Assistant General Counsel

Description:

The Assistant General Counsel will be dedicated to the provision of legal advice associated with real estate topics in connection with the preparation and negotiation of a wide variety of real estate documents required for the development and construction of energy projects, e.g., lease agreements, easements, purchase options, co-tenancy agreements, shared facilities agreements, and crossing agreements.

Work will include review of title documents, resolution of title issues, negotiation of title insurance policies, and related topics, together with the ability to work with support staff and other business partners, collaboratively, to support the Company’s real estate developers in the acquisition of land & development rights for prospective energy projects.

Work will also include significant support and assistance in the discretionary local and state zoning processes and permitting requirements for development project.

Position requires (a) close alignment and cooperation with the Company’s Legal Department’s teams in Austin, Texas, and Chicago, Illinois (which may include travel 5% of the time), (b) close alignment with the business partners that the Legal Department supports, and (c) demonstrated ability to apply a practical, rather than theoretical, focus to legal issues with a view to finding viable business solutions to those legal issues.

Role Responsibilities:

Provide legal advice associated with real estate, permitting, and land use topics in connection with the development, construction, and operation of energy projects in North American, including:
reviewing, drafting, and negotiating lease agreements, easements, purchase options, co-tenancy agreements, shared facilities agreements, crossing agreements, and permitting agreements;
comprehensive review of title commitments and project surveys to determine obstacles to construction, resolution of title and survey issues, and negotiation of title insurance policies;
identify permitting and land use needs to ensure timely acquisition of all required permits and approvals for the construction and operation of energy projects across multiple jurisdictions; and,
coordinating with business stakeholders and other functional teams as well as local, state, and federal agencies on topics related to permitting, land use, and zoning. 
Provide legal support on real estate and permitting topics related to the acquisition, divestiture, or other strategic transaction from inception through closing, including the review of transaction documents, purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, and other ancillary contracts for real estate and permitting topics.
Manage and oversee external real estate and permitting counsel to ensure cost-effective and timely external legal support for energy projects.
Coordinate with senior business stakeholders to ensure alignment on project timelines, legal risks, and contract milestones to ensure timely delivery of energy projects.
Manage legal due diligence, identify legal risks and liabilities, and provide practical recommendations to mitigate risks, including legal advice associated with real estate, permitting, and land use topics in connection with the development, construction, and operation of energy projects.
Contribute to internal process improvements, templates, and legal best practices across the team to streamline efficiency.
Collaborate with, delegate to, junior counsel, paralegals, real estate specialists, and administrative staff to ensure efficient workflow and task distribution. Mentor junior counsel and other legal staff in the real estate and permitting department on drafting standards, curative work, and legal process.
See the big picture – identify how the legal risk of real estate, permitting, and land use topics fit into the overall project lifecycle and risk review of an energy project including the impact of how interconnection, energy marketing, environmental, regulatory, and procurement topics are all necessary to be successful in this role.

Job Requirements and Experience:

J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree from a U.S. university
Admission to a state bar in the United States
Minimum 6 years experience developing energy projects or other similar experience. Successful candidate are (i) required to have specific legal knowledge and experience in energy project development and real estate matters, and (ii) preferably have experience in some or all of the following areas: energy transmission, interconnection agreements, negotiation of tax abatement agreements, conditional use permits, and special use permits.
Industry experience: energy-related businesses in the U.S., with particular emphasis on legal work associated with the development, construction and operation of energy and/or independent power projects.
The foregoing requirements are subject to change, and interested applicants are encouraged to apply or reapply for available positions. Hiring Manager may consider applicants with greater or lesser experience than that specified in the foregoing described requirements.
Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills, with the ability to work effectively with internal teams, external counsel, title companies, surveyors, utilities, and counterparties
Highly organized, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects, manage competing priorities, and ensure timely achievement of critical real estate and permitting milestones
Adaptable and effective in rapidly changing environments
Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company
Goal-oriented, and resourceful, with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify practical solutions to complex real estate and permitting challenges
Proven ability to empathize, build relationships, and effectively communicate with people from a diverse set of backgrounds
This position is an office-based role in either Chicago or Austin with some travel and visits to other RWECE offices and field locations, including New York, California, Chicago, and Austin