General Counsel

General Counsel

Winston Water Cooler Family of Companies

Location: Dallas, TX (On-Site) Type: Full-Time

About Us

Winston Water Cooler Family of Companies is a long-standing, privately held enterprise in the plumbing supply and distribution industry. Over time, we have grown into a network of more than 70 locations across Texas and several additional states, operating through a structured family of limited partnerships, LLCs, and affiliated entities.

We operate with an entrepreneurial mindset, moving quickly, solving problems directly, and prioritizing long-term relationships with employees, customers, and partners. As we continue to scale, we are seeking our first in-house General Counsel to build and lead the legal function across the Winston family of companies.

This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to ownership and executive leadership, providing practical, business-minded guidance across entity structure, credit and banking relationships, commercial operations, and governance. This role is ideal for a business lawyer comfortable operating at the intersection of law and ownership in a fast-moving, privately held environment.

Key Responsibilities

Entity Formation, LP Governance & Structural Architecture

Serve as the company's primary legal resource on entity structure, formation, and ongoing governance across the Winston family of companies. Responsibilities include:

• Formation of LPs and LLCs across multiple states, including jurisdictional selection and registered agent coordination
• GP / LP structuring and governance, including drafting and negotiating partnership agreement provisions
• Drafting and managing amendments to partnership agreements as the business evolves
• Advising on capital structure and ownership changes, including admission of partners and interest transfers
• Managing dissolutions, mergers, and conversions of entities as needed
• Overseeing state registrations and foreign qualifications across operating jurisdictions

Banking, Credit Facility & Cross-Collateral Legal Strategy

Act as the primary in-house legal resource on credit, lending, and banking relationships across the company's entity structure. Responsibilities include:

• Interpreting credit agreement compliance obligations and advising leadership on covenant management
• Managing cross-entity collateral risk, including analysis of collateral structures spanning multiple LPs and LLCs
• Monitoring financial covenants and advising on triggers, cure provisions, and lender communication
• Ensuring legal compliance throughout draw processes and borrowing base procedures
• Advising on guaranty structures, including personal guaranties and cross-entity guaranty arrangements
• Leading or supporting lender negotiations, including amendments, waivers, and facility modifications

Commercial & Operational Legal Support

• Draft, review, and negotiate supplier, customer, vendor, and service agreements across operating entities
• Support real estate matters including leases, property acquisitions, and expansion of branch locations
• Provide legal guidance on commercial relationships, strategic business initiatives, and operational risk

Corporate Governance & Risk Management

• Oversee corporate governance across the full family of affiliated entities
• Maintain corporate records and ensure regulatory compliance across jurisdictions
• Identify legal risks and provide practical strategies to mitigate exposure
• Manage disputes and coordinate with outside counsel when specialized expertise or litigation support is required

Employment Law & Compliance

Provide foundational employment law guidance to support the company's multi-state workforce. Responsibilities include:

• Advising leadership and HR on employment matters including hiring practices, employee relations, terminations, wage and hour compliance, and workplace policies
• Reviewing and maintaining employment policies, handbooks, and compliance documentation
• Advising on sensitive workplace investigations when necessary
• Monitoring employment law developments across operating jurisdictions

Outside Counsel & Multi-State Legal Oversight

• Engage and manage outside counsel in all jurisdictions where the company operates
• Ensure legal matters across multiple states are handled efficiently and aligned with business priorities
• Build a cost-effective network of specialists for tax, litigation, real estate, and regulatory matters

Strategic Advisor to Ownership & Executive Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to ownership and executive leadership on all legal and risk matters
• Translate complex legal issues into clear, practical guidance for operational leaders
• Provide pragmatic advice that balances risk management with operational efficiency
• Proactively identify emerging legal issues before they become business problems

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school; licensed to practice law in Texas (or eligible for admission)
• 8-15+ years of legal experience, with a combination of law firm and in-house experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience with entity formation, LP/LLC governance, and multi-entity structural matters
• Experience with commercial credit agreements, banking relationships, and cross-collateral legal strategy
• Strong background in commercial contracts, corporate governance, and operational legal matters
• Familiarity with multi-entity employment structures and the intersection of entity design and employment compliance
• Experience advising privately held, founder-led, or family-owned businesses
• Ability to provide clear, pragmatic legal advice in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Experience managing outside counsel and multi-jurisdiction legal matters

Preferred: Industry background in distribution, industrial, construction, manufacturing, or real estate. Admission to additional state bars is a plus.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and performance-based bonus
• Direct collaboration with ownership and executive leadership
• Opportunity to build and shape the internal legal function from the ground up
• Meaningful exposure to entity structuring, credit strategy, and multi-state business operations
• A high-trust, entrepreneurial culture focused on growth and long-term relationships