Environmental - Senior Lawyer (Texas)

Company: Norton Rose Fulbright
Location: Houston
Posted on: May 3, 2025

Job Description:

Job DescriptionWe are a global law firm with a powerful strategic focus and real momentum. Our industry-focused strategy is seeing us take on pioneering work in places that others have yet to reach. Our shared values define our culture and our workplace. You will find us to be unusually collegial, team-oriented, and ready to innovate. We work seamlessly across practices, offices and around the world. This elimination of boundaries has allowed us to evolve into a law firm that works as hard for its culture as it does for its clients.Norton Rose Fulbright is seeking an experienced environmental and land use lawyer with at least 8 years of practice experience to join our Environmental & Mass Tort team, with a focus on Texas-based work. This role will play a key part in supporting the firm's market-leading Projects group on high-value, complex infrastructure, renewable energy, and power development matters across the state.The ideal candidate will have strong experience with Texas environmental and land use laws and regulatory bodies, including the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), and local permitting authorities. Familiarity with state and municipal entitlement processes is essential, especially in regions with active energy, petrochemical, and infrastructure development. The candidate should also be comfortable advising developers, sponsors, and lenders in project finance and M&A transactions involving Texas-based assets.This is a unique opportunity for a lawyer who thrives at the intersection of law, policy, finance, and innovation-including emerging areas such as carbon capture, hydrogen, and other energy transition technologies advancing in Texas.Key Requirements:Candidates should have at least 8 years of experience with environmental regulatory and local land use programs and demonstrated expertise in the following areas:

• Project and Facility Permitting: Proficiency in securing environmental permits and local/municipal entitlements, including those related to air, water, wetlands, endangered species, underground injection control (UIC), and offshore facilities. Experience with utility-scale renewable energy and power projects is highly valued.
• Environmental Review Processes: Deep understanding of NEPA and state or local equivalent environmental impacts assessment programs, with experience managing environmental reviews, coordinating with consultants and regulatory agencies, and supporting project development timelines.
• Contaminated Site Management: Familiarity with site assessment and remediation under CERCLA, RCRA, and relevant state waste management and remediation programs, particularly as it relates to real estate and project development risk.
• Transactional Due Diligence & Environmental Risk Allocation: Significant experience supporting project finance and M&A transactions, including conducting diligence, drafting and negotiating environmental terms in financing and purchase agreements, and advising on environmental representations, warranties, indemnities, and compliance covenants.
• Lender and Sponsor Coordination: Ability to work seamlessly with project finance counsel, developers, and lenders on environmental issues that impact bankability, including permitting status, compliance assessments, and risk mitigation strategies.Additional Qualifications:
  • Experience reviewing and analyzing third-party environmental reports (e.g., Phase I/II ESAs, biological assessments, wetlands delineations, cultural resource surveys).
  • Familiarity with title and survey review as it relates to environmental conditions, use restrictions, and institutional lender requirements.
  • Knowledge of land use law, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), habitat conservation planning, and state Public Utilities Commission processes.
  • Experience with carbon markets, carbon capture and storage (CCS), and broader energy transition technologies.
  • Exposure to cross-border energy or infrastructure projects and international environmental compliance frameworks is a plus.Top 5 Reasons to Join Norton Rose FulbrightWe're committed to your professional and personal growth. Here's what sets us apart:1. Well-Being & InclusionThrive in a workplace that values a people-first culture, work-life balance, and overall well-being. Enjoy:
    • Carrot Fertility: Inclusive family-forming benefits for all full-time employees.
    • Vacation Award: Earn a $2,500 vacation stipend after meeting billable thresholds.
    • Wellness Perks: Free Peloton app membership, Lyra mental health support (8 free therapy or coaching sessions), and Spot Pet Insurance for your furry companions.2. Growth & Career DevelopmentAdvance your career with hands-on experience, sector-specific expertise, and leadership opportunities.
      • Business Development Support: Reimbursement for relationship-building activities.
      • Executive Coaching: Eligible lawyers with 250+ BD hours receive firm-sponsored coaching.3. Global Reach, Local ImpactWork on cross-border deals, international clients, and high-profile projects while making a difference in your local community.
        • Pro Bono & Volunteer Time: All non-partner lawyers receive 8 hours of firm time per year for community service.4. Collaborative Culture, World-Class TalentJoin a team that fosters mentorship, innovation, and professional excellence.
          • Referral Bonus: Earn $50,000 for referring top-tier legal talent who join the firm.5. Commitment to InnovationStay at the forefront of the legal industry with cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions that enhance your practice and drive success.Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is committed to providing employees with a comprehensive and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Benefit packages include access to three medical plans, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance. Employees can also access pre-tax benefits such as health savings and flexible spending accounts. Norton Rose Fulbright helps provide financial security by allowing employees to participate in a 401(k) savings plan and profit-sharing plans if eligible. Full- time employees are eligible to access fertility benefits designed to support fertility and family-forming journeys.In addition to the Firm's health and welfare benefits above, we offer a competitive paid time off plan, which provides a minimum of 20 days off based on your role and tenure with the firm. The firm offers a generous paid parental leave benefit allowing parents to take a minimum of 14 weeks of paid leave to bond with your newborn, or adopted child(ren). Employees are also entitled to 11 Firm holidays.Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal laws and their implementing regulations that require the collection and recording of certain data and information. The information we receive will not be used to make any decision regarding employment and will be kept separate from your application. Similarly, self-identification information is kept confidential and used only in accordance with applicable federal laws and regulations. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.Norton Rose Fulbright is committed to providing reasonable accommodation as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or accommodation to complete your application, please contact . Please provide your contact information and a description of your accessibility issue. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.

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