JLL supports the Whole You, personally and professionally.
Our people at JLL are shaping the future of real estate for a better world by combining world class services, advisory and technology to our clients. We are committed to hiring the best, most talented people in our industry; and we support them through professional growth, flexibility, and personalized benefits to manage life in and outside of work. Whether you’ve got deep experience in commercial real estate, skilled trades, and technology, or you’re looking to apply your relevant experience to a new industry, we empower you to shape a brighter way forward so you can thrive professionally and personally.
Role Overview
JLL is seeking an experienced employment law solicitor to serve as UKI Labour and Employment Counsel. This Counsel position plays a critical role in supporting JLL's UK operations by providing sophisticated legal counsel on complex employment and labour law matters across the UK.
The successful candidate will work collaboratively within our employment law team while independently managing a diverse portfolio of employment and labour relations matters.
The role requires a strategic legal professional who can provide practical counsel to business leaders, ensure compliance with evolving UK employment legislation, and effectively manage complex employment disputes and trade union relations.
This position offers significant growth opportunities within JLL's dynamic legal department and the chance to impact employment practices across a leading global organisation's UK operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Legal Counsel & Compliance
Provide day-to-day legal guidance to HR, ER colleagues, UK Legal, and business leaders on technical employment legal matters and UK employment legislation interpretation
Provide comprehensive guidance on UK wage and hour matters, including Working Time Regulations 1998 compliance, holiday pay calculations, and minimum wage obligations
Create a comprehensive framework for compliance with relevant portions of UK Employment legislation
Monitor and ensure compliance with the Employment Rights Act 1996, including unfair dismissal, redundancy procedures, and statutory employment rights
Advise on equality and discrimination matters under the Equality Act 2010, including reasonable adjustments, harassment, and protected characteristics
Draft, review, and revise employment agreements, contracts of employment, restrictive covenants, settlement agreements, and consultancy arrangements compliant with UK law
Collaborate with legal and HR COEs on periodical and ad hoc reviews of template employment contracts, offer letters, confidentiality agreements, and contractor arrangements for legal compliance and validity
Provide guidance on UK Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR compliance in employment contexts, including employee monitoring and data processing
Collaborate with Data Privacy team to advise on ER cases involving lawful disclosure of employee records, privacy rights, retention periods, and GDPR compliance from an employment law perspective
Review and update HR/ER policies (sexual harassment, disciplinary, grievance, redundancy, equal opportunities, whistleblowing, etc.) to ensure alignment with current legal standards
Advise on statutory leave entitlements, including maternity, paternity, shared parental leave, and flexible working rights
Monitor and coordinate preparations for legislative and regulatory changes, analysing and reporting on changes to UK employment law and related HR regulations
Labour Law & Trade Union Relations
Manage trade union recognition procedures under the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992
Provide strategic advice on collective bargaining negotiations and industrial relations matters
Handle collective consultation obligations, including redundancy consultations and TUPE transfers
Advise on strike action, industrial disputes, and picketing regulations
Support management of works councils and employee representative bodies
Coordinate responses to trade union correspondence and formal industrial action notices
Provide guidance on union membership rights and trade union activities in the workplace
Provide central coordination and management of large-scale redundancy processes, TUPE, and organisational change with legal oversight
Strategic Business Support & Regulatory Compliance
Provide legal advice to support Culture and Employee Experience initiatives whilst ensuring UK regulatory compliance
Advise on IR35 and off-payroll working regulations for contractor arrangements
Review commercial contracts and provide employment-related guidance, particularly regarding TUPE implications
Handle employment aspects of business transfers, mergers, and acquisitions under TUPE Regulations 2006
Support cross-border or multi-jurisdictional employment matters by advising on UK-specific aspects of global policies or harmonisation workstreams
Employment Tribunal Proceedings & External Counsel Management
Act as internal point of contact for correspondence with employees' or ex-employees' solicitors in dispute resolution, early conciliation, mediation, or pre-litigation negotiation processes
Coordinate responses to solicitor-represented employment proceedings and Employment Tribunal claims
Manage early conciliation and settlement processes, including via ACAS, coordinating internal information gathering and liaising with ACAS during formal processes
Draft or review settlement terms (COT3s, settlement agreements) and advise on risk, precedent, and cost-benefit outcomes
Draft and negotiate settlement agreements directly with claimants' solicitors
Conduct factual and legal analysis of potential claims, drafting internal position advice notes and advising on merits and remedies
Collaborate with UK Litigation and support case preparations, collating witness evidence, drafting timelines and bundles, liaising with external counsel
Manage relationships with external solicitors handling ET claims, reviewing pleadings and advice, centrally tracking and reporting on cases
Oversee ACAS early conciliation processes and settlement negotiations
Handle Employment Appeal Tribunal matters and judicial review proceedings where employment rights are concerned
Manage relationships with regulatory bodies including the Equality and Human Rights Commission
Coordinate responses to investigations by HMRC, HSE, and other relevant UK authorities
Litigation & Risk Management
Provide legal guidance on ER investigations involving potential legal claims (e.g., discrimination, whistleblowing, breach of contract), ensuring procedural fairness and defensibility
Advise on internal investigations of potential ethics and compliance violations, misconduct, and criminal conduct matters, including grievance procedures, disciplinary matters, and whistleblowing concerns
Advise on legal privilege and disclosure reviews in contentious cases and during employment disputes
Manage employment-related aspects of regulatory investigations and enforcement actions
Provide guidance on performance management, capability procedures, and fair dismissal processes
Handle complex termination matters including senior executive departures and compromise agreements
Assess and summarise trends in employee disputes or claims, preparing reports for senior HR, Legal stakeholders and UK ExecCo members
Assess and mitigate employment-related risks across UK business operations
Operational Excellence
Collaborate with Human Resources and Culture and Employee Experience teams to align legal requirements with business objectives
Work within the employment law team structure while maintaining independent judgment on complex matters
Run briefing sessions for HR and ER colleagues and management on policy updates and legal compliance
Develop and deliver workshops or written guidance for HR/ER colleagues and senior stakeholders on employment law updates, managing risk, and defensible decision-making
Ensure UK employment practices align with corporate values whilst maintaining legal compliance
Provide strategic input on UK workforce planning and restructuring initiatives
Core Competencies:
Collaborative Leadership: Ability to work effectively within a team environment while managing independent responsibilities
Business Acumen: Understanding of how employment law intersects with business operations and strategic objectives
UK Legal Expertise: Deep knowledge of UK employment and labour law, including recent legislative developments and case law
Risk Assessment: Sophisticated ability to identify, assess, and mitigate employment-related risks
Communication Excellence: Proven ability to present complex legal issues to diverse audiences including HR professionals and business leaders
Stakeholder Management: Experience managing relationships with trade unions, regulatory bodies, and external legal counsel
Continuous Learning: Commitment to staying current on evolving employment law developments
Reporting Structure & Organisational Context
This position reports directly to the Global Head of Labor and Employment Law and works collaboratively with regional Human Resources and Culture and Employee Experience teams. The role includes coordination with other legal team members and external counsel as needed to support JLL's comprehensive employment law strategy.
The right candidate can be based at any location across our regional office network.
If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements below. We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!
Personalized benefits that support personal well-being and growth:
JLL recognizes the impact that the workplace can have on your wellness, so we offer a supportive culture and comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes mental, physical and emotional health.
About JLL –
We’re JLL—a leading professional services and investment management firm specializing in real estate. We have operations in over 80 countries and a workforce of over 102,000 individuals around the world who help real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. As a global Fortune 500 company, we also have an inherent responsibility to drive sustainability and corporate social responsibility. That’s why we’re committed to our purpose to shape the future of real estate for a better world. We’re using the most advanced technology to create rewarding opportunities, amazing spaces and sustainable real estate solutions for our clients, our people, and our communities.
Our core values of teamwork, ethics and excellence are also fundamental to everything we do and we’re honored to be recognized with awards for our success by organizations both globally and locally.
Creating a diverse and inclusive culture where we all feel welcomed, valued and empowered to achieve our full potential is important to who we are today and where we’re headed in the future. And we know that unique backgrounds, experiences and perspectives help us think bigger, spark innovation and succeed together.
