Managing Counsel

Cooper Machinery Services has been powering the energy industry since 1833, and today our legends run stronger than ever. We're looking for a Managing Counsel to be the senior legal voice inside a company that's growing through acquisition, expanding internationally, and betting big on its people. This isn't a back-office legal role. You'll sit at the table with Cooper's business leaders, own our commercial contracting engine, help shape our M&A strategy, and build a legal team you're proud to lead.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Cooper's primary legal resource for reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial contracts, including customer, vendor, and service agreements.
• Build and maintain contract templates, playbooks, and approval processes that speed up turnaround and reduce risk across the business.
• Provide practical, business-oriented guidance on contract risk, terms, and negotiation strategy to internal stakeholders.
• Support legal due diligence for acquisitions and lead post-acquisition integration, including contract migration and policy alignment.
• Advise on employment-related matters and coordinate with outside counsel as needed.
• Guide Cooper's growing international operations on cross-border contracts and country-specific legal requirements.
• Manage outside counsel relationships and budget in partnership with the CHRO across litigation, employment, M&A, and international matters.
• Support legal due diligence for acquisitions, including review of contracts, corporate records, and identify and help mitigate legal risks arising from acquired businesses.
• Partner with business leaders on post-acquisition integration, including contract migration, employee transition matters, and policy alignment.
• Lead, coach, and develop a small legal team of attorneys and contract managers, setting clear priorities and growth goals, fostering a culture of responsiveness, accountability, and sound business judgment.
• Partner closely with Commercial Counsel, business segment leaders, HR Business Partners, and Finance as a trusted advisor who turns legal risk into practical business guidance.
• Represent Legal in cross-functional initiatives and business reviews.

Requirements

• 12+ years of legal experience, including significant in-house counsel experience.
• Strong, demonstrated experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a wide range of commercial agreements.
• Direct experience supporting M&A due diligence and post-acquisition integration.
• Exposure to international business matters, including cross-border contracts or multi-country legal compliance.
• Experience managing outside counsel relationships and budgets across multiple legal specialties.
• Experience managing or leading attorneys and/or contract management professionals.
• Strong business judgment, with the ability to advise leaders practically, not just legally.
• Active license to practice law; Texas bar admission preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior law firm experience, with meaningful exposure to managing outside counsel or litigation matters.
• Industrial background, with exposure to manufacturing and industrial services businesses.
• A generalist mindset: comfortable advising across a broad range of legal matters and knowing when to bring in outside expertise.
• A hands-on leadership style that balances strategic guidance with day-to-day execution.
• Comfort operating in a fast-growing, acquisitive organization with evolving processes.
• A strong communicator who builds trust and credibility with senior leaders.

Benefits

• Most benefits are effective on your first day of employment, no waiting period.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Company-paid life, AD&D, short-term, and long-term disability coverage (6-month short-term disability waiting period).
• Voluntary life, AD&D, and long-term disability buy-up plan.
• Voluntary benefit plans including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance.
• 401(k) with up to 5% company match; employees are 100% vested on Day 1.
• Maternity and parental leave, Arc Fertility Benefits, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for mental health support.