Associate (Litigation – Employment)

WithersWorldwide 

Practice Group: Litigation – Employment 

Job title: Associate 

Location: Singapore 

Join a dynamic and fast-growing employment practice that is well-regarded by clients and has gained a foothold in all legal directories in recent years. We service top-tier clients including family offices, Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, cutting edge start-ups, and individuals including founders, C-suite executives and executives. The nature of the work that we do is complex, high-value and challenging, and we offer strategic, commercial and pragmatic solutions to clients. In so doing, we test the frontiers of employment law, the tripartite landscape, and good practice. 

About Withers KhattarWong LLP

Withers KhattarWong LLP is amongst the largest international law firms in Singapore.  We are a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in 18 offices. 

Our broad global platform allows us to guide clients through the legal challenges inherent in the ever-changing international landscape. 

Internationally, we have made a reputation for ourselves as the leading law firm for private capital; our clients include public and private companies founded by successful families, MNCs, financial institutions, international brands, family offices and HNWIs, charities and not-for-profit organisations, amongst others. We pride ourselves on our integral role in helping our clients achieve success.

What are we looking for?

We are looking to hire an Associate to join the Withers Singapore employment team. The ideal candidate will have experience with general litigation and employment work. The role will at times be demanding and fast paced so you will need to be an efficient worker who can prioritise, multi-task, and remain poised under pressure. 

Areas of focus and responsibilities

The role is focused on advising and assisting an exceptional client base of private and public companies, entrepreneurs and their families and family offices. The role will involve:

• Advising both employers and employees on high-value and complex employment matters 
• Working on contentious and non-contentious employment matters.
• Non-contentious matters would include advising clients across the spectrum of employment matters spanning conduct, culture, compensation and risk. This includes advising on onboarding and off-boarding, assessing enforceability of clauses including post-termination restraints, advising on employee transfers including in M&A scenarios, advising on reduction in force exercises, etc. This also includes drafting and reviewing the suite of employment documents which cover an employee's life cycle and policies and procedures including employment handbooks, sexual harassment policies, whistleblowing and anti-retaliation policies, grievance procedures, etc. 
• Advising C-suites, founders, and senior executives by reviewing offer letters and employment documents extended to them at the pre-employment stage, as well as reviewing exit documents and negotiating optimized packages. We also advise clients who are facing misconduct claims and or wish to raise whistleblower complaints. 
• Contentious matters would include representing and advising clients on disputes and claims including the enforcement/defending against the enforcement of post-termination restraints, breaches of confidentiality, non-payment/underpayment of contractual entitlements, misconduct claims, and commencing/defending against wrongful termination claims. We represent clients in high value and complex High Court litigation, as well strategic representation in the State Court and POHA Court.
•  Investigations and disciplinary matters, including the handling of grievances. This entails providing advice to companies that are conducting internal investigations or being appointed by companies as an external third-party investigator. We also often advise C-suites and other senior executives in respect of investigations that may be convened against them, helping them to achieve the best possible outcome and negotiating favourable exit terms, if applicable.
• Our team has a unique sub-practice specialising in sexual harassment and harassment claims, including representing claimants in mediation and/or advising employers in carrying out a proper investigation into such claims.
• Given our strong relationships with key individuals, we also specialise in assisting clients with strategic crisis management, in terms of employment matters and beyond, work.
• Drafting articles on frontier employment issues and providing timely updates on key employment developments to clients. Drafting thought leadership articles in mainstream newspapers/media.
• Delivering training and seminars on employment and HR issues.  
• Working in a team of lawyers of diverse background and expertise. 

Given our multi-disciplinary approach in providing our clients with solutions, you will also get to collaborate with colleagues with an exceptional wealth of experience both in the Singapore office and other offices, and other practice groups.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive.  It is intended to describe the general content and requirements for the performance of this job and, as such, the role may include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

Skills and Experience

• 1 - 2.5 years PQE
• Litigation experience 
• Employment experience 
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong emotional quotient and interpersonal skills
• High level of attention to detail 
• Analytical, organised and can demonstrate initiative
• Able to work as part of a dynamic team and also independently
• Proficient in PC skills e.g., Word, Excel etc

About WithersWorldwide

Withersworldwide has been acting for successful individuals, families and institutions for 125 years.  We advise clients on the full range of their business, personal and philanthropic legal needs, both at home and abroad. With offices in the key financial centres of Europe, Asia-Pacific, the United States and the Caribbean, we provide coverage and services that other law firms focussed on the needs of the individual cannot.  We have represented 66% of the Top 100 in The Sunday Times Rich List, 25% of the Forbes 400 List, 35% of the Hong Kong Forbes Rich List and 35% of Forbes Asia's Richest Families list.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withersworldwide endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withersworldwide operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement 

It is the policy of Withersworldwide to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion. Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.

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