Title:  Corporate Counsel, Employment Litigation

Job Summary

West Pharmaceutical Services is seeking an experienced employment and litigation attorney to join its Governance, Securities & Employment/Litigation Center of Excellence in its global Legal department. This role will provide global legal support in employment law, labor matters, internal investigations, and litigation management.

The Corporate Counsel – Employment & Litigation will serve as a trusted advisor to our Human Resources team and senior leadership on employment-related risk, disputes, workplace investigations, and regulatory matters. The role will manage and oversee litigation, and pre-litigation matters globally and partner with outside counsel as appropriate. The position reports directly to the Senior Counsel & Assistant Corporate Secretary.

The role requires a pragmatic, business-oriented attorney with strong employment law expertise, meaningful litigation experience, sound judgment, and the ability to independently manage complex and sensitive matters in a fast-paced, highly regulated global environment. #LI-CT1

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Employment Law & Advisory

• Provide day-to-day legal advice to Human Resources and management on U.S. and global employment matters, including employee relations, discipline, terminations, reductions in force, reorganizations, disability and religious accommodations, wage and hour compliance, restrictive covenants, and workplace policies and procedures.

• Advise on employment-related legal risk in connection with strategic initiatives, restructurings, integrations, divestitures and acquisitions, and operational changes.

• Draft, review, and update employment-related agreements, policies, handbooks, separation and release agreements, and executive employment arrangements.

• Partner with Human Resources and Compliance to address escalations in sensitive internal investigations, including matters involving allegations of misconduct, harassment, retaliation, or Code of Conduct violations.

• Stay abreast of and ensure global compliance with evolving employment regulations and labor standards

Labor Relations & Union Avoidance Strategy

• Provide proactive legal counsel regarding labor relations strategy and compliance with the National Labor Relations ACT (NLRA), Works Council requirements and applicable global Labor laws.

• Advise leadership and Human Resources on lawful strategies to maintain a positive employee relations environment and minimize union organizing risk.

• Partner with Human Resources to develop and review communications, training materials, and management guidance related to union organizing activity to ensure legal compliance.

• Counsel management during union organizing campaigns, petitions, representation proceedings, and related NLRB matters.

• Lead strategy for responding to unfair labor practice charges and other labor-related agency proceedings.

• Support collective bargaining strategy, negotiations, CBA language, where applicable, and advise on contract interpretation and administration.

• Monitor labor law developments internationally and assess their impact on company policies and operations.

Litigation & Dispute Management

• Manage employment-related litigation and administrative agency proceedings (e.g., EEOC OSHA, DOL, IRS and other US and non-US government agency inquiries

• Oversee commercial and other corporate litigation matters as assigned.

• Develop case strategy in partnership with outside counsel and internal stakeholders.

• Direct outside counsel, including scope definition, budget management, and performance oversight.

• Evaluate litigation exposure and advise leadership on risk mitigation, settlement strategy, and reserves where appropriate.

• Support e-discovery strategy and document retention practices in collaboration with IT and outside counsel.

• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications

• Law degree and bar admittance or license to practice law in at least one US jurisdiction.
• Minimum of 10+ years of legal work experience with a minimum 5-8 preferably combining large law firm and in-house experience

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Preferred experience in pharmaceutical, medical device, biotech, or manufacturing industries.

• Preferred familiarity with regulated environments and operational business models.

• Demonstrated ability to embrace simplification of legal processes.

• Strong subject matter expertise in global employment law.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex litigation and partnering effectively with outside counsel.

• Ability to balance legal risk with business objectives and provide practical, solution-oriented guidance.

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and handle sensitive matters with discretion.

• Extensive experience advising multinational clients regarding matters of legal and business importance and managing of related risks.

• Strong analytical, negotiation, and strategic thinking skills

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• Sound judgment and ability to work independently on high-impact matters.

• Dependability, attention to detail with strong organizational and time management skills a must.

• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate effectively across functions and levels of leadership.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, matrixed global organization.

• Strong subject matter expertise in global employment law.

• Able to comply with the company’s safety and quality policy at all times.

Travel Requirements

Physical Requirements

Additional Requirements

• Must be able to communicate effectively with written and oral skills, make quick decisions, interpret data, read & write, speak in front of groups, express & exchange ideas, understand direction and adhere to procedures
• Organizational skills will enable planning, prioritization & achievement of goals especially of importance for the successful execution of related activities
• Position operates in a professional office environment. May stand or sit for extended periods of time
• This role is sedentary and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines
• Read and interpret data, information and documents
• Must maintain the ability to work well with others in a variety of situations
• Must be able to multi-task, work under time constraints, problem solve, and prioritize
• Ability to make independent and sound judgments
• Observe and interpret situations, analyze and solve problems