbooks, offer letters, separation agreements, and other employment-related documents to maintain compliance with California law and emerging regulatory requirements. Manage and direct outside counsel retained for employment and litigation matters. Lead or oversee internal workplace investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, policy violations, and other employee misconduct, and prepare written investigation reports and recommendations. Manage the company’s response to administrative charges and complaints filed with the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the California Labor Commissioner, and other federal and state agencies. Develop and deliver training programs for HR professionals, managers, and senior leadership on employment law topics, including anti-harassment, anti-discrimination, wage and hour compliance, and leave administration. Represent the company in mediations, arbitrations, and other alternative dispute resolution proceedings, including preparation of mediation briefs, settlement analyses, and negotiation of resolution terms. EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS, & SKILLS Required Experience, Qualifications, and Skills Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California. A minimum of seven (8) years of employment law experience, with a significant focus on California employment law, gained through a combination of law firm practice and in-house counsel roles. Demonstrated litigation experience, including management of cases through all phases of litigation, motion practice, written discovery, depositions, mediations, and trial preparation. Deep substantive knowledge of California-specific employment statutes and regulations and applicable federal employment laws. Experience counseling business clients on employee relations matters, including performance management, discipline, terminations, workplace investigations, and accommodation processes. Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to distill complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, exercise sound judgment, manage competing priorities, and handle a high volume of matters in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Experience, Qualifications, and Skills Ten (10) or more years of employment law experience, including at least three (3) years in an in-house counsel role. Experience handling PAGA representative actions and California wage and hour class action litigation. Familiarity with employment law requirements across multiple U.S. states and Canadian provinces, with the ability to identify and manage multi-jurisdictional compliance obligations. Additional Information This position is remote and open to candidates located anywhere in the United States; however, given the California-centric nature of the role, availability during Pacific Time business hours is expected. Occasional travel may be required for depositions, mediations, trials, or company meetings. #J-18808-Ljbffr