Counsel Sr.-Commercial

Position Summary:

Serves as a key member of the commercial legal team, supporting, as assigned, the business, manufacturing facilities, and M&A clients.  Further, this position is expected to support other functions as the need arises, e.g., procurement, logistics, accounting, treasury, and litigation.  This position is located in Houston, Texas at the corporate offices.

Duties & Responsibilities

May include, but not limited to, the following:

• Reviews, drafts and negotiates complex commercial contracts and ancillary agreements, including product sales contracts, purchasing contracts, non-disclosure agreements, consulting agreements, master services agreements, declarations of force majeure and other third-party vendor agreements.

• Reviews, drafts and negotiates complex M&A contract and ancillary agreements, including, plan of merger agreements, binding and non-binding bids, confidential information memorandums, anti-trust filings, and closing contracts. 

• Advise assigned client groups as to when litigation is appropriate and lead litigation efforts, through external counsel.   

• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with the business, manufacturing, other company departments and company management. 

• Provides counsel on commercial matters, legal rights and obligations under contracts, customer disputes and related laws and regulations to ensure legal and business needs are aligned.

• Analyzes risks and strategic opportunities from a legal perspective for the assigned client group with a view toward creating practical long-term solutions.

• Reviews advertising and marketing materials to ensure compliance with legal requirements (e.g., Green Guides) and company policies.

• Develops and provides training to company personnel on substantive legal topics including commercial and antitrust matters.

• Improves standard form agreements and legal processes, as necessary.

• Manages outside counsel as necessary in a budget-minded manner.

Education, Experience and Qualifications Requirements:

• Juris Doctor degree and licensed, as a member in good standing, to practice law in Texas, or otherwise eligible to practice as an in-house corporate attorney.

• Strong academic credentials from a top-rated accredited law school.

• Minimum of 10 years of experience, preferably with major law firm and in-house corporate experience, handling a variety of complex commercial and M&A matters with a focus on commercial transactions, corporate, antitrust and general business law.

• Strong writing and verbal skills.

• Strong business acumen with an ability to balance legal and business requirements.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; stand; walk; use hands to touch, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.  The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 35 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate as normally based in an office.  Some of the work may be required in the operating units which can require usage of required PPE including safety glasses, hearing protection, etc.  May also result in exposure to outside elements and may require usage of stairs and elevators.  Travel including air travel or auto travel may occasionally be required.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to this classification.  The statements are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by employees assigned to this classification.