In-House Counsel: Contracts, Compliance & M&A

Critical Materials Group; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Critical Materials Group (CMG) is seeking an In-House Counsel to build and lead the company’s legal function, reporting to the CEO. The role covers commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, employment law support, and transactional/M&A work as CMG scales.

The successful candidate will be CMG’s first dedicated in-house lawyer, partnering with executive leadership to manage risk, outside counsel, and corporate governance across Texas and Colorado.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active license to practice law (Texas bar admission or in-house registration).
• 7+ years of legal experience, including in-house or law firm work in commercial contracts and corporate law.
• Experience supporting government contracts and familiarity with federal procurement requirements.
• Ability to operate as a “department of one” in a fast-moving startup/manufacturing environment.
• Strong judgment on when to use internal handling vs. outside counsel.

Responsibilities

• Serve as CMG's first in-house lawyer, building the legal function and advising the CEO and executive team.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts across CMG's lines of business.
• Advise on regulatory compliance including ATF explosives licensing and ITAR/export control matters.
• Support government contracts work, including compliance with federal procurement regs for military and law-enforcement programs.
• Provide legal support for corporate transactions, including M&A due diligence and integration.
• Partner with HR on employment law matters and multi-state employment compliance as CMG scales across TX and CO.
• Manage outside counsel relationships and legal spend for specialty areas.
• Advise leadership on risk management, insurance, and liability issues for manufacturing and explosives operations.
• Maintain contract management and corporate records systems.

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Critical Materials Group (CMG) is seeking an In-House Counsel to build and lead the company’s legal function, reporting to the CEO. The role covers commercial contracts, regulatory compliance, employment law support, and transactional/M&A work as CMG scales.

The successful candidate will be CMG’s first dedicated in-house lawyer, partnering with executive leadership to manage risk, outside counsel, and corporate governance across Texas and Colorado.