Labor & Employment · 4–8 Years · NY Bar Required

The typical Labor & Employment associate role is a relentless cycle of standard retail or corporate defense. This is the exception. We are representing a highly regarded national firm seeking a mid-to-senior associate to step directly into an elite, specialized practice group representing New York City's most prominent restaurants, boutique hotels, and premier nightlife venues. If you want to move away from faceless institutional clients and instead advise the brands defining the city's hospitality landscape, this platform offers that exact pivot.

The Work

This role balances sophisticated, front-end strategic counseling with high-stakes defense litigation. You will act as a trusted advisor to hospitality executives and operators, providing daily guidance on the complex web of NYS and NYC employment laws, discrimination issues, and wage-and-hour compliance. On the contentious side, you will lead the defense on high-exposure matters, including class-action wage-and-hour claims. This is an autonomous environment where you will routinely handle first-chair responsibilities rather than simply drafting motions for a partner to argue.

Who This Is For

You are a New York-admitted employment attorney with four to eight years of defense experience. To hit the ground running, you must have solid experience defending class-action wage-and-hour claims and navigating the specific nuances of NYC/NYS employment statutes.

• The Funnel Hook: While direct hospitality experience and familiarity with the NYS Hospitality Wage Order are highly advantageous, we are explicitly welcoming elite L&E generalists who possess strong litigation fundamentals and a genuine desire to specialize in the hospitality and entertainment sectors.

The Platform

You will join a firm that combines the heavy-hitting resources of a national footprint with the tight-knit, entrepreneurial culture of a specialized industry boutique. The firm is deeply committed to associate development, offering a transparent trajectory to partnership and a sophisticated infrastructure that allows you to cultivate your own client relationships early. You will work alongside recognized leaders in the hospitality space who value commercial pragmatism over rigid hierarchy.

Why New York City

For a hospitality practitioner, Manhattan is the undisputed epicenter. The legal landscape here demands an understanding of some of the strictest regulatory environments in the world, meaning the expertise you build here establishes your market value permanently. You will be working at the intersection of law, business, and culture in the city that drives global hospitality trends.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $240,000 to $285,000, commensurate with your class year, depth of experience, and specialized skill set. The firm also provides a comprehensive, competitive benefits package representative of a top-tier national platform, including:

• Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with profit-sharing contributions
• Generous paid time off (PTO) and parental leave policies
• Life, short-term, and long-term disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Dedicated budget for professional development and continuing legal education (CLE)

Apply in Confidence

This search is being conducted with strict confidentiality. If you are curious about the market or this specific platform, let's start a low-friction conversation. Your identity, current employment status, and materials will not be shared with the hiring firm-or anyone else-without your explicit, advance permission.

Please reach out directly to initiate a confidential discussion.