Senior Environmental Lawyer - 371518

Job ID: 371518

Practice area:- Environmental and Land Use - General,Environmental Law - Transactions & Compliance

Job Overview
A respected international law firm is actively seeking a Senior Environmental & Land Use Attorney to support complex Texas-based infrastructure and energy projects. The ideal candidate will bring substantial experience in Texas environmental and land use law, with demonstrated success advising clients in the development, financing, and regulatory compliance of large-scale renewable energy and infrastructure initiatives. This position involves collaborating with developers, sponsors, and lenders on a wide range of matters, including carbon capture, hydrogen, and other energy transition technologies advancing across the state.

Location

• Houston, TX

Duties

• Provide legal counsel on environmental permitting and land use entitlements within Texas jurisdictions

• Engage with regulatory bodies including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), and municipal permitting authorities

• Advise clients on air, water, wetlands, endangered species, underground injection control (UIC), and offshore permitting matters

• Oversee environmental reviews under NEPA and applicable state or local programs

• Lead due diligence and contract negotiation for project finance and M&A transactions involving Texas-based energy and infrastructure assets

• Counsel on environmental risk allocation, including indemnities, warranties, and compliance provisions

• Coordinate with project finance counsel, sponsors, and lenders on permitting and compliance-related issues affecting project bankability

• Review and analyze Phase I/II ESAs, biological assessments, cultural resource surveys, and wetlands delineations

• Interpret environmental restrictions and compliance issues in title and survey documentation

• Advise on ESA compliance, habitat conservation plans, and proceedings before the Texas Public Utility Commission

• Support clients with carbon markets, CCS, and emerging clean energy technology projects

• Provide insight on environmental considerations in cross-border and international infrastructure deals

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in environmental and land use law

• Extensive knowledge of Texas regulatory agencies and land entitlement processes

• Proven experience handling permitting, environmental reviews, and transactional support for energy or infrastructure developments

• Familiarity with real estate and contaminated site liability under CERCLA, RCRA, and state equivalents

• Strong background advising clients in fast-paced, multi-stakeholder project environments

Education

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited U.S. law school

Certifications

• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction

• Texas Bar admission preferred

Skills

• Proficiency in Texas environmental and land use laws, including municipal and state processes

• Ability to negotiate complex environmental provisions in transactional documents

• Strong analytical skills in reviewing technical environmental reports and legal documentation

• Skilled in advising on compliance, permitting strategies, and environmental risk mitigation

• Excellent communication skills for interfacing with government agencies, clients, and cross-functional teams

• Understanding of cutting-edge clean energy sectors and related regulatory frameworks

Benefits

• Inclusive fertility and family-forming benefits (Carrot Fertility)

• $2,500 vacation stipend for meeting billable thresholds

• Health and wellness support including:

  • Free Peloton app membership

  • Lyra Health (8 therapy or coaching sessions per year)

  • Spot Pet Insurance

• Reimbursement for business development and client relationship activities

• Executive coaching for lawyers with 250 business development hours

• 8 hours of paid time annually for pro bono or community service initiatives

• $50,000 lateral attorney referral bonus

• Competitive benefits package including:

  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage

  • Life and disability insurance

  • Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)

  • 401(k) savings plan with potential profit-sharing eligibility

• Paid time off program includes:

  • Minimum of 20 PTO days (based on role and tenure)

  • 14 weeks of paid parental leave

  • 11 firm-paid holidays per year

BCG Attorney Search is the industry leader for placing candidates in permanent positions in law firms. Since 2000, our recruiters have placed several thousand attorneys and enjoyed extraordinarily high success rates with our candidates. As a BCG Attorney Search candidate, you have access to more opportunities than any legal placement firm in the United States. We are able to offer the most in-depth insight in the legal recruiting market thanks to our dedicated team of over 150 employees who mercilessly research, study and analyze the legal market. The depth and breadth of our research empowers us to place attorneys at rates that are unparalleled at any placement firm in the United States. Many of our recruiters make 30 to 40 placements per year, while recruiters at competitor firms are likely to make four or five. Unlike other placement firms that can only tell you about openings at major AmLaw firms, we place candidates of all backgrounds in firms of all sizes. While other legal recruiters only represent a narrow band of candidates from top law firms and top law schools, our research, firm contacts, and market insight allow us to place hundreds of candidates each year who do not fit this mold. It is rare that we do not get candidates we represent interviews and offers. No one in the world is better at legal recruiting and placement than BCG Attorney Search.

BCG Attorney Search will confidentially review your application and will not forward your materials to the firm without first discussing the opportunity with you.