Employment Attorney

Austin, TX (Preferred) | Dallas, TX (Considered)
$180,000–$225,000 Base Salary + Competitive Equity | Full-Time | On-site

Global Placement Firm is conducting a confidential search for an experienced Senior Employment Attorney to join a growing, highly regarded boutique law firm in Texas.

This is an exceptional opportunity for an attorney with 7+ years of employment law experience who is interested in advising startups, venture-backed companies, private equity-backed businesses, and corporate clients on sophisticated employment matters.

The ideal candidate brings substantial law firm experience, strong knowledge of employment law in mergers and acquisitions, and the ability to independently manage client relationships and complex legal matters.

This newly created position offers meaningful autonomy, direct collaboration with an equity partner, and a professional environment that emphasizes high-quality legal work, collaboration, and work-life balance.

Position Overview

As a Senior Employment Attorney, you will serve as a trusted legal advisor to a diverse portfolio of corporate clients, providing strategic guidance across employment law, workforce compliance, employment agreements, restrictive covenants, and M&A transactions.

You will work directly with an equity partner while maintaining significant independence in managing matters and advising clients.

The position combines sophisticated employment counseling, transactional support, client relationship management, and opportunities to contribute to the continued growth of the firm's employment practice.

This opportunity is particularly well suited for an experienced attorney seeking greater autonomy, meaningful client interaction, and a long-term opportunity within a growing boutique firm.

Key Responsibilities

Employment Law Counseling & Advisory

• Serve as primary or supporting counsel on complex employment law matters.
• Advise startups, venture-backed companies, private equity-backed businesses, executives, and corporate clients on employment-related legal issues.
• Provide practical legal guidance regarding hiring practices, employee separations, workforce policies, and employment compliance.
• Counsel clients on federal, Texas, and multi-state employment laws and regulatory requirements.
• Advise on employee classification, wage and hour considerations, workplace policies, and other employment compliance matters.
• Develop proactive legal strategies that help clients manage employment-related risks.

Employment Agreements & Restrictive Covenants

• Draft, review, negotiate, and revise employment agreements and executive employment contracts.
• Prepare severance agreements, separation agreements, confidentiality provisions, and restrictive covenants.
• Advise clients on non-compete, non-solicitation, and confidentiality obligations.
• Draft and negotiate employment-related equity compensation documentation.
• Counsel clients on the enforceability and application of restrictive covenants across multiple jurisdictions.
• Handle restrictive covenant enforcement matters and related disputes.

Mergers & Acquisitions / Transactional Support

• Conduct employment law due diligence for mergers, acquisitions, financings, and other corporate transactions.
• Review employment agreements, compensation arrangements, employee classifications, and benefits obligations.
• Identify employment-related liabilities and compliance risks during transactions.
• Advise clients on workforce transitions, employee retention, and post-acquisition integration considerations.
• Collaborate with corporate and transactional attorneys on employment-related aspects of M&A transactions.
• Provide strategic recommendations addressing employment risks associated with business acquisitions and restructurings.

Employment Disputes & Workplace Investigations

• Conduct or oversee internal workplace investigations involving employee complaints and workplace conduct.
• Advise clients on employment disputes and risk mitigation strategies.
• Manage responses to administrative charges and inquiries involving the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Labor (DOL), and state agencies.
• Provide guidance on dispute resolution, regulatory responses, and employment-related enforcement matters.
• Coordinate with litigation counsel when necessary.

Client Relationship Management & Practice Development

• Independently manage a portfolio of employment law clients.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to business owners, executives, founders, and corporate leadership teams.
• Develop long-term client relationships through responsive, commercially practical legal advice.
• Collaborate with partners and attorneys across practice groups.
• Mentor junior attorneys and provide substantive guidance on employment matters.
• Identify opportunities for cross-practice collaboration and additional client services.
• Contribute to business development, client origination, and the continued expansion of the firm's employment practice.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of substantive employment law experience.
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active Texas Bar membership, in good standing.
• Prior employment law experience practicing at a law firm; candidates with exclusively in-house or corporate legal experience do not meet this requirement.
• Strong knowledge of federal and state employment laws, including multi-state workforce compliance.
• Demonstrated experience advising on employment matters related to mergers and acquisitions.
• Experience with employment due diligence, employee transitions, restrictive covenants, and employment-related transactional risks.
• Strong experience drafting and negotiating employment agreements, severance agreements, and restrictive covenants.
• Ability to independently manage legal matters and maintain direct client relationships.
• Excellent legal research, drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Strong business judgment and ability to deliver commercially practical legal advice.
• Excellent communication, organization, and client-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex matters with minimal partner oversight.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience advising venture-backed startups, emerging growth companies, private equity-backed businesses, or technology companies.
• Experience supporting corporate M&A transactions and related employment diligence.
• Background at a respected boutique, regional, or national law firm.
• Experience advising on executive compensation and equity-related employment matters.
• Experience managing EEOC, DOL, and state agency employment matters.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations.
• Experience enforcing or defending restrictive covenant matters.
• Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining independent client relationships.
• Experience mentoring junior attorneys.
• Existing professional relationships or business development experience within the Texas legal market.
• Familiarity with the legal and operational challenges faced by growing companies.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a business-minded employment attorney who combines sophisticated legal knowledge with strong client relationship skills and the ability to work independently.

