Legal Counsel [HOU]

Hanwha Ocean EPU; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Ocean EPU in Houston seeks a Legal Counsel responsible for providing advice on contracts, governance, compliance, and data privacy across EPC/EPCI and industrial projects. You will draft and negotiate commercial agreements, support regulatory filings, coordinate with outside counsel, and work with procurement, finance, HR, IT, operations, and project teams.

Candidates should have a JD from a US law school, 5–8 years of relevant experience, strong drafting and negotiation skills, and

Qualifications

• JD or equivalent with US licensure to practice law.
• 5–8 years of legal experience in contracts, governance, or compliance.
• Strong drafting, negotiation, and contract review skills.
• Ability to provide practical, business-oriented advice.
• Experience with data privacy and cross-border matters.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice on contractual and commercial matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate NDAs, service agreements, and vendor contracts.
• Support governance, regulatory filings, and internal approvals.
• Coordinate with external counsel on assigned matters.
• Identify risks and propose mitigation actions.

Skills

Drafting

Negotiation

Contract review

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional work

English fluency

Governance

Compliance knowledge

Data privacy

Cross-border matters

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited US law school

Law degree from an accredited institution

Equivalent legal qualification

Job description

Location

Houston, TX, US, 77079

Requisition ID

1767

Introduction

At Hanwha Ocean EPU, we empower our people to engineer the future of sustainable energy through meaningful work on cutting‑edge offshore, onshore, and global infrastructure projects that create lasting impact for industries and communities worldwide. As we evolve into a comprehensive EPCI(O) solutions provider, our expanding portfolio now spans FPSO, FLNG, floating production units, renewables, onshore power generation, and future centric infrastructure projects. Our globally connected teams collaborate across regions and disciplines to solve complex engineering challenges and deliver world‑class end‑to‑end solutions. Explore opportunities to be part of our dynamic team at the Energy Plant Unit and contribute to groundbreaking projects that redefine the onshore and offshore industry. #OneEPU

“Build, what matters. Grow, without limits. Power, the future with Hanwha Ocean EPU.”

Position Overview

The Legal Counsel [Legal 2] is responsible for providing legal advice and managing moderately complex contract, corporate, compliance, governance, and commercial matters for business and project teams. This role reviews and negotiates commercial agreements, supports regulatory and compliance initiatives, coordinates with outside counsel, and helps mitigate legal risk across corporate functions and project execution activities. The position works with internal clients including procurement, finance, HR, IT, operations, commercial, supply chain, and project teams to provide practical, business‑oriented legal guidance. It also supports contract administration, claims avoidance, corporate records, data privacy, and policy implementation. This role requires solid legal experience, strong drafting and negotiation capability, and the ability to manage assigned legal matters with moderate independence in offshore, onshore, EPC/EPCI, energy, or industrial project environments.

Key Responsibility

• Provide legal advice to business functions and project teams on contractual, commercial, corporate, compliance, procurement, and operational matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, NDAs, service agreements, vendor contracts, procurement terms, intercompany agreements, and contract amendments.
• Support contract risk assessment, contractual clarifications, notices, change requests, warranty matters, claims support, and dispute avoidance activities.
• Advise on corporate governance, entity management, delegated authority, corporate records, regulatory filings, and internal approval processes.
• Support compliance, ethics, anti‑corruption, trade compliance, data privacy, records management, and internal policy implementation.
• Coordinate with external counsel on assigned matters, including scope, documentation, status tracking, and budget awareness.
• Partner with HR, procurement, finance, IT, operations, commercial, and project teams to align legal advice with business needs.
• Identify legal and commercial risks and recommend practical mitigation actions to senior legal personnel and business stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate legal files, templates, contract records, and auditable documentation for assigned workstreams.

Qualification

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited US law school or equivalent qualification permitting practice in the United States.
• Law degree from an accredited institution or equivalent legal qualification.
• Minimum 5~8 years of legal experience, including law firm or in‑house experience focused on commercial contracts, corporate law, governance, compliance, or project‑related legal matters.
• Solid drafting, negotiation, analytical, and contract review skills.
• Working knowledge of corporate governance, compliance requirements, contract management, and commercial legal risk mitigation.
• Ability to provide practical, business‑oriented legal advice and coordinate with multidisciplinary stakeholders.
• Good English communication skills for contract negotiation, legal documentation, and internal reporting.
• Experience in energy, oil and gas, offshore, FPSO, EPC/EPCI, shipbuilding, infrastructure, or industrial project environments.
• Experience managing or coordinating external counsel and supporting cross‑border commercial matters.
• Experience with data privacy, compliance, dispute avoidance, claims support, or contract lifecycle management.

Diversity and Inclusion

Hanwha believes that diversity and inclusion are vital to our success. We believe that by embracing different ideas and approaches, we enhance our ability to deliver the best results for our employees, our environment, and ultimately our business partners and customers. We foster a culture where all colleagues are able to share their passions and ideas in order that we may collectively embrace and overcome the challenges in our industry, and work toward a brighter future.

Hanwha is an Equal Opportunity / Affimative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status, age, or any other federally protected class.

Nearest Major Market: Houston