Associate Legal Counsel

About the Role

Associate Legal Counsel will serve as in-house attorney for Mitsui & Co. Energy Marketing and Services (USA), Inc. (“MEMS”), supporting MEMS Legal in connection with the company’s commodity trading and commercial operations. This position is intended as a developmental in-house counsel role with a significant legal operations component.

Responsibilities

• Assist senior legal personnel in providing legal support to MEMS commodity trading, marketing, commercial, risk, credit, operations, and compliance teams.
• Draft, review, and revise commercial commodity agreements and related documents under supervision, including but not limited to nondisclosure agreements, confirmations, amendments, notices, contract templates, supply / purchase / sale agreements, credit support documents, and other ancillary agreements.
• Conduct legal research and prepare concise summaries, issue lists, risk assessments, and first-pass recommendations for review by senior legal personnel.
• Assist in identifying legal, contractual, regulatory, compliance, credit, and other risk issues in commercial agreements.
• Support contract administration and legal operations functions, including matter intake, contract tracking, deadline tracking, execution coordination, document routing, records management, file organization, and maintenance of contract databases.
• Support regulatory and compliance activities, including tracking relevant deadlines, assisting with filings, coordinating information requests, and maintaining supporting documentation.
• Assist with the development, maintenance, and improvement of standard form agreements, playbooks, clause libraries, internal guidance, checklists, and legal department processes.
• Support paralegal-type legal support functions as needed, including document preparation, signature packet coordination, records maintenance, contract status tracking, regulatory filing support, and administrative coordination for legal matters.
• Monitor and support legal department workflows, trackers, templates, and process improvements designed to increase speed, quality, consistency, and visibility of legal support.
• Perform other legal, legal operations, compliance support, administrative, and department-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited U.S. law school.
• Minimum 1–3 years of relevant legal experience; in lieu of experience, candidates with good academic credentials, demonstrated transactional interest, or relevant energy / commercial experience may also be considered.
• Must be currently licensed and in good standing to practice law by the State Bar of Texas.
• Fluent verbal and written skills in English.

Skills

• Knowledge of corporate law, contract law, commercial transactions, or energy-related legal issues preferred.
• Prior experience with contract management systems or other legal technology is preferred.
• Previous work experience in energy, commodities, power, natural gas, LNG, renewables, and environmental products highly desired.
• Working knowledge of commercial contracts, legal drafting, legal research, and issue spotting.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple assignments, deadlines, documents, and stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to maintain records accurately.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly with attorneys, paralegals, commercial personnel, and internal stakeholders.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

• This job operates in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment.
• May occasionally be asked to work nights/weekends if urgent issues arise.
• Eligible for Hybrid Telework Program (Monday and Fridays).