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GitLab is seeking a Lead Legal Counsel for Employment (EMEA) to serve as a senior legal advisor on all employment-related matters across the organization's globally distributed, all-remote workforce. This role is remote and based in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
You will independently lead complex employment-law matters spanning the full employment lifecycle—from recruiting and onboarding through compensation, performance management, leave, separation, and litigation. You'll provide practical, business-focused guidance that balances legal risk with business objectives while supporting GitLab's values.
Key responsibilities include:
- Advising senior stakeholders and cross-functional partners (People Business Partners, Team Member Relations, business leaders) on employment-law matters, including recruiting, compensation, performance management, organizational changes, and separations.
- Drafting, reviewing, and maintaining employment agreements, separation agreements, policies, and templates across multiple EMEA jurisdictions.
- Managing employment compliance across EMEA, identifying when local counsel is needed, and coordinating external legal resources.
- Monitoring employment, privacy, and related legal developments; identifying risks; and translating them into actionable guidance.
- Advising on employment-law and privacy implications of team-member data, including GDPR compliance.
- Supporting employment litigation, tribunal appeals, agency investigations, and employment disputes.
- Developing and improving scalable employment-law processes, playbooks, and documentation for the Legal and People teams.
- Mentoring junior legal colleagues and contributing to knowledge-sharing and training programs.
- Working asynchronously in a transparent, distributed environment using GitLab's tools.
Required qualifications include substantial multinational employment-law experience, a JD/LLB or equivalent, and admission to an applicable EMEA governing body. Deep knowledge of EMEA employment compliance, works councils, and cross-jurisdictional employment matters is essential.
