Associate / Attorney - CAPITAL MARKETS

Watts & Associates Recruitment; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 235,000 - 365,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance-based bonus

Comprehensive medical, dental, vision,

Life insurance

Paid family leave

Structured training and development

Secondment opportunities

Pro bono programs

Job summary

Watts & Associates seeks a mid-level Capital Markets Associate in Houston, TX to lead and support sophisticated securities offerings for major institutions. The role offers direct partner exposure and significant ownership on active deal teams within a global platform.

The ideal candidate has 3–5 years in capital markets, strong drafting and negotiation skills, and experience representing underwriters and issuers in IPOs and follow-on offerings.

Qualifications

• Three to five years of capital markets and securities offerings experience.
• Experience within a sophisticated law firm or comparable transactional environment.
• Meaningful experience representing underwriters, issuers and placement agents.
• Proven exposure to IPOs, follow-on offerings and other public securities transactions.
• Experience with equity offerings, debt offerings and private placements.
• Strong drafting, negotiation and transaction-management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and coordinate complex deal processes.
• Strong commercial judgment and attention to detail.
• Confidence interacting directly with clients, opposing counsel and other advisers.
• Active membership in the Texas Bar or ability to obtain Texas admission promptly.
• Ability to work from the Houston office four days per week.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support public and private capital markets transactions.
• Represent underwriters, issuers and placement agents in securities offerings.
• Advise on IPOs, follow-on equity offerings, debt offerings and private placements.
• Draft and negotiate offering documents, purchase agreements, disclosure materials and related securities documentation.
• Take increasing ownership of transaction workstreams and deal-management responsibilities.
• Coordinate directly with clients, opposing counsel, financial institutions and other professional advisers.
• Manage transaction timelines, closing processes and competing commercial priorities.
• Identify and resolve legal, regulatory and commercial issues arising during transactions.
• Work closely with senior partners and cross-office teams on sophisticated domestic and international matters.
• Contribute to a growing Houston capital markets and corporate platform.

Skills

Capital markets

Securities offerings

Client interaction

Attention to detail

Education

JD from an accredited law school

Texas Bar admission or eligibility

Job description

CAPITAL MARKETS ASSOCIATE | HOUSTON, TX | HYBRID - 4 DAYS IN OFFICE | MID-LEVEL | $235,000-$365,000 + BONUS

Watts & Associates is working discreetly with a highly regarded Am Law-ranked global full-service firm, recognised by Chambers and The Legal 500 for its corporate capabilities, seeking a mid-level Capital Markets Associate to join its Houston, Texas office.

This opportunity offers direct access to sophisticated public and private securities offerings for major financial institutions and corporate clients, with meaningful responsibility from day one.

The successful attorney will work closely with senior partners within a collaborative, high-performing capital markets team that provides substantive transactional ownership, international exposure, structured professional development and a credible route to long-term advancement.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Am Law-ranked global platform with Chambers and Legal 500 recognition across its corporate, energy, financial services and litigation practices
• Approximately 1,500 attorneys across 29 international offices
• Sophisticated IPOs, follow-on offerings, debt offerings and private placements
• Representation of major financial institutions, multinational corporations, issuers, underwriters and placement agents
• Direct partner access and meaningful responsibility on active deal teams
• Cross-border collaboration and international transactional exposure
• Collaborative and inclusive culture focused on accessibility, mentorship and teamwork
• Continued investment in legal technology, innovation and AI-enabled processes
• Structured training, professional development and secondment opportunities
• Strong commitment to diversity, wellbeing, pro bono work and long-term career progression

The Role

The successful attorney will:

• Lead and support public and private capital markets transactions
• Represent underwriters, issuers and placement agents in securities offerings
• Advise on IPOs, follow-on equity offerings, debt offerings and private placements
• Draft and negotiate offering documents, purchase agreements, disclosure materials and related securities documentation
• Take increasing ownership of transaction workstreams and deal-management responsibilities
• Coordinate directly with clients, opposing counsel, financial institutions and other professional advisers
• Manage transaction timelines, closing processes and competing commercial priorities
• Identify and resolve legal, regulatory and commercial issues arising during transactions
• Work closely with senior partners and cross-office teams on sophisticated domestic and international matters
• Contribute to a growing Houston capital markets and corporate platform

This is an excellent opportunity for an attorney seeking to take greater ownership of sophisticated transactions, strengthen relationships with institutional clients and build a long-term career within a globally recognised platform.

Ideal Candidate

The firm is seeking an attorney with:

• Three to five years of capital markets and securities offerings experience
• Experience gained within a sophisticated law firm or comparable transactional environment
• Meaningful experience representing underwriters, issuers and placement agents
• Proven exposure to IPOs, follow-on offerings and other public securities transactions
• Experience with equity offerings, debt offerings and private placements
• Strong drafting, negotiation and transaction-management skills
• The ability to manage multiple deadlines and coordinate complex deal processes
• Strong commercial judgment and exceptional attention to detail
• Confidence interacting directly with clients, opposing counsel and other advisers
• A strong academic record and JD from an accredited law school
• Active membership in the Texas Bar or the clear ability to obtain Texas admission promptly
• The ability to work from the Houston office four days per week

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated base salary range is $235,000-$365,000, depending on class year, experience and qualifications.

The broader package includes:

• Performance-based bonus opportunity aligned with Am Law peer firms
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision and life-insurance benefits
• Paid family leave and firm-paid time off
• Structured training and professional-development resources
• Secondment opportunities
• Meaningful pro bono and community-impact programmes

Confidentiality

The firm's identity will be disclosed during a confidential conversation with Watts & Associates.