Counsel, Labor & Emp. Law, Contracts

This role will provide strategic and practical legal counsel to the Company’s Human Resources professionals and business executives regarding labor relations matters, employment and benefits laws and support the overall employment legal group, as well as negotiate and draft employment agreements with executives and on- and off-air News and Sports talent.  This will be a key role as we build the Labor & Employment group for a newly formed media company, Versant Media.  Job Duties Advise and counsel senior management and Human Resources in varied business units with respect to all aspects of labor relations and collective bargaining negotiations, employment laws (including employment policies, worker classification, discrimination and harassment claims, disability accommodations, and family and medical leave laws, wage-and-hour laws, and pay equity) Interpret collective bargaining agreements, respond to union inquiries, grievances and disputesOversee, conduct and provide counsel on internal investigations of employment-related and other types of complaints, ensuring that claims are addressed promptly, thoroughly and appropriately Draft and negotiate executive and talent employment contracts Represent Versant, in collaboration with outside counsel as appropriate, with respect to labor and employment claims, as well as the labor and employment-related aspects of business acquisitions and dispositions Draft mediation briefs, settlement and separation agreements, as well as federal, state and local agency position statements and responses Create and deliver training on timely employment law topics to management, Human Resources and business lawyers Stay current on developments in labor relations, employment and employee benefits law, and restrictive covenants, including legislative and regulatory changes.