Counsel, Litigation

Western Midstream; The Woodlands (TX); Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Midstream seeks a Counsel, Litigation to provide comprehensive legal support across the company’s litigation matters, including commercial, tort, and employment issues. The role requires managing disputes, investigations, and working with outside counsel while advising HR and business leaders on risk mitigation.

The ideal candidate is proactive, hands‑on, and strategic, capable of handling day‑to‑day legal work in a fast‑paced energy environment and partnering with personnel at all

Qualifications

• Must have J.D. from an accredited law school and be licensed to practice in Texas.
• Minimum of 4+ years of relevant litigation experience.
• Strong legal writing, analytical, investigative, and advocacy skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage commercial, contract, personal injury, property damage, and employment‑related litigation.
• Lead discovery and investigations; supervise outside counsel and coordinate with stakeholders.
• Advise HR and management on employee discipline, performance, and workplace policies.
• Collaborate with business teams to identify and mitigate legal risks and support dispute resolution efforts.
• Identify recurring litigation risks and develop best practices for dispute management.

Skills

Litigation experience

Legal writing

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Education

J.D. from ABA-accredited law school

Job description

Job Summary

The Counsel, Litigation position provides legal support across the Company's litigation matters, including commercial, tort, and employment controversies. This attorney will manage disputes and investigations, work with outside counsel, advise Human Resources and business leaders, and help mitigate legal risk through practical counseling and proactive initiatives. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on, proactive lawyer who can think strategically while also managing day‑to‑day legal work. The attorney must be comfortable operating in a fast‑paced business environment and partnering with all levels of personnel across the organization.

Job Summary

The Counsel, Litigation position provides legal support across the Company's litigation matters, including commercial, tort, and employment controversies. This attorney will manage disputes and investigations, work with outside counsel, advise Human Resources and business leaders, and help mitigate legal risk through practical counseling and proactive initiatives. The ideal candidate is a hands‑on, proactive lawyer who can think strategically while also managing day‑to‑day legal work. The attorney must be comfortable operating in a fast‑paced business environment and partnering with all levels of personnel across the organization.

Essential Responsibilities

• Litigation Management
• Manage commercial, contract, personal injury, property damage, and employment‑related litigation
• Develop litigation strategy in partnership with business stakeholders and outside counsel
• Direct and manage outside counsel to ensure effective and efficient representation across discovery, motion practice, mediation, arbitration, and trial
• Evaluate claims, defenses, settlement opportunities, and litigation risk
• Manage litigation budgets and outside counsel expenditures
• Discovery and Case Factfinding
• Lead factual investigations relating to litigation, employment matters, and government inquiries
• Manage fact finding through witness interviews and document preservation, collection, and review, including managing legal holds and e‑discovery processes
• Assist with responses to subpoenas, civil investigative demands, and regulatory requests
• Employment & Human Resources Support
• Advise HR and management regarding employee discipline and performance management; wage-and-hour compliance; leave and accommodation issues; workplace policies and employee relations matters; workforce reorganizations
• Review and advise on employment agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, separation agreements, and related employment documents
• Assist in developing and maintaining employment policies, handbooks, and workplace procedures
• Manage employment litigation and administrative proceedings, including matters before the EEOC and state agencies
• Business Support
• Collaborate with business teams to identify and mitigate legal risks
• Assist in resolving disputes before formal litigation arises
• Support contract interpretation, enforcement, and dispute‑resolution efforts
• Financial & Strategic Responsibilities
• Identify recurring litigation and employment risks and recommend preventative measures
• Develop and implement best practices for dispute management, investigations, and employment compliance
• Monitor emerging legal developments affecting the energy and midstream industries

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Active license to practice law in Texas
• 4+ years of relevant litigation experience
• Meaningful experience in complex commercial litigation and tort litigation including active speaking roles in proceedings such as hearings and depositions. Labor and employment experience preferred but not required
• Experience with handling multiple matters simultaneously
• Strong legal writing, analytical, investigative, and advocacy skills

Key Competencies

• Intellectual curiosity and ownership mentality, comfortable with accountability and taking initiative to address matters even if not squarely within immediate area of responsibility
• Ability to analyze issues, make decisions, and provide deliverables amid imperfect information. Sound judgment and analytical thinking, including the ability to “see around corners” and anticipate consequences, even in unfamiliar areas of law and business operations
• Comfort with deadlines and complexity, with attention to detail
• Ability to work independently without waiting for direction, with ability to manage competing priorities
• Strong interpersonal and client‑service skills
• Excellent written and oral communication abilities
• Collaborative, team‑oriented approach
• Willingness to perform both strategic and hands‑on legal work

Relocation

• This position is not eligible for relocation.

Travel Requirements

• Travel will be required up to 10%.

Work Schedule

• This position follows a hybrid schedule working in office Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and working remote Wednesday and Friday. Monday-Thursday are 9 hours and Fridays are 4 hours.