Associate Counsel, Italy

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Italy.

📋 Description

• Deliver practical and business-focused legal assistance to business leaders, Human Resources, and functional stakeholders throughout Europe, with a primary focus on Italy and support for surrounding European jurisdictions.

• Offer guidance on labor and employment issues, including employee relations, workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, performance management, restructurings, workforce reductions, separations, employment litigation, labor disputes, and risk management.

• Provide commercial contracting and corporate legal support to address regional business requirements.

• Act as a trusted legal advisor to Human Resources and business leaders across Italy and selected EMEA jurisdictions.

• Counsel on employment law, employee relations, performance management, disciplinary actions, accommodations, leaves of absence, workplace conduct issues, and separations.

• Advise on workforce restructurings, reorganizations, reductions in force, outsourcing initiatives, and business transformation efforts.

• Assist with labor relations matters involving employee representative bodies, works councils, collective consultation obligations, and union-related issues.

• Draft, review, and revise employment-related agreements, policies, handbooks, procedures, templates, and guidance documents.

• Monitor and provide advice on employment legislation and regulatory obligations.

• Develop and deliver employment law training for Human Resources, managers, and business stakeholders.

• Oversee employment litigation, administrative proceedings, employee claims, labor disputes, agency charges, and pre-litigation issues.

• Perform legal risk assessments and suggest dispute resolution strategies.

• Coordinate and manage external legal counsel.

• Support internal investigations related to employee misconduct, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, ethics issues, and other workplace matters.

• Assist in responding to government entities, labor authorities, regulators, and third-party inquiries.

• Provide reports and strategic updates on legal issues, litigation trends, and risk areas.

• Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on commercial agreements that meet EMEA business needs.

• Collaborate with Procurement, Finance, Compliance, Privacy, HR, Business Technology, Quality, and operational stakeholders.

• Offer advice on contract, vendor, customer, and operational risks and disputes.

• Assist with standard forms, contracting processes, policies, playbooks, and legal workflows.

• Contribute to corporate due diligence, integration efforts, and cross-functional legal projects.

• Support corporate compliance initiatives and governance activities across the region.

• Work with Legal, Compliance, Privacy, Human Resources, and business teams to identify and mitigate legal and regulatory risks.

• Aid in the development, implementation, and maintenance of legal policies, procedures, and best practices.

• Collaborate across the Legal department to build consensus and drive process improvements.

• Uphold the Syneos Health Mission, Vision, and Values.

• Carry out other job-related duties as assigned.

⛳️ Requirements

• Licensed attorney qualified to practice law in Italy and in good standing with the relevant Italian bar association.

• Extensive experience in labor and employment law in Italy, including advising on employee relations, separations, restructurings, litigation risks, and workplace investigations.

• Proven experience managing employment disputes, litigation, administrative proceedings, employee claims, and pre-litigation issues.

• Proficient in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements.

• Strong knowledge of Italian labor and employment law and familiarity with European employment law principles relevant to multinational organizations.

• Excellent communication skills, able to convey complex employment and commercial legal issues clearly and professionally to all management levels.

• Fluent in written and spoken Italian and English.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities, and collaborate effectively with stakeholders across regions and functions.

• Capacity to work collaboratively with colleagues while adopting a business-oriented approach to identify and balance risks and provide concise, accurate, and practical advice.

• Preferred: Experience supporting multiple European jurisdictions, especially neighboring countries to Italy.

• Preferred: In-house legal experience within a multinational corporation.

• Preferred: Background in the healthcare, life sciences, pharmaceutical, CRO, or professional services sectors.

• Preferred: Knowledge of European labor relations, works councils, collective consultation obligations, benefits, immigration, and employment regulatory frameworks.

• Preferred: Additional capabilities in European languages.

🏝️ Benefits

• Opportunities for career development and advancement.

• Supportive and engaged management.

• Training in technical and therapeutic areas.

• Recognition programs and comprehensive rewards.

• Inclusive workplace culture.

• Occasional travel within Europe and internationally may be necessary based on business requirements.