Employment Attorney (Austin or Dallas, TX)

We are looking for an Employment Attorney with at least 7 years of experience to serve as a key legal advisor to a growing portfolio of startups, venture-backed companies, and M&A clients at one of Texas's most exciting boutique firms. This is a new position driven by real demand — you'll work directly alongside an equity partner in Austin, with genuine autonomy, meaningful client relationships, and a culture that actually walks the talk on work-life balance.

• Serving as primary counsel on a wide range of employment matters — from hiring practices and separations to restrictive covenants and multi-state compliance

• Conducting employment law diligence on M&A transactions, including review of employment agreements, worker classification, and benefits obligations

• Drafting and negotiating employment agreements, severance packages, non-competes, and equity compensation documents across multiple jurisdictions

• Managing client relationships directly — advising startups, PE-backed platforms, and executives with proactive, commercially practical counsel

• Mentoring junior attorneys and contributing to cross-practice matters and business development

• Minimum 7 years of employment law experience — must have been practiced at a law firm (not solely in-house/corporate)

• Active Texas Bar membership (JD required)

• Strong command of employment law in the context of M&A — employee transitions, restrictive covenants, state-specific compliance

• Ability to work independently and manage a client portfolio with minimal partner oversight

• Ideally based in Austin; Dallas considered