Procurement Attorney

A law firm seeks a Procurement Attorney to join its team in Houston, Texas. This position is an exciting opportunity for an attorney with a strong background in procurement and contract law. The Procurement Attorney will support the firm’s procurement function by drafting, negotiating, and analyzing complex agreements with key vendors and third parties. This role also involves providing legal counsel to the procurement team, identifying legal risks, and ensuring compliance with various contractual and regulatory requirements. The position will report to the Deputy General Counsel and collaborate closely with various internal stakeholders, including procurement, operations, and information security teams.

Duties:

• Provide legal counsel on all aspects of contract drafting, negotiation, and compliance with vendors and third-party agreements.
• Analyze, draft, and negotiate a wide range of complex commercial contracts, such as master service agreements, IT supplier agreements, software licensing, data privacy agreements, and event agreements.
• Advise on vendor retentions related to case-specific or client-specific matters, including expert engagements, local counsel agreements, and eDiscovery contracts.
• Collaborate with departments such as operations, procurement, information security, and subject matter experts to ensure alignment across the firm.
• Identify legal and compliance risks in existing and new contracts, escalating as needed.
• Develop and maintain firm-wide templates for third-party contracts, draft playbooks, and provide training to ensure consistent contract standards.
• Stay up to date on legal developments and industry trends, incorporating relevant changes into the firm’s procurement agreements and templates.
• Review procurement processes and work with other departments to standardize contracting practices and policies.

Requirements:

• Strong negotiation, drafting, and contract management skills.
• Ability to communicate effectively with attorneys, staff, and internal stakeholders at all levels.
• High degree of organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced, complex environment.
• Critical thinking and attention to detail with the ability to develop creative solutions to complex legal problems.
• Strong decision-making skills, with an ability to maintain consistency and accuracy in legal documentation.
• Capacity to handle confidential information with the highest level of discretion.

Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.

Skills:

• Expertise in procurement, contract law, and commercial agreements.
• Familiarity with cloud-based solutions, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies.
• Strong legal research, analysis, and writing skills.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently as well as part of a collaborative team.
• Knowledge of data privacy and IT licensing agreements is a plus.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive healthcare coverage.
• Retirement benefits and 401(k) plan.
• Paid time off, including vacation and sick leave.
• Parental leave.
• Basic life insurance.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
• Performance-based discretionary bonuses.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for an attorney with procurement and contract law experience to work in a dynamic environment while collaborating with various teams across the firm.

This Vault 50 leading international law firm has been consistently ranked among the world's top law firms in industry surveys and major publications. Associates emphasize the firm's flexibility and the ability to work on cutting-edge, high-stakes matters with brilliant attorneys, as well as the ability to advise clients on some of today's most complex and significant matters. Associates described the firm as laid back and a BigLaw paradise. Associates are drawn to the firm's impressive reputation and headline hitting cases. One associate remarked at how happy he noticed attorneys working at this firm were. Junior attorneys obtain experience in document review and drafting, motion drafting, appellate brief drafting, first-chairing depositions, and working on memoranda for major clients. The firm is distinctively positioned in today's global marketplace and offers unparalleled, innovative thinking for clients with the most challenging needs. The attorneys at this firm aspire to handle all matters as partners with their clients. The firm leads retreats across its offices, allowing great networking opportunities. The firm also emphasizes a strong diversity and pro bono on its attorneys.