Assistant General Counsel, Employment (Senior Director)
Equinox · New York, New York
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Company Description
WHO WE ARE
Equinox is a category of one, setting the global standard for luxury health, wellness, and hospitality. Our spaces are intentionally elevated, our standards uncompromising, and our expectations high. We attract people who take pride in excellence, care deeply about quality, and want to be part of something that feels different the moment you walk through the door.
We are builders, operators, and innovators who believe great environments and meaningful human connection change lives. Diversity, belonging, and ownership aren’t slogans here, they’re how we work. At Equinox, colleagues don’t just support the business; they shape the future of wellness. Because for us, it’s not fitness. It’s life.
WHAT WE DO
We create premium, immersive experiences where performance, hospitality, design, and human connection converge—and every detail matters. This is not a traditional fitness environment. It is a place where high standards, accountability, and pride in craft define the work.
Fueled by an entrepreneurial mindset, we trust our people with real responsibility and real impact. Growth is earned through action, learning is hands‑on, and careers are built by those who want to operate at the highest level. At Equinox, we don’t just offer opportunities—we offer long‑term pathways for people who want to do meaningful work in an environment that expects more and delivers more.
Job Description
Reports to Equinox’s Chief Legal Officer | Hudson Yards, Manhattan, NY | Hybrid — 4 days/week in office; 1 day remote
Equinox isn't just a fitness company — it's shaping the future of wellness, longevity, hospitality, and media. As Assistant General Counsel, Employment, you'll be the legal backbone protecting and empowering the people who make that happen — a workforce as varied as our brands spanning health club personnel, corporate teams, and media talent across the country, and in the UK and Canada.
We are seeking a business-minded, experienced, employment attorney to serve as a primary legal advisor on all workforce matters across a global portfolio that includes Equinox Health Clubs, SoulCycle, Equinox Hotels, and Equinox Media. You’ll help build and modernize how Equinox manages employment risk across a fast-growing, multi-brand portfolio. No two days look the same.
Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, you will primarily focus on ensuring that the company stays compliant with current and emerging state and federal employment laws. You will be a trusted and strategic partner to the Chief Legal Officer on high-stakes mediation, arbitration, and litigation, and to People & Culture, Risk Management, Asset Protection and senior leadership on various employment-related matters. This is a high-visibility, high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-moving, people-first environment.
Who You'll Work With
You'll join a team of 16 people supporting the CLO's office, and will work closely with People & Culture, Risk Management and Asset Protection.
What You’ll Do
- Track and ensure compliance with evolving federal, state, and local employment law; translate developments into compliant policies, manuals, agreements, and SOPs.
- Identify and advise on legal risk across the employee lifecycle — hiring, performance, discipline, and terminations, and produce and report on employment risk metrics.
- Spot systemic risk trends and recommend proactive legal or policy changes on wage & hour, benefits, and leave-of-absence issues; partner with People & Culture to implement them.
- Partner with Employee Relations on allegations of harassment, hostile work environment, discrimination, and retaliation, as well as disability accommodations and leaves of absence.
- Draft agency (e.g., EEOC) position statements and respond to pre-mediation, pre-arbitration, and pre-litigation demand letters.
- Manage employment-related claims asserted under the company's ADR Program — and help shape how that program evolves.
- Lead an annual audit to ensure job descriptions, offer letters, employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, executive arrangements, and separation agreements stay legally current across all brands.
- Partner with People & Culture on building and delivering training for people managers (terminations, performance management, harassment prevention).
- Help leverage AI-assisted analysis, legal research, and drafting tools as part of a broader push toward more efficient legal operations.
Qualifications
- JD from an accredited law school; admitted to New York or at least one U.S. state bar.
- 10+ years of employment law experience, ideally including 3–5 years at an employment law firm and 2–3 years in-house at a large, multi-state employer.
- Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local employment law: wage & hour, discrimination, leave, accommodations, and workforce restructuring.
- Proven track record managing employment claims and EEOC/agency matters.
- Strong business instincts — you balance legal risk with operational reality and give actionable answers, not just issue-spotting.
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; you make complex legal concepts accessible to non-lawyers and can influence at every level.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with experience advising senior executives and P&C leadership.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, comfortable managing a busy, varied docket with competing priorities.
- Comfort using AI-assisted legal research and drafting tools (e.g., Claude or similar) as part of a modern legal practice.
Pay Transparency: $245K – $260K + bonus
Additional Information
AS A MEMBER OF THE EQUINOX TEAM YOU WILL RECEIVE:
- We offer competitive salary, benefits, and industry leading commission opportunities for club employees
- Complimentary Club membership
- Perks and incentives with our products and services including Personal Training, Pilates, Spa and Shop
This job description is intended to describe the general requirements for the position. It is not a complete statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. Other duties not listed here may be assigned as necessary to ensure the proper operations of the department.
Equinox is an equal opportunity employer. For more information regarding our career opportunities, please visit one of our clubs or our website at https://careers.equinox.com/
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Must have a legal right to work in the United States.
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