Associate Corporate Legal Counsel

Duties & Responsibilities

• Legal Advisory: Provide expert legal advice and guidance on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including employee discipline, termination, wage and hour issues, benefits, and workplace policies.
• Case Management: Manage all labor-related cases, from internal disciplinary processes to external litigation. This includes representing the company in mandatory arbitration at the DOLE SENA level and litigation at the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC).
• Compliance and Policy: Ensure all company policies and procedures are in full compliance with the Philippine Labor Code, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) regulations, and other statutory requirements.
• Documentation and Agreements: Draft and review all employment-related documents, including employment contracts, regularization notices, employee handbooks, and mutual separation agreements.
• Training and Development: Develop and conduct training sessions for management and HR on best practices in labor relations, legal compliance, and effective disciplinary procedures.
• Internal Investigations: Conduct and oversee internal investigations into employee misconduct, harassment, or other workplace issues.
  
  

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to articulate complex legal issues to non-legal stakeholders.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple cases and projects simultaneously.
• Mentoring and coaching of junior attorneys and paralegals
  
  

• Philippine Labor Code: A comprehensive knowledge of all provisions, including employee rights, wages, benefits, and working conditions.
• Case Law and Jurisprudence: An up-to-date understanding of landmark decisions from the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) and the Supreme Court that set legal precedents.
• Disciplinary Process: The ability to design and oversee a legally compliant internal disciplinary process, from issuing a Notice to Explain (NTE) to conducting hearings.
• Termination: Expertise in the legal grounds and procedures for both just and authorized causes of termination to avoid claims of illegal dismissal.
• Labor Disputes: Proven experience in handling cases before DOLE and NLRC.
  
  

• Risk Management: Proactively identify and assess potential labor-related risks. They should be able to provide practical, business-oriented solutions to mitigate these risks.
• Conflict Resolution: Strong negotiation and mediation skills to resolve disputes amicably and efficiently, avoiding costly and time-consuming litigation whenever possible.
• Policy Development: The ability to draft clear, concise, and legally compliant policies, handbooks, and contracts that protect the companys interests while also being fair to employees.
• Business Partnership: The capacity to work closely with HR, management, and other departments. They should be able to translate legal concepts into actionable business strategies and be seen as a trusted advisor, not a roadblock.
  
  

• Clarity and Simplicity: The ability to explain complex legal concepts in plain language to non-legal stakeholders.
• Confidentiality and Discretion: A high level of integrity and the ability to handle confidential information with the utmost discretion.
• Empathy and Objectivity: The skill to approach emotionally charged situations with empathy for all parties while remaining objective and focused on legal and business principles.
• Persuasive Communication: The ability to advocate effectively for the companys position in negotiations and formal proceedings.
  
  

• Admission to the Philippine Bar is a requirement.
• At least 5 years of experience in labor and employment law, preferably with a mix of law firm and in-house experience.
• Demonstrable experience in handling labor litigation before the NLRC and other quasi-judicial bodies.
• Strong knowledge of the Philippine Labor Code and related jurisprudence.