Associate Counsel

Location: On Site - South Houston, Texas, United States

About the Opportunity:

A growing retailer is seeking an Associate Counsel to join its in-house legal team and provide practical, business-focused legal support across employment matters, litigation, and general commercial issues.

The role will work closely with human resources, business leaders, internal stakeholders, and outside counsel in a fast-paced environment. The position offers broad exposure to employment law, workplace investigations, litigation, contracts, property-related matters, vendor relationships, and other business and legal matters.

Responsibilities:

• Provide legal guidance on matters arising under federal, state, and local employment laws, including discrimination, leave, wage-and-hour, accommodation, and workplace conduct requirements.
• Assist with employment litigation, including investigations, pleadings, motions, discovery, depositions, hearings, trials, and appeals.
• Prepare responses to administrative charges and inquiries from government agencies.
• Conduct and support workplace investigations involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour concerns, misconduct, and other employee complaints.
• Handle or assist with commercial disputes involving contracts, vendors, property, construction, business relationships, and other general commercial matters.
• Manage or assist with pre-litigation matters, demand letters, subpoenas, preservation notices, litigation holds, discovery, and document collection.
• Coordinate with outside counsel and internal stakeholders regarding litigation strategy, budgets, discovery, case status, and resolution.
• Draft, review, and negotiate settlement agreements, separation agreements, releases, confidentiality agreements, commercial agreements, and other legal documents.
• Advise human resources professionals, managers, and business leaders on employment-related decisions, including hiring, discipline, performance management, accommodations, leaves, compliance, investigations, and terminations.
• Conduct legal research and monitor changes in applicable laws and regulations.
• Maintain organized matter files, track deadlines, and communicate practical legal recommendations to business stakeholders.

Must-Have Skills:

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school & in good standing with Texas State law.
• Two to five years of relevant employment law experience in-house or at a law firm.
• In-house commercial litigation experience.
• Strong knowledge of the ADA, FMLA, FLSA, Title VII, ADEA, and related federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Experience conducting workplace investigations, witness interviews, fact investigations, discovery, and document review.
• Experience with employment and commercial litigation, including legal research, drafting, depositions, and case management.
• Strong legal research, analytical, writing, negotiation, and oral communication skills.
• Ability to provide practical legal advice, manage multiple priorities, exercise sound judgment, and protect confidential information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft applications and legal research platforms such as Lexis or Westlaw.

Nice-to-Have Skills:

• Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial agreements.
• Experience with property, construction, vendor, or other operational business matters.
• Experience managing outside counsel, litigation budgets, discovery strategy, and dispute resolution.
• Familiarity with employment policies, procedures, agreements, forms, and training materials.