Counsel

Air Liquide USA LLC; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Liquide USA LLC in Houston seeks a Counsel to support the North American Cluster's legal team by advising on commercial contracts, mitigating risk, and ensuring regulatory compliance across business units. The role offers exposure to diverse matters, including governance, real estate, and acquisitions, with collaboration across management, sales, and external counsel.

Applicants must be licensed, with 3–5 years of experience drafting and negotiating contracts, and proficiency in MS Office

Qualifications

• Bar admission in at least one US state or in Canada.
• 3–5 years drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Experience in a law firm or in-house legal department preferred.
• Proficient with MS Office and Google Workspace.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and review commercial contracts across multiple units.
• Prepare and revise standard form contracts.
• Assess contractual provisions for risk and exposure.
• Advise business stakeholders on terms and strategic initiatives.
• Support management on contract disputes and potential settlements.
• Conduct legal research and monitor regulatory changes.

Skills

Contract drafting

Contract negotiation

Legal research

Communication

Independent work

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Tools

MS Office

G Suite

Job description

R10097460 Counsel (Open)

Location: Houston, TX (HO) - NAM Corporate

World leader in gases, technologies and services for Industry and Health, Air Liquide is present in 80 countries with approximately 66,000 employees and serves more than 3,6 million customers and patients. Oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen have been at the core of the company's activities since its creation in 1902. Air Liquide's ambition is to be the leader in its industry, delivering long-term performance and acting responsibly.

How will you CONTRIBUTE and GROW?

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the unique perspectives of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders, and cultures across the world. We believe that a variety of backgrounds makes our team stronger and more innovative.

This role plays an integral role in the day-to-day needs of Air Liquide's North American Cluster's legal team, as well as the Company's business associates. This position offers exposure to a broad array of legal and business matters. The candidate will provide guidance related to commercial contracts to assure legal compliance, adherence to contract guidelines, and mitigation of risk. Additionally, the candidate will work closely with the in-house team, management, business, and sales associates on diverse subject matters, including commercial issues, mitigating pre-litigation risk, and regulatory compliance.

Job Responsibilities:

• Draft, negotiate, and review commercial contracts in support of multiple business units, including product sale agreements, master service agreements, product supply agreements, equipment sale agreements, and other customer and vendor related agreements
• Prepare and revise company's standard form contracts as well as acceptable alternative language
• Interpret contractual provisions to analyze possible legal and business exposure
• Provide counsel to business stakeholders on contractual terms and associated risks (especially in instances where agreements deviate from the company's standard positions), strategic initiatives, corporate planning, and customer and supplier relationships
• Apply knowledge of company's business and industry to ensure non-standard contracts contain all necessary provisions for protection of company assets and mitigation of business and legal risk
• Provide support to management and sales teams on general legal matters and in contract disputes including providing guidance on contract interpretation and breach of contract matters, as well as advice to leadership and sales teams on potential customer claims and disputes with a view to reaching commercial settlement and avoiding litigation, where advisable.
• Conducting research on applicable laws and regulations regarding commercial matters
• Maintain awareness of applicable legal and regulatory changes and their impact the Company
• Provide training of Company personnel in contract practices and negotiation strategies
• Motivate and communicate effectively with individuals at various levels both inside and outside of the Air Liquide organization
• Coordinating and collaborating with other Air Liquide departments with respect to corporate governance, compliance, tax, and intellectual property matters impacting the Company
• Assisting with other matters as assigned, including corporate governance, real estate transactions, marketing matters, and mergers and acquisitions

Are you a MATCH?

Required Qualifications:

• Licensed to practice law and in good standing in a state bar of at least one US state or province or territory of Canada.
• Candidates must have valid employment authorization in the U.S. and must not require visa sponsorship now or in the future. This position is not open for non-immigrant visa sponsorship.
• 3-5 years of experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts with a law firm or in-house legal department
• Law Firm experience preferred
• Proficiency in MS Office applications and G Suite

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities within deadlines
• Self-starter with ability to perform without significant direct supervision
• Strong team player; excellent problem solver and business advisor
• Detail-oriented individual with ability to function effectively in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to interface and communicate with a large number of diverse internal groups, at all levels of the organization, fellow in-house counsel, external counsel, customers, and vendors
• Strong interpersonal and negotiating skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to travel occasionally

Our Differences make our Performance

At Air Liquide, we are committed to build a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces the diversity of our employees, our customers, patients, community stakeholders and cultures across the world.

We welcome and consider applications from all qualified applicants, regardless of their background. We strongly believe a diverse organization opens up opportunities for people to express their talent, both individually and collectively and it helps foster our ability to innovate by living our fundamentals, acting for our success and creating an engaging environment in a changing world.