VP Assistant General Counsel - Litigation & Employment

VP Assistant General Counsel - Litigation & Employment $200,000-$230,000 Base Salary On-Site in Irvine, CA

A publicly traded company in the retail space is seeking a VP Assistant General Counsel - Litigation & Employment to join its in-house legal team. This role offers the opportunity to serve as a key advisor on employment and litigation matters while partnering closely with HR, business leaders, and outside counsel across a national organization.

The ideal candidate is a practical, business-minded attorney with strong California employment law experience, prior in-house experience, and a track record of managing litigation strategy and outside counsel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee employment and litigation matters across the organization
• Manage outside counsel, including strategy, budgets, staffing, and spend
• Handle employment-related disputes, including wage and hour claims, PAGA matters, class actions, EEOC charges, and single-plaintiff cases
• Advise HR and business leaders on California employment law, employee relations, workplace investigations, performance management, and terminations
• Support reductions in force, restructurings, and other sensitive employment matters
• Draft, review, and update employee handbooks, policies, and employment-related documents
• Manage litigation-related data collection, document preservation, and internal fact gathering
• Evaluate settlement opportunities and litigation exposure
• Handle pre-litigation disputes and related employment matters
• Manage small claims matters as appropriate
• Participate in additional strategic legal projects as opportunities arise

Why Join?

• Family-friendly culture with strong work-life balance
• Flexible, results-oriented environment
• Stable legal team with low turnover
• Collaborative and supportive leadership
• Track record of internal growth and advancement
• Exposure to a wide variety of legal and business issues
• Forward-thinking organization leveraging AI and emerging technologies

Compensation & Benefits

• Base salary: $200,000-$230,000
• Bonus opportunity
• Equity opportunity
• Comprehensive benefits package
• 401(k)
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• PTO and paid holidays

Requirements

• Prior in-house attorney experience
• Significant California employment law experience
• Strong litigation background and experience managing outside counsel
• Experience overseeing litigation budgets and legal spend
• Active bar license in good standing in any U.S. jurisdiction
• California Bar admission not required

Preferred Experience

• Retail, consumer products, or similar industry experience