Counsel

Air Liquide; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Air Liquide, a world leader in gases and services, seeks a Counsel in Houston to support North American corporate legal needs. The role focuses on drafting, negotiating and reviewing commercial contracts across business units, with emphasis on risk mitigation and regulatory compliance.

You will collaborate with in-house teams, management, sales and customers on diverse topics, ensuring contracts align with company guidelines and protect assets.

Qualifications

• Licensed to practice law in at least one US state or in Canada.
• 3–5 years drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts.
• U.S. work authorization; no visa sponsor needed now or in future.
• Law firm or in-house experience preferred.
• Proficiency with MS Office and G Suite.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate, and review commercial contracts for multiple business units.
• Prepare and revise standard form contracts and acceptable alternatives.
• Explain contract terms, risks, and deviations to stakeholders.
• advise on business initiatives, corporate planning, and customer relations
• Ensure non-standard contracts include protections for company assets and risk mitigation.
• Provide support on contract disputes and guidance on settlements to avoid litigation.
• Research applicable laws and regulatory changes affecting commercial matters.
• Maintain awareness of legal/regulatory impact on the Company.
• Provide training on contract practices and negotiation strategies.
• Collaborate with governance, tax, IP, and other departments as needed.

Skills

Independent work

Multi-priority handling

Team player

Detail-oriented

Verbal & written communication

Interfacing with internal/external"

Negotiation skills

Organizational skills

Travel willingness

Education

Law license in US/Canada

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.

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.