Human Rights Watch (HRW) is seeking an attorney for a new position in the Office of the General Counsel. This position offers a rare entrée into a non-profit leader in the global human rights movement, known for its fearless and accurate reporting and global advocacy to end abuses. The General Counsel’s Office at HRW is responsible for legal oversight of the organization's policies, compliance, risk management, and governance, as well as a wide range of corporate matters including media law, intellectual property, U.S. and foreign operations, tax, insurance and contract review, worldwide litigation and international and domestic employment matters including labor relations. HRW is dedicated to taking on human rights abuses around the world; accordingly, its legal team must be able to provide sound legal and compliance advice to colleagues around the world, including many of whom operate in high-risk and stressful conditions. This position will be based in the United States, with a preference for New York, NY or Washington D.C. but other locations that HRW has an office will also be considered, and will report to the General Counsel, based in Washington D.C. Responsibilities: Lead HRW’s compliance efforts with intellectual property matters throughout the organization, including trademark, copyright issues, licensing issues, and negotiating contracts and partnership agreements; Field requests from staff to identify potential conflicts of interest and provide critical analysis on related internal policies and procedures; Provide legal counsel and guidance to various departments in the organization in areas such as employment law, tax and charity law, and establishment of branch offices and charitable affiliates; Review, draft, negotiate and approve contracts and licenses, leases, registrations, and other legal documents as required; Manage and defend litigation where necessary; Provide proactive advice and research into legal risks and opportunities that can arise in relation to the work of a prominent international human rights advocacy organization; Create manuals and guidance materials to assist different parts of the organization with legal matters and helps train various staff in legal management and compliance issues as needed; Have general knowledge of non-profit grant compliance and be able to identify key issues related to grant agreements and compliance obligations; and Undertake special projects and other duties as needed. Qualifications: Education: A J.D. is required, or equivalent LL.M degree from a U.S. law school if law degree was acquired outside of the U.S. Current admission in good standing is required in at least one U.S. State Bar. Experience: A minimum of 10 years of work experience as a lawyer in relevant areas is required, with a strong preference for in-house experience. Related Skills and Knowledge: Ability to work to the highest legal standards of practice in a high-risk and fast-paced work environment and tackle both standard and novel legal matters that arise during worldwide NGO operations. Exceptional interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to partner with clients that include our talented, multi-national and diverse staff and global board. Proven skills in problem-solving and policy implementation are necessary, pairing sound legal judgment with imaginative thinking to help staff achieve our mission while mitigating risk. Demonstrated capacity to lead projects and carry them to completion. Intellectual curiosity, eagerness to take on new responsibilities, and ability to master new topics as needed. Significant experience working with (and potentially recruiting) outside counsel in the US and in other countries. Self-motivation, excellent organizational skills, meticulousness, and ability to work well under pressure and work effectively towards deadlines. Outstanding oral and written communication skills in English are required; proficiency in other languages is a plus. Interest in human rights or related areas of law, familiarity with employment law and investigations, and background in non-profit or foundation law are each desirable. Salary and Benefits: HRW seeks exceptional applicants and offers competitive compensation and employer-paid benefits.

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