About the Role
We are seeking an Associate Legal Counsel to join our team in Houston. This position will provide legal support to our trading and commercial teams, with a focus on energy trading, credit arrangements, M&A activity, and related transactions. The successful candidate will become a trusted partner to key stakeholders across the business, driving commercially sound legal solutions while continuously improving legal workflows.
This will be a full-time role, owning the following responsibilities:
Lead end-to-end negotiations of ISDA, EEI, and NAESB master agreements and WSPP and other related confirmations, driving measurable improvements in cycle time and internal coordination.
Assist with due diligence, LLC structuring, letters of intent, purchase and sale agreements, financing/first-lien or credit arrangements, and post-closing integration for acquisitions, joint ventures, and other strategic asset investments and internal reorganizations.
Partner cross-functionally with Front Office, Compliance, Credit, Risk, Operations, Finance/Treasury, Controllers, and Tax to align legal risk management with commercial objectives and ensure timely execution.
Maintain and improve standard forms, clause libraries, and fallback positions; monitor market terms and recommend updates to internal playbooks.
Manage outside counsel on an as-needed basis, including scoping matters, managing budgets, and ensuring commercially aligned outcomes.
About You
This person will be a motivated, business-minded legal professional with a proactive and collaborative approach, well-suited to a dynamic, trading and transaction-focused environment.
The following education, experiences, and skills are essential for application:
D. from an accredited law school and an active license to practice law in Texas, or eligibility for in-house counsel registration/reciprocal admission within a defined period.
2–3 years (with 5 years maximum) of relevant experience in a law firm or in-house legal team, ideally focused on energy (power and natural gas) and commodities trading.
Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills, with the ability to translate commercial intent into precise legal language.
Ability to manage multiple matters concurrently and provide timely, pragmatic advice to commercial teams.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, sound judgment, and a low-ego, collaborative style that builds strong relationships across front office and control functions.
In addition, the following experience is not required, but highly desirable for this role:
Exposure to master trading agreements (ISDA/EEI/NAESB) and related confirmations.
Direct experience supporting energy trading transactions, or broader exposure to the energy industry (such as M&A or project financings).
Working knowledge of FERC oversight, CFTC/Dodd-Frank frameworks, and ISO/RTO markets (e.g., ERCOT).
Familiarity with structured transactions, credit support arrangements, and credit-risk/bankruptcy considerations.
Experience supporting asset-level transactions in power generation, storage, midstream, or related sectors, including diligence and closing activities.
What We Offer
Competitive compensation and participation in Engelhart’s discretionary bonus plan.
20 days of annual holiday entitlement, excluding US public holidays.
Robust benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) match, and supplemental benefits partially subsidised by the Company.
Eligibility to receive external and internal training in accordance with our Training & Development Policy.
