Legal Counsel

This role will:

 

1. Support the family's commitment to preserve the legacy of King Ranch

 

2. Help fulfill the Mission, Vision and Values of King Ranch...Our commitment is to balance existing operations and a deep appreciation for the historic home ranches while forging a future worthy of the  brand for all current and future stakeholders with the same bold ambition as Captain and Henrietta King.

Role Summary:

 

The Legal Counsel will provide legal support to all aspects of King Ranch's varied operations. This newly created role will work closely with the King Ranch Chief Counsel and all levels of management and provide trusted counsel on a variety of legal matters including M&A, regulatory, contractual, employment, litigation and intellectual property rights.  This role will also draft and review a wide variety of contracts across the firm and assist in dispute resolution when necessary. 

 

Responsibilities/Duties:

 

Internal Business Support

• Provide internal legal advice on business transactions, including acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures in a wide variety of areas including real estate, agriculture, energy and energy transition (carbon sequestration, solar etc.) and heavy equipment franchises.  
• Manage a database of corporate legal templates for future use including confidentiality agreements, hunting leases, general ground leases, ranch access, etc.

 

Litigation Support and Risk Management

         Assist in resolving disputes and legal claims, including coordinating litigation strategies and legal discovery when required with outside counsel.

• Support with claims handling and management, including managing budgets and expenses.

 

Intellectual Property

• Support with Company intellectual property matters and coordinate with outside counsel regarding the same.

 

Corporate Governance

• Assist with overall corporate governance including management and oversight of almost fifty legal entities.
• Provide continuing counsel and guidance on legal matters and on legal implications of matters, assuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Routinely learn new areas of law, including researching and advising on legal issues that he or she may not have encountered before

Required Skills/Abilities:

 

• Highly effective written and verbal communication skills: ability to communicate with a variety of contacts, including outside counsel, executive team, and all levels of business associates.
• Self-confidence and strong attention to detail.  High ethical standards and the ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Self-motivated, strong work ethic, positive attitude.
• Solution oriented.
• Ability and desire to continually learn about King Ranch, its business, and the areas of law at issue.
• Strong emotional intelligence.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as an ability to simultaneously handle multiple projects and prioritize tasks.

         Awareness of the need to balance business needs, legal obligations, and reputational risks in an objective, pragmatic, and business focused way.

• Ability to both ask good questions and to independently seek answers when possible.
• Ability to take ownership of tasks and see matters to completion.
• Strong drafting skills.
• Ability to travel.

Education and Experience:

 

         3 years of experience practicing corporate law at a top tier firm with a strong emphasis on contracts, preferably with in-house legal experience.          Member of the Texas State Bar in good standing.

 

Supervisory Responsibilities:

 

         This position currently has no supervisory responsibilities.

 

Physical Demands/Requirements:

 

• The physical demands of this role are representative of those that must be met by a lawyer to successfully perform the essential functions of that job within the scope of the above description.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

           

Additional Information:

 

         Must be a team player who is willing to cooperate with others.          Must be able to accept corrective criticism from supervisor.          Must be willing to take on a variety of assignments as assigned by management on an as-needed basis within the department and within other areas of King Ranch if necessary.           Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.          The role will be based in King Ranch's corporate office located in Houston, Texas.