General Counsel

General Counsel

Winston Water Cooler Family of Companies

Location: Dallas TX (On-Site)Type: Full-Time

About Us

Winston Water Cooler Family of Companies is a long-standing privately held enterprise in the plumbing supply and distribution industry. Over time we have grown into a network of more than 70 locations across Texas and several additional states operating through a structured family of limited partnerships LLCs and affiliated entities.

We operate with an entrepreneurial mindset moving quickly solving problems directly and prioritizing long-term relationships with employees customers and partners. As we continue to scale we are seeking our first in-house General Counsel to build and lead the legal function across the Winston family of companies.

This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to ownership and executive leadership providing practical business-minded guidance across entity structure credit and banking relationships commercial operations and governance. This role is ideal for a business lawyer comfortable operating at the intersection of law and ownership in a fast-moving privately held environment.

Key Responsibilities

Entity Formation LP Governance & Structural Architecture

Serve as the companys primary legal resource on entity structure formation and ongoing governance across the Winston family of companies. Responsibilities include:

• Formation of LPs and LLCs across multiple states including jurisdictional selection and registered agent coordination
• GP / LP structuring and governance including drafting and negotiating partnership agreement provisions
• Drafting and managing amendments to partnership agreements as the business evolves
• Advising on capital structure and ownership changes including admission of partners and interest transfers
• Managing dissolutions mergers and conversions of entities as needed
• Overseeing state registrations and foreign qualifications across operating jurisdictions

Banking Credit Facility & Cross-Collateral Legal Strategy

Act as the primary in-house legal resource on credit lending and banking relationships across the companys entity structure. Responsibilities include:

• Interpreting credit agreement compliance obligations and advising leadership on covenant management
• Managing cross-entity collateral risk including analysis of collateral structures spanning multiple LPs and LLCs
• Monitoring financial covenants and advising on triggers cure provisions and lender communication
• Ensuring legal compliance throughout draw processes and borrowing base procedures
• Advising on guaranty structures including personal guaranties and cross-entity guaranty arrangements
• Leading or supporting lender negotiations including amendments waivers and facility modifications

Commercial & Operational Legal Support

• Draft review and negotiate supplier customer vendor and service agreements across operating entities
• Support real estate matters including leases property acquisitions and expansion of branch locations
• Provide legal guidance on commercial relationships strategic business initiatives and operational risk

Corporate Governance & Risk Management

• Oversee corporate governance across the full family of affiliated entities
• Maintain corporate records and ensure regulatory compliance across jurisdictions
• Identify legal risks and provide practical strategies to mitigate exposure
• Manage disputes and coordinate with outside counsel when specialized expertise or litigation support is required

Employment Law & Compliance

Provide foundational employment law guidance to support the companys multi-state workforce. Responsibilities include:

• Advising leadership and HR on employment matters including hiring practices employee relations terminations wage and hour compliance and workplace policies
• Reviewing and maintaining employment policies handbooks and compliance documentation
• Advising on sensitive workplace investigations when necessary
• Monitoring employment law developments across operating jurisdictions

Outside Counsel & Multi-State Legal Oversight

• Engage and manage outside counsel in all jurisdictions where the company operates
• Ensure legal matters across multiple states are handled efficiently and aligned with business priorities
• Build a cost-effective network of specialists for tax litigation real estate and regulatory matters

Strategic Advisor to Ownership & Executive Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor to ownership and executive leadership on all legal and risk matters
• Translate complex legal issues into clear practical guidance for operational leaders
• Provide pragmatic advice that balances risk management with operational efficiency
• Proactively identify emerging legal issues before they become business problems

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school; licensed to practice law in Texas (or eligible for admission)
• 815 years of legal experience with a combination of law firm and in-house experience preferred
• Demonstrated experience with entity formation LP/LLC governance and multi-entity structural matters
• Experience with commercial credit agreements banking relationships and cross-collateral legal strategy
• Strong background in commercial contracts corporate governance and operational legal matters
• Familiarity with multi-entity employment structures and the intersection of entity design and employment compliance
• Experience advising privately held founder-led or family-owned businesses
• Ability to provide clear pragmatic legal advice in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment
• Experience managing outside counsel and multi-jurisdiction legal matters

Preferred: Industry background in distribution industrial construction manufacturing or real estate. Admission to additional state bars is a plus.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation and performance-based bonus
• Direct collaboration with ownership and executive leadership
• Opportunity to build and shape the internal legal function from the ground up
• Meaningful exposure to entity structuring credit strategy and multi-state business operations
• A high-trust entrepreneurial culture focused on growth and long-term relationships