Senior Employment Counsel (Deputy Director)

Senior Employment Counsel Job Description

Location: New York NY

Experience: At least 7-10 years

Reports To: International Department LegalHead

Employment Type and Class: Full Time Exempt

Bar Admission: Must be admitted to the US Bar (New York strongly preferred)

Language: Mandarin proficiency highly desired

Industry Preference: Food & Beverage (F&B) experience strongly preferred particularly within quick-service restaurants (QSR) operations

Base Salary: $175000 - $210000

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Employment Counsel to join our international legal team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in labor and employment law including global mobility significant litigation government investigations and union/collective bargaining matters. Prior in-house counsel experience is strongly preferred along with the ability to navigate complex multi-jurisdictional employment issues in a fast-paced business environment. This role will carry a particular focus on wage-and-hour and Fair Workweek compliance within QSRoperations.

This role will be pivotal in advising employment compliance managing sensitive employee relations matters and representing the company in high-stakes disputes. The candidate must be a strategic thinker an effective communicator and comfortable working directly with executives HR and operations teams. This is an excellent opportunity to join an expanding international legal team and work in a fast-paced dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day counsel on a full spectrum of labor and employment matters including wage and hour compliance discrimination/harassment prevention workplace safety leaves of absence and employee discipline/termination.

• Lead compliance strategy for Fair Workweek and predictive scheduling laws applicable to quick-service restaurant (QSR) operations including scheduling notice and predictability pay requirements and franchisor/franchisee joint-employer risk.

• Provide legal guidance on international assignments permanent transfers short-term assignments and remote working arrangements across multiple jurisdictions.

• Represent the company in litigation arbitrations and administrative proceedings before federal state and local agencies (e.g. NLRB DOL state labor boards).

• Manage and respond to government investigations audits and enforcement actions.

• Advise on union-related matters including collective bargaining grievance handling and strategy for labor relations.

• Draft review and update employment agreements workplace policies and employee handbooks to ensure legal compliance and alignment with business objectives.

• Partner closely with HR Ops team and cross-functional stakeholders locally and globally to develop proactive risk mitigation strategies.

• Monitor and interpret developments in federal state and local labor and employment laws particularly in jurisdictions where the company operates.

• Support cross-border employment matters and coordinate with legal teams in other regions as needed.

Qualifications & Skills

• A law degree from an ABA-accredited law school.

• Qualification to practice law in at least one state in the United States (NY or CA is preferred).

• At least 7-10 years of labor and employment law experience with no less than 3 years in a top law firm including litigation and government investigation -house counsel experience strongly preferred. Flexibility may be applied to this qualification for exceptionally qualified candidates.

• Union and collective bargaining experience preferred.

• Industry experience in food & beverage retail or hospitality is strongly preferred particularly within quick-service restaurant (QSR) operations.

• Demonstrated experience advising on Fair Workweek and predictive scheduling ordinances (e.g. NYC Philadelphia Chicago Seattle Oregon) and QSR-specific wage-and-hour issues including tip credit meal and rest break compliance and joint-employer standards.

• Knowledge of corporate immigration employment law and tax implications related to mobility.

• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to think strategically make sound business-oriented legal judgments and provide practical legal solutions

• Strong negotiation skills and experience handling sensitive high-profile employment matters.

• Mandarin language proficiency strongly desired but not required.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex issues clearly to varied audiences.

• High level of professionalism and ethical standards.

• Strong team player and good business sense.

• Strategic thinker with integrity and spirit of entrepreneurship.

• Adaptable and quick to learn within a diverse fast-moving work environment.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Luckin Coffeeis an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race color religion sex national origin age disability genetic information sexual orientation gender identity or any other status protected by applicable federal state or local law.

Reasonable Accommodation

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process should contact to request one.

Required Experience:

Director