# Employment Counsel

**Company:** [Datadog](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/datadog)
**Location:** New York, NY
**Role:** Legal
**Salary:** $171k – $228k/yr
**Experience:** 4+ years
**Skills:** employment law, u.s. employment regulations, drafting employment agreements, Employee Relations, investigations, Performance Management, wage and hour compliance, mergers and acquisitions, legal risk assessment
**Posted:** 2026-07-23

> Serve as a trusted advisor to the People team and business leaders on U.S. employment law matters including hiring, performance, terminations, investigations, and compliance. Draft employment documents, support M&A activities, and help implement compliant practices in a hybrid tech environment.

## Job Description

## What You'll Do

- Advise the People team and business leaders on a broad range of U.S. employment law matters, including recruiting, hiring, performance management, accommodations, leaves of absence, employee relations, investigations, compensation, terminations, restrictive covenants, and wage and hour compliance.
- Draft, review, and provide legal guidance on employment-related documents, including offer letters, contractor agreements, separation agreements, and employment policies.
- Partner cross-functionally with Legal, People, and business stakeholders to develop compliant employment practices and support strategic company initiatives.
- Provide employment law support throughout mergers, acquisitions, and post-close integration activities.
- Assess legal risk, recommend practical business solutions, and support decision-making on complex workforce matters.
- Monitor changes in employment laws and regulations and help implement policies and processes that promote ongoing compliance.

## Who You Are

- J.D. from an accredited law school and an active member in good standing of a U.S. state bar (New York preferred).
- At least 4 years of experience practicing U.S. employment law, with prior in-house experience preferred.
- Able to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice while balancing legal risk with organizational objectives.
- An effective communicator who builds trusted relationships across Legal, People, and business teams and exercises sound judgment in ambiguous situations.
- Organized, collaborative, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- International employment law, immigration, mobility, or multinational company experience is a plus.

## Similar roles

- [Legal Counsel](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/3608bd20-21ec-4224-ac17-8db4085e53f8) - Betterment - New York, NY - $170k – $185k/yr
- [Commercial and Product Counsel](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/02389224-d68c-4209-b38e-a91fa2dffa56) - Givebutter - Remote - $170k – $185k/yr
- [Legal Counsel - Litigation & Regulatory](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/87bd7c43-8ea3-4772-9818-26cee96987fc) - Betterment - New York, NY - $170k – $185k/yr
- [Corporate Counsel, Telecommunications & Regulatory](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/922a1b6b-4308-4c79-aa35-27dbb13a99aa) - Dialpad - San Ramon, CA - $169k – $214k/yr
- [Counsel, Product & Regulatory](https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/b6fb0fde-bbb4-4d35-b2be-652db1095858) - Mercury - Remote - $168k – $210k/yr

**Apply:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/a23b2745-81a3-4326-b736-5bf584c61e00
**Canonical:** https://hotfix.jobs/jobs/a23b2745-81a3-4326-b736-5bf584c61e00