Employment Counsel

Employment Counsel

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies is a P&C subsidiary of National Indemnity Company, supported by 1,200 employees. BH GUARD writes small commercial insurance solutions including workers compensation, business owners policies, commercial auto, commercial umbrella, professional liability, and personal lines including homeowners/personal umbrella with a national footprint, distributing its products primarily through independent retail agents with over $2.2 Billion of in-force premium.  BH GUARD Insurance Companies are rated A+ (Excellent) by AMBest.

BH GUARD currently offers an excellent opportunity for an experienced Employment Counsel to guide our next stage of growth at Berkshire Hathaway Guard Insurance Companies. The position can be located in Wilkes-Barre, Philadelphia, or  Parsippany, NJ. 

The Employment Counsel will be an integral member of the GUARD Legal team, reporting to the General Counsel.  The Employment Counsel will provide legal advice to the Company on labor and employment related laws, regulations, rules and orders for the Company, with its headquarters in Wilkes-Barre, PA and employees across the country.  The successful candidate will provide day-to-day advice to assist in managing labor and employment risks, including terminations, wage & hour regulations, and responding to workplace complaints and investigations. 

• Provide practical day-to-day advice to the HR team, Company Executives and business partners on a broad range of employment topics, including recruiting, hiring, termination, wage and hour, best practices, performance management, discrimination, accommodations, leave, retaliation, employment health and safety, and other labor and employment related matters.
• Serve as the Company’s primary subject-matter expert for employment laws and disputes across the country.
• Negotiate and draft employment-related contracts, including any employment agreements and separation agreements.
• Investigate and respond to workplace complaints, including federal and local administrative complaints.
• Manage litigation related to employment matters and oversee and manage outside counsel.
• Draft and/or revise company HR policies and employee handbooks to conform with best practices and current industry standards across all US states.
• Collaborate with the HR team to generate and implement training on employment law topics.

• The candidate must possess a J.D. from an accredited law school and be a member in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar.
• The candidate must have at least 5 years of experience as an employment lawyer, ideally with legal experience gained from a combination of private practice and in-house roles.
• The position requires a confident and experienced attorney with a strong track record in managing a broad range of legal issues and interacting closely with business leaders, with the ability to act as the primary source of employment counsel for the Company.
• Strong working knowledge of employment laws, including discrimination and employee leave matters, under federal, state, and local laws.
• Strong oral and written communication skills are a must.
• Strong judgment, integrity, and diplomacy while addressing difficult interpersonal issues.
• Ability to work well with senior Human Resources and operating executives.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to relate comfortably at all levels within an organization, and with diverse personnel from a variety of cultures and backgrounds.