You should be comfortable advising founders, executives, and corporate leadership teams on sensitive employment matters while balancing legal requirements with practical business considerations.

This opportunity is particularly well suited for an attorney who wants to move beyond a highly structured law firm environment into a position offering greater ownership, direct client interaction, and close collaboration with experienced firm leadership.

We're Looking For Someone Who:

• Has substantial employment law experience gained within a law firm.
• Understands the employment law considerations involved in M&A transactions.
• Can independently manage complex legal matters and client relationships.
• Is confident advising founders, executives, and business owners.
• Provides proactive, practical, and commercially sound legal counsel.
• Has strong drafting and negotiation capabilities.
• Works effectively with corporate and transactional attorneys.
• Enjoys mentoring and collaborating with other legal professionals.
• Demonstrates excellent professional judgment and client service.
• Values autonomy, accountability, and high-quality legal work.
• Is interested in contributing to the long-term growth of a boutique law firm.

Work Environment & Firm Culture

This opportunity is with a growing Texas boutique law firm that emphasizes professional autonomy, collaborative relationships, high-quality client service, and work-life balance.

The successful candidate will work directly alongside an equity partner while maintaining meaningful responsibility for client matters.

Unlike highly layered legal environments, this position provides direct access to firm leadership, opportunities to influence practice development, and substantial independence in day-to-day legal work.

The firm seeks an attorney who values both sophisticated legal practice and a sustainable professional environment.

Compensation & Position Details

Base Salary: $180,000–$225,000 annually

Equity: Competitive equity opportunity; specific terms to be discussed during the recruitment process.

Employment Type: Full-Time

Primary Location: Austin, Texas

Alternative Location: Dallas, Texas

Work Arrangement: On-site

Initial In-Office Requirement: 4 days per week

After Ramp-Up: Approximately 3 days per week in-office, subject to firm arrangements

Open Positions: 1

Visa Sponsorship: Not available. Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Why Join

This is an opportunity to join a growing boutique law firm where experienced attorneys are trusted to manage sophisticated legal matters, build client relationships, and contribute meaningfully to the firm's success.

Key advantages include:

• Competitive Compensation: $180,000–$225,000 base salary plus a competitive equity opportunity.
• Significant Autonomy: Independently manage client matters with limited partner oversight.
• Direct Partner Collaboration: Work closely with an equity partner and experienced legal professionals.
• Sophisticated Client Portfolio: Advise startups, venture-backed companies, private equity-backed businesses, and corporate clients.
• M&A Exposure: Work on employment law matters associated with mergers, acquisitions, financings, and corporate transactions.
• Client Ownership: Build meaningful relationships with founders, executives, and business leaders.
• Practice Development: Contribute to client origination, cross-selling, mentoring, and practice growth.
• Work-Life Balance: Join a firm that emphasizes a sustainable and collaborative professional culture.
• Hybrid Flexibility: Transition to approximately three in-office days per week following the initial ramp-up period.
• Professional Growth: Take on a visible role within a growing employment law practice.

Candidate Considerations

This opportunity requires an experienced employment attorney who can contribute immediately and independently manage substantive legal responsibilities.

Candidates whose employment law experience has been exclusively in-house without prior law firm practice will not meet the minimum qualifications.

The firm is particularly interested in attorneys who have demonstrated experience with employment law in the context of mergers and acquisitions, including employment due diligence, workforce transitions, restrictive covenants, and multi-state compliance.

Candidates should also be comfortable working directly with clients, managing a portfolio of matters, and collaborating with an equity partner while exercising substantial professional autonomy.

Austin-based candidates are preferred, although qualified attorneys located in Dallas will also be considered.

Confidential Search

This position is being presented by Global Placement Firm on behalf of a confidential boutique law firm client in Texas.

Additional information regarding the firm, practice group, leadership team, and opportunity will be shared with qualified candidates during the recruitment process.