Counsel, Employment - International (Hybrid) at OpenTable in London

Job description

Location : London, UK (Hybrid Position, in office 2 days per week) With millions of diners, 70,000+ restaurant partners and 25+ years of experience, OpenTable, part of Booking Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKNG), is an industry leader with a passion for helping restaurants thrive. Our world-class technology empowers restaurants to focus on what matters most – their team, their guests, and their bottom line – while enabling diners to discover and book the perfect restaurant for every occasion. Every employee at OpenTable has a tangible impact on what we do and how we do it. You’ll also be part of a global team and its portfolio of metasearch brands. Hospitality is all about taking care of others, and it defines our culture. About the Role As Counsel, Employment - International, you will serve as a strategic legal advisor providing business-focused employment law guidance across EMEA and APAC, . Reporting into the US-headquartered global Legal team, you will independently own all EMEA + APAC employment matters, acting as a trusted advisor to the People & Culture team and senior business leadership to support international expansion while proactively managing risk across the full employee lifecycle. Key Responsibilities Lifecycle Guidance : Advise on recruiting, compensation, performance management, leaves, and terminations across EMEA + APAC. Lead and advise on sensitive workplace investigations and complex employee relations matters. Works Councils & Labor Relations : Lead strategies and engagements for works councils, employee consultation processes, and employee representation bodies across European jurisdictions. Cross-Border Initiatives & Workforce Change : Counsel on workforce change management, structural consultations, reorganizations, restructurings, global mobility, Employer of Record (EOR) models, contingent workforce compliance, and M&A due diligence/integration. Contract, Policy, & Privacy Frameworks : Draft, maintain, and localize employment agreements, separation packages, handbooks, and compliance policies, while overseeing workforce privacy and employee data compliance in close partnership with the Privacy team. Multi-Jurisdictional Oversight & Local Counsel Management: Coordinate multi-jurisdictional legal advice across international regions and manage outside local counsel where needed, ensuring effective risk mitigation. Dispute & Litigation Management : Resolve employment disputes, direct litigation strategy, agency investigations, and employment tribunal claims. AI & Operational Scaling : Leverage AI-powered tools to streamline multi-jurisdiction legal research, drafting, knowledge management, and self-service playbooks for cross-functional partners. Required Qualifications Licensed, qualified solicitor in England & Wales 5 to 8 years of post-qualification experience (PQE) specializing in employment law within a reputable firm or global in-house legal department. Substantial expertise in UK and EMEA employment law, with practical experience or a strong willingness to expand support across APAC. Demonstrated experience handling works councils, workforce change management/consultations, complex ER matters, sensitive workplace investigations, restructurings, and employment disputes. Exceptional ability to translate complex cross-border legal concepts into clear, risk-adjusted, commercially aligned advice. We’re looking for someone: With prior in-house experience supporting a high-growth technology, SaaS, or marketplace business with distributed global workforces. With a track record of building scalable legal processes, playbooks, and training resources for HR and business stakeholders, including specific examples where you used AI tools, agents, or workflow automation to move faster, raise quality, or scale your impact. Who thrives in a very fast paced, high growth environment. Who builds relationships and trust with senior stakeholders and colleagues - and is a great teammate. Who takes ownership and drives initia