Corporate Counsel (Labor & Employment)

Leprino is seeking a Corporate Counsel to join our Denver-based Legal team, focused on labor and employment matters that shape how we support and grow our workforce. This role helps ensure our workplace practices are legally sound, thoughtful, and built on trust.

At Leprino, starting compensation for this role typically ranges between $187,000 and $243,000. This position has an annual target bonus of 15%.

What You’ll Do:

• Partner closely with Human Resources teams and business leaders across the company to offer guidance on workplace matters—everything from discipline to disability accommodations to global mobility.
• Interpret and apply U.S. and international labor laws, offering grounded advice on risk and compliance across diverse employment situations.
• Collaborate with HR leadership to build and refine employment policies, workplace training, and processes that support both legal integrity and a strong employee experience.
• Respond to government inquiries and represent the company in employment-related investigations, claims, and agency matters like EEOC or OSHA.
• Guide outside counsel on employment litigation, arbitration, and regulatory cases—particularly wage & hour issues and safety-related claims.
• Review and negotiate employment contracts, severance agreements, collective bargaining agreements, and vendor/service contracts tied to HR or benefits functions.
• Provide practical advice on international employment topics such as host-country benefits, expat documentation, and local compliance needs. Bonus if you’ve worked with GDPR or similar data privacy laws!
• Offer counsel on workers’ compensation, leave programs, accommodations, and internal investigations, helping teams resolve issues clearly and quickly.
• Track legal and regulatory changes in employment, especially California-specific wage & hour developments—and propose timely updates to internal practices.
• Support company-wide compliance programs including Affirmative Action, internal complaint mechanisms, and required training.
• Jump in on broader legal teamwork when needed: contract reviews, advertising/marketing questions, or food regulatory items. We all pitch in here at Leprino!
• Travel up to 25%—mostly to our U.S. plants—to build relationships, understand our people, and stay close to the work we support.

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• A law degree from an ABA-accredited institution and eligibility to practice law in Colorado within six months of hire.
• At least 10 years of experience practicing law with a strong focus on labor, employment, or workplace compliance.
• Deep familiarity with U.S. employment laws (Title VII, FMLA, ADA, FLSA) and hands-on involvement with employment investigations, claims, or litigation.
• Experience working directly with Human Resources leaders and field teams to resolve complex people issues.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• At least 12 years of experience, including time in-house or serving in a lead advisory role for corporate clients – ideally at a top-tier law firm with a strong labor and employment practice.
• Experience advising on California wage & hour issues and exposure to NLRB and collective bargaining topics—even better if you’ve dealt with both union and non-union environments.
• Familiarity with international employment law, employee-related data privacy topics (like GDPR), and cross-border workforce issues.
• An LL.M. or additional certification in employment, labor, or workplace compliance.

At Leprino, we believe in equal employment opportunity and make employment decisions based on each individual’s unique talents, experience, skills, and knowledge; we do not discriminate on the basis of any personal characteristics. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture in which all employees can thrive.

Offering You In Return:

A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, ten paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

Our Story:

Leprino’s history dates back to the 1950s, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We’ve grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world’s largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the “World’s Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company.” From a small corner grocery store we have grown to over 5,500 employees throughout the globe. Will you join us on our journey?