Salary range: $160k - $200kLocation: Dallas, TX, Austin, TX
Visa Sponsorship Details: Not open to any visas (e.g. US citizen, Green Card holders)
Hybrid work policy: 4 days in-office initially, transitioning to 3 days in-office in Dallas, TX or Austin, TX
About this roleWe are looking for a Senior Venture Attorney with 5-8 years of experience to join Vela Wood's growing team in Dallas or Austin. This is a full-ownership role where you'll lead venture transactions and serve as trusted counsel to founders, emerging companies, and venture investors - working directly alongside our equity partners, with a refreshingly low billable hours target (1,350/year) and an aggressive bonus structure that rewards you for going beyond it. If you're a seasoned venture lawyer at a large firm craving better balance, deeper client relationships, and real upside, this is the move.
What will you be doing?- Leading venture capital transactions - SAFE, convertible note, and equity financings from seed through Series A and beyond
- Advising on and drafting documentation for both company-side and investor-side deals
- Drafting entity formation, governance, and organizational documents
- Owning client relationships and building long-term partnerships with founders and investors
- Mentoring and coaching junior attorneys and working closely with paralegals
- Driving business development and bringing in new client work (originations)
Key Requirements- 5-8 years of venture law experience at a law firm, ideally a recognized venture practice (e.g., Perkins Coie, Cooley, Gunderson Dettmer, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Fenwick & West, Nelson Mullins)
- A track record of leading SAFE, convertible note, Series Seed, and NVCA-based financings - not just supporting them
- Experience building pro forma cap tables and financing models (anti-dilution, SAFE/note conversions, post-money ownership)
- Active bar license - Texas strongly preferred
- Comfortable working independently, well-spoken, and a low-ego team player
Role responsibilities• Leading venture capital transactions, including SAFE, convertible note and equity financings, from early-stage to Series A and beyond.
• Advising on and drafting documentation for both company-side and investor-side transactions.
• Drafting entity formation, governance and organizational documents.
• Conducting due diligence processes and risk-analysis.
• Supporting Seniors and Partners on day-to-day client requests.
• Mentoring and developing junior attorneys.
