Principal Legal Counsel

Our client, a growing international organization, is seeking an experienced Principal Legal Counsel to lead legal matters across the Americas.Based in Houston, Texas, this is a senior, standalone legal position with responsibility for supporting business operations across the United States, Central America, and Latin America. The successful candidate will serve as the primary legal adviser to regional leadership while contributing to broader global legal, governance, and compliance initiatives.This is an exceptional opportunity for a commercially minded attorney who enjoys working in a lean, fast-paced international business environment. The role offers substantial autonomy, direct access to senior executives, and the opportunity to influence business strategy, commercial negotiations, market expansion, and risk management across multiple jurisdictions.Fluency in both English and Spanish is mandatory. Candidates with experience supporting businesses or transactions in Latin America are strongly preferred, particularly those comfortable navigating cross-border commercial matters and diverse legal environments.Our client is looking to move quickly, making this an excellent opportunity for a qualified attorney who is ready to take on a high-impact regional leadership role. Key ResponsibilitiesRegional Legal Leadership

• Serve as the primary legal adviser for the Americas, providing practical, commercially focused guidance to regional executives and business stakeholders.
• Advise leadership on legal risks, commercial opportunities, contractual obligations, and business decisions.
• Support business growth and expansion across the United States, Central America, and Latin America.
• Balance regional business priorities with global legal policies, standards, and strategic objectives.
• Exercise independent judgment while identifying matters requiring escalation to global legal leadership.

Commercial Contracts and Negotiations

• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a broad range of commercial agreements, including:
  • Distribution and supply agreements.
  • Licensing and intellectual property agreements.
  • Consultancy and service agreements.
  • Marketing, sponsorship, and promotional agreements.
  • Strategic partnerships and other commercial contracts.
• Provide legal guidance on contract terms, commercial risks, liability, indemnification, and dispute resolution.
• Partner with business teams to develop commercially sound agreements that protect the organization while supporting business objectives.
• Improve contract templates, approval processes, and legal workflows to enhance efficiency and consistency.

Compliance, Governance and Risk Management

• Collaborate with global compliance stakeholders to implement and maintain the organization's compliance program across the region.
• Identify, assess, and help mitigate legal, regulatory, and commercial risks.
• Oversee corporate governance and company secretarial matters across relevant regional entities.
• Support internal policies, legal controls, and compliance initiatives.
• Provide training to business stakeholders on contractual obligations, legal processes, compliance requirements, and other relevant legal topics.

Dispute Resolution and External Counsel Management

• Manage regional disputes, claims, and potential litigation in coordination with internal stakeholders and external legal advisers.
• Develop practical strategies for dispute resolution, settlement, and risk mitigation.
• Select, coordinate, and oversee external counsel across multiple jurisdictions.
• Monitor legal spend and ensure external legal services are efficient, commercially appropriate, and aligned with business needs.

Strategic Projects, Market Expansion and Transactions

• Lead the legal workstream for strategic projects, new market entries, business expansion, and potential mergers and acquisitions.
• Provide legal support for cross-border transactions, partnerships, and commercial initiatives.
• Assess jurisdiction-specific legal considerations and coordinate local legal expertise where required.
• Partner with regional and global leadership to facilitate business growth while maintaining appropriate legal protections and governance standards.

Cross-Border Business Partnership

• Communicate complex legal issues clearly and effectively to non-legal stakeholders in both English and Spanish.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across multiple countries, cultures, and time zones.
• Support legal matters involving Latin American markets, coordinating with local counsel and internal teams as needed.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of global legal practices, processes, and ways of working.

Qualifications and Experience

• Licensed and qualified to practice law in the United States.
• Approximately six years of post-qualification legal experience in a law firm, in-house legal department, or a combination of both.
• Broad commercial legal experience, including contract drafting, negotiation, and risk management.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Spanish is essential.
• Experience advising business executives, senior management, and commercial teams.
• Strong commercial judgment and the ability to balance legal risk with business objectives.
• Experience managing multiple priorities, competing deadlines, and complex legal matters independently.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively across jurisdictions, cultures, and international time zones.

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience supporting businesses, clients, or transactions in Latin America.
• Experience in lubricants, energy, manufacturing, distribution, licensing, or another international commercial industry.
• Familiarity with cross-border transactions, intellectual property licensing, corporate governance, and compliance programs.
• Working knowledge of Brazilian Portuguese.
• Experience managing external counsel and legal matters across multiple countries.

Key CompetenciesThe successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Commercial mindset: Delivers practical legal solutions that enable business growth while managing risk.
• Strong negotiation skills: Protects organizational interests while maintaining productive commercial relationships.
• Executive-level communication: Explains complex legal issues in clear, concise, business-friendly language.
• Autonomy and accountability: Comfortable leading a regional legal function with limited local support.
• Cross-cultural effectiveness: Builds trusted relationships across countries, cultures, and organizational levels.
• Prioritization and adaptability: Manages multiple matters efficiently in a fast-moving environment.
• Integrity and sound judgment: Handles sensitive legal, commercial, and confidential matters with discretion.
• Collaborative leadership: Works effectively with global legal leadership, regional executives, compliance teams, and external advisers.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Regional ownership: Lead the legal agenda across the United States, Central America, and Latin America.
• High executive visibility: Partner directly with regional leadership and global legal stakeholders.
• International scope: Work on commercial agreements, licensing, compliance, disputes, and strategic transactions across multiple jurisdictions.
• Meaningful autonomy: Shape legal processes and advise the business on market expansion and commercial opportunities.
• Career impact: Play a central role in supporting the growth of an international business across the Americas.

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