Legal Counsel (Employment Products)

✨ One platform, a whole world of opportunity The best jobs have always clustered in a handful of the world's wealthiest cities. But talent is everywhere. Oyster set out to close that gap - building a global employment platform that lets companies hire, pay, and care for brilliant people anywhere. We're proof that a high-performing culture doesn't need an office. Distributed across 60+ countries since 2020, we've built something the industry keeps noticing: Ranked #10 of 250 on TIME and Statista's 2026 list of America's Top WorkTech Companies Named one of America's Greatest Startup Workplaces 2026 by Newsweek A G2 Spring 2026 Leader across Employer of Record, Global Employment, Multi-country Payroll, and HR Compliance The only B Corp-certified global employment platform ~ independently verified since 2023 Two of those rankings measured our business impact from the outside. One measured how our own people feel about working here. They landed in the same place ~ because at Oyster, culture and performance aren't separate conversations. They're the same one. And we're just getting started. If you want to do the best work of your career alongside people who care as much as you do, we'd love for you to apply. Location : While this position is posted in a specific location, all of Oyster’s positions are fully remote and you can work from home. Forever. To create the best experience for our new hire, this role requires at least 3-4 hours of overlap with Central European Time (CET/CEST) business hours to support collaboration with the team. Role Summary Oyster is looking for a sharp, self-driven Senior Employment Counsel to contribute to Oyster's growth and shape the future of global distributed work. As part of our Employment Law Team, you'll advise internal teams and external stakeholders on employment law matters across multiple jurisdictions, playing a direct role in how Oyster supports workers and companies around the world. A core part of the role is researching and staying current on employment laws and regulations across jurisdictions; managing employment templates, policies, and standard employment processes; liaising with outside counsel on local legal requirements; creating clear, accessible guidance on hiring, managing, and terminating workers globally; and advising Oyster's Platform and Product teams on building a scalable, compliant technology platform. You'll also contribute to the strategic development of our employment-as-a-platform model. Because Oyster operates as an Employer of Record (EOR), a solid understanding of how that model works, and the unique legal considerations it creates for Oyster, our customers, and their team members, is essential to this role. The right candidate brings extensive employment law experience, including multi-jurisdictional and cross-border matters, and a track record of advising HR and business partners. Knowledge of immigration rules and employee benefits is a plus. Beyond legal expertise, we're looking for someone who translates complex issues into clear, practical guidance for non-legal audiences, balancing compliance with pragmatic problem-solving, anticipating emerging risks, and partnering strategically with the business to deliver outcomes that are both legally sound and operationally effective. We also value candidates who embrace AI and other technology tools to enhance efficiency, streamline workflows, and scale the impact of their legal expertise. Key Responsibilities Own and maintain employment templates, policies, and processes across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring Oyster's employment offering remains compliant, scalable, and operationally effective. Monitor legislative and regulatory developments globally, assess their impact on Oyster's products and operations, and drive implementation of required changes. Partner closely with Product, People team and other cross-functional stakeholders to design and implement compliant employment solutions that balance legal requirements with business objectives. Advise on a broad range of employment law and compliance matters across the employee lifecycle, including hiring, compensation, leave, performance management, terminations. Support strategic initiatives such as Direct Expansion, indirect-to-direct migrations, and the launch of new employment products and features. Research complex employment law issues and translate legal analysis into clear, practical, and business-focused recommendations. Develop and maintain employment guides, knowledge resources, and compliance documentation to support scalable operations across Oyster's global footprint. Support labor inspections, audits, regulatory inquiries, and other employment compliance initiatives. Use data, stakeholder feedback, and operational insights to identify risks, improve processes, and enhance the effectiveness of Oyster's employment compliance framework. Identify and champion opportunities to leverage AI, automation, and process innovation to improve t