Christopher Rizzo

About Christopher Rizzo

As Executive Vice President and Senior Counsel, I steer employment-related legal strategies and foster an inclusive workplace culture. With a strong foundation in employment law, I manage employment litigation and offer counsel on various employment issues, both domestically and internationally.At the core of my mission lies the commitment to diversity and performance management, ensuring our company\'s adaptability in a dynamic global market. My proficiency in navigating areas such as wage and hour regulations, benefits, and DEI contributes to Edelman\'s reputation for excellence and ethical business practices.

Experience

1. Executive Vice President, Senior Counsel

   Edelman

   Jul 2015 — Present

   Serve as employment counsel for the company, managing employment-related disputes, litigation, and administrative charges from current and former employees. Provide daily counsel directly to the Executive Committee, Employee Relations, People Team, Insurance, Finance, and business partners on wage and hour, benefits, reductions in force, diversity and inclusion, performance management, leave issues, compensation and benefits, immigration, and general employment issues across the United States and internationally. Assist with domestic and international plan administration relating to executive compensation and incentive plans. Draft and negotiate employee and executive employment and severance agreements. Conduct and manage employment policy reviews, audits, classification issues, and other compliance efforts. Create and conduct training sessions for executives, managers, People Team, and employees. Manage and guide outside counsel work on labor and employment matters. Serve also as corporate counsel, drafting and negotiating complex master services agreements for the provision of the company’s public relations services to clients across the globe, as well as with vendors, independent contractors, and venues.

Education

• Northwestern University

  Bachelor of Arts (BA), Political Science

  1995 — 1999

• University of Illinois College of Law

  Juris Doctor, Law

  2000 — 2003

Skills

• Mediation
• Discrimination
• Courts
• Corporate Law
• Legal Issues
• Strategy
• Litigation Management
• Legal Research
• Arbitration
• Legal Writing
• Litigation
• Civil Litigation
• Policy
• Dispute
• Employment Law
• Legal Advice
• Administrative Law
• Privacy Law
• Commercial Litigation