Corporate Counsel

NAES•Spring, TX

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Corporate Counsel is a member of the NAES Legal Department and provides a broad range of legal services to NAES Corporation, its business units, and subsidiaries. The role works directly with business leaders and personnel on commercial transactions, employment, compliance, corporate, and operational matters. The attorney independently manages a substantial portfolio of routine and moderately complex legal matters, including significant commercial contract negotiations and day-to-day counseling of assigned internal clients, and consults with or escalates matters to more senior legal team members when complexity or legal, financial, or reputational risk warrants it. The position calls for practical business judgment, strong commercial contracting skills, and the ability to identify and communicate material legal risks while recommending workable solutions. The Corporate Counsel is expected to develop a strong understanding of NAES's businesses, customers, contractual relationships, and operations, and to provide timely, practical, business-oriented legal advice. The role regularly interacts with NAES personnel and leaders, customers, suppliers, subcontractors, outside counsel, and other third parties. It reports to a role listed as TBD and has no direct reports. Employment is hybrid and affiliated with NAES's Houston, Texas, or Issaquah, Washington location. Normal hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with extended hours as necessary. Travel will not exceed 10% of work time. Employees are expected to remain mentally alert, work safely, and follow NAES safety rules, procedures, warnings, and posted signs while on company property. NAES describes itself as a provider of operations, maintenance, and engineering services for energy facilities across power generation, oil and gas, and renewable energy, and states its commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
Active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, with the ability to obtain admission or other authorization to practice in Washington and/or Texas if required.
Five to eight years of experience practicing law.
Prior law firm and/or in-house corporate legal experience.
Demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements.
Experience advising business personnel directly on legal and contractual matters.
Strong legal judgment and ability to provide clear, practical legal advice with limited supervision.
Strong commercial contract drafting and negotiation skills.
Ability to understand business objectives and develop practical solutions that address legal risk while facilitating business activity.
Ability to manage multiple transactions, projects, and other matters simultaneously and prioritize competing demands.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop productive working relationships with business leaders, operational personnel, and colleagues.
High level of personal integrity, discretion, and professional judgment.
Strong attention to detail while maintaining an understanding of broader business objectives.
Intellectual curiosity and willingness to develop expertise in unfamiliar areas of law and business.
Collaborative, team-oriented approach, including willingness to assist other Legal Department members outside the attorney's primary areas of responsibility.
Commitment to timely, responsive, and practical legal service.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Office tools and willingness to adopt new technologies to improve Legal Department services.
Ability to work extended hours as necessary.
Ability to travel up to 10% of work time.
Must be mentally alert, work safely, and follow NAES safety rules and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Experience in one or more of these areas: energy, construction, operations and maintenance services, employment and labor, compliance, corporate governance, litigation and dispute resolution, insurance, or mergers and acquisitions.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including customer, vendor, subcontract, and confidentiality agreements.
Advise business personnel on contractual and commercial matters, including interpreting existing agreements and resolving contractual issues.
Support business development and new business opportunities, including reviewing requests for proposals, bid documents, and proposed contract terms.
Identify and evaluate legal and contractual risks and recommend practical solutions that balance those risks with NAES's business objectives.
Develop a strong working knowledge of NAES businesses and functions.
Develop, maintain, and improve contract templates, standard terms, negotiation positions, playbooks, and other tools to improve contracting efficiency and consistency.
Research and advise on legal and regulatory issues affecting NAES and its businesses.
Advise on employment and labor matters, coordinating with NAES Legal, Human Resources, and outside specialists as appropriate.
Manage assigned claims and disputes, including factual investigation, evaluation of contractual rights and obligations, strategy development, communications with counterparties, and coordination with outside counsel when appropriate.
Support litigation and other significant disputes managed by more senior members of NAES Legal.
Support compliance programs, including policies and procedures, compliance training, internal investigations, and other compliance initiatives.
Assist with corporate governance and corporate secretarial matters involving NAES Corporation and its subsidiaries.
Participate in mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and other strategic transactions, including due diligence, transaction documentation, closing activities, and post-closing integration.
Prepare and deliver legal and risk-related training and guidance for business personnel.
Participate in continuous improvement of Legal Department practices, processes, and technology.
Exercise sound judgment about which matters to handle independently and when to consult with or escalate to more senior members of NAES Legal.
Work safely and follow company safety rules and procedures while on company property.