Corporate Counsel, Construction

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Summary:

The Corporate Counsel, Construction role will be responsible for protecting the business by identifying, administering, and managing a variety of legal matters, with a primary focus on construction law issues. This position provides professional and ethical guidance to minimize risks regarding contract performance, claims, collections, and statutory remedies. The role collaborates closely with internal project managers, procurement teams, and external counsel to draft, review, and negotiate complex construction agreements. Additionally, the position supports corporate governance, board of directors, and entity management matters while maintaining a hybrid schedule in the local office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Advise and counsel Project Managers and internal teams on construction law issues, contract performance, and project delivery strategies to optimize the business's legal position.

• Supervise construction litigation and affirmative collection matters, utilizing statutory remedies to preserve payment rights, and coordinate with outside counsel or claims consultants.
• Serve as the primary subject matter expert for construction law, managing outside counsel selection, performance, billing efficiency, and alignment with litigation strategy.
• Draft, review, and negotiate various construction agreements, change orders, master agreements, and vendor contracts while developing and maintaining standard forms and templates.
• Prepare concise briefing documents, legal research opinions, and discovery responses, and serve as the corporate representative at hearings, arbitrations, or trials.
• Support the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary with corporate governance, entity management, and the preparation of Board of Directors and Committee materials.
• Utilize software to track, analyze, and report on construction law metrics, developing KPIs to manage litigation budgets and recommend risk mitigation strategies.
• Provide training on construction contracts and law principles to internal departments, respond to business-records subpoenas, and apply lessons learned to improve business processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Position Requirements (Work Experience, Skills, Licenses, etc.): (Please limit to no more than 7-10 bullets, NO sub bullets) See notes below for education required vs. desired.

• Deep understanding of construction law, including statutory remedies (mechanics' liens, payment bond claims) and contract performance.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct quick, accurate legal research on matters outside the attorney’s primary area of expertise.
• Excellent drafting and writing skills for complex contracts, policies, and legal documents.
• Strong decision-making ability with a high sense of ownership, accountability, and a results-oriented mindset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate and present to all levels of the organization.
• Proven proficiency with legal and information technology tools (e.g., Gmail, Google Drive, Smartsheet, Box, MS Office, Westlaw, OneLegal).

• Strong leadership characteristics and the ability to objectively articulate and defend business approaches.

Education and Experience:

Required:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-approved law school.
• Active member in good standing of the State Bar of California.
• Minimum of 10 years of substantive experience as a practicing construction attorney with civil litigation experience.

Desired:

• Prior in-house legal department experience and direct construction industry experience.

ACCO Competencies:

• Proactivity/Initiative: Recognizes what needs to be done and accomplishes it in a manner appropriate for one’s level/position and with minimal supervision.

• Perseverance: Shows wherewithal to fight for difficult goals despite challenges and to bounce back from adversity.

• Motivation/Dedication: Commits to excellence in pursuing unselfish goals. Initiates action with collective goals, takes responsibility, and shows personal humility.

• Technical Curiosity/Willingness to Learn: Interest in seeking out new experiences, knowledge, and candid feedback; demonstrating an openness to learning and change.

• Insight: The ability to gather and make sense of information that suggests new possibilities.

• Engagement: Shows a knack for using emotion and logic to communicate a persuasive vision and connect with people.

• People Skills: Is approachable and gains the mutual trust and respect of others. Understands people’s strengths & weaknesses and actively seeks to understand other perspectives.

• Communication: Fosters open, honest, candid and respectful communication. Effectively assesses, defines and communicates issues in a timely manner, both written and verbal.

• Teamwork: The ability to effectively work toward common goals with others by supporting, encouraging, and sharing information in an authentic and approachable manner.

• Big Picture: Understands and contributes to the organizations’ short- and long-term business strategy. On a personal level has independently developed a vision for short- and long-term career success.

• Problem-Solver: Ability to identify, analyze, and solve problems in support of personnel, group, department, or organizational objectives.

• Execution: Effectively takes a vision and translates into action by including the right people. Identify and remove barriers, when possible, to achieve results. Demonstrates appropriate compromise, effective time management, prioritization practices and holds team members (including themselves) accountable for their performance/conduct.

• Professionalism: Respectfully observes and challenges the status quo with intent for improvement. Can take direction, accept feedback, and take full responsibility for their actions. Lead by example through positive influence and ethical leadership with consideration of the entire organization.

Job Responsibility Level:

No direct reports

Travel Requirements:

Travel required 0-10% of the time to other office locations.