Associate Legal Counsel

Mitsui & Co. Energy Marketing and Services (USA), Inc.; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Mitsui & Co. Energy Marketing and Services (USA), Inc. (MEMS) seeks an Associate Legal Counsel to act as an in-house attorney supporting MEMS Legal in commodity trading and commercial operations.

The role is developmental with a strong legal operations component, reporting to the senior MEMS Legal Manager. The position emphasizes contract review, research, issue spotting, regulatory and compliance support, and document management.

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited U.S. law school.
• 1–3 years of relevant legal experience; strong academic background acceptable.
• Knowledge of corporate, contract, commercial or energy-related law.
• Experience with contract management systems preferred.
• Experience in energy/commodities is highly desired.
• Licensed to practice in Texas or eligible for Texas admission.

Responsibilities

• Assist senior MEMS legal personnel with support to commodity trading and commercial teams.
• Draft, review, and revise commercial commodity agreements and related documents.
• Conduct legal research and prepare summaries, issue lists, risk assessments.
• Identify risk issues in commercial agreements and support regulatory/compliance activities.
• Support contract administration, document management, and legal operations workflows.
• Provide parity in administration and paralegal-type tasks as needed.

Skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Contract drafting

Legal research

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

Contract management systems

Job description

Summary

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.

Summary

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. Associate Counsel will work under the supervision of senior MEMS Legal Manager and will assist with contract review, legal research, issue spotting, regulatory and compliance support, contract administration, document management, matter intake, execution coordination, legal trackers, and other legal department support functions (including administrative / paralegal-type legal support tasks).

Essential Functions & 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.
  
  

Required Education, Experience & Skills

• 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.
• Knowledge of corporate law, contract law, commercial transactions, or energy-related legal issues preferred.
• Prior experience with contract management systems, 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.
  
  

Language Skills

• Fluent verbal and written skills in English.
  
  

Licences, Certificates, Registrations

• Must be currently licensed and good standing to practice law by the State Bar of Texas.
  
  

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).
  
  

This position description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Employees may be required to perform any other job-related instructions as requested by their leader, subject to reasonable accommodation.

MEMS is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability.