THE OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is seeking a Business Associate - with 2-4 years of relevant experience - to support and help grow its Business Section. The ideal candidate has a solid transactional foundation and wants real client exposure early, not just document review from the back office.

That candidate should have experience with mergers and acquisitions, private placements of securities, entity formation and structuring (corporations, LLCs, partnerships, and joint ventures), general contract negotiation, and corporate governance. Additional or niche specialties are welcome.

This is a chance to build real transactional experience early, working directly with partners who have run legal departments and led deals from the client side of the table, inside a firm that is aiming to more than double in size over the next two to three years.
CANDIDATE PROFILE

Excellent legal skill is the baseline. What matters just as much is how someone works. The Firm is looking for a lawyer who brings:

• A builder's mindset. Wants to grow into the practice, not just log hours - resourceful, curious, and comfortable figuring things out without a script.
• Developing business judgment. Works toward understanding a client's business and industry well enough to ask the right questions, not just execute instructions.
• Client focus. Cares about the client's actual objective more than the billable hour, and gives every matter real attention, regardless of size.
• Collaborative by nature. Works well across practice groups inside the Firm and builds relationships across industries and networks outside it.
• Technology fluency. Comfortable adopting new tools, and curious about how technology can make client service more efficient.
• Direct and candid with colleagues, staff, and clients, with no ambiguity about where things stand.
• Confident enough to share credit, ask for help, and put the client and the team ahead of ego.
• Unwavering ethics. Holds a high standard for themselves and others, including when it is inconvenient.
• A strong work ethic. Dependable, extremely responsive, and willing to put in the time this stage of a career takes.
• Someone colleagues and clients alike enjoy being around.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Legal Practice

• Provide legal support and guidance on a variety of business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private placements, joint ventures, and strategic alliances.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of complex commercial agreements, including letters of intent, asset purchase agreements, stock purchase agreements, LLC and partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, NDAs, and other commercial contracts.
• Conduct due diligence investigations and risk assessments for business transactions, spotting issues early and proposing solutions that address them directly.
• Advise on corporate governance matters, including board meetings, corporate policies, regulatory compliance, and corporate filings.
• Keep up with relevant laws, regulations, and industry trends affecting clients' businesses, and flag issues before they become problems.

Collaboration & Business Development

• Work closely with the Firm's Litigation Section on shared matters and referrals, so clients get one coherent team instead of two disconnected ones.
• Build relationships with clients and colleagues that turn into future business.
• Take part in the Business Section's growth as it expands.

ADDITIONAL SKILLS - A PLUS, NOT REQUIRED

• Niche practice areas will be considered, such as: oil and gas experience, onshore and/or offshore; labor, employment, and ERISA experience; and/or commercial real estate experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience advising clients across a range of industries, including energy, manufacturing, medical and technology start-ups, and private equity investors and sponsors.
• A real interest in business development, even at this stage of a career.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates should hold a Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school, with a strong academic record, and maintain an active license to practice law in Texas, in good standing. The role requires 2-4 years of experience practicing business/transactional law in a large to midsize law firm environment, with a focus on complex commercial transactions. The role also calls for a solid grasp of corporate governance principles and best practices; excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills; the ability to work well independently and as part of a team, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple projects at once; sharp analytical and critical thinking skills with real attention to detail; and a demonstrated ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and clients.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary: $160,000 to $180,000, based on relevant experience.
• Discretionary bonus.
• Medical insurance premium covered for the employee at 100%.
• 401(k) match.
• Life insurance.
• Ancillary benefits available.
• Free, on-site parking.
• A real path to advancement as the Business Section continues to grow.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified candidates should submit a resume and brief cover note to [redacted] with the subject line "Business Associate." All inquiries will be held in strict confidence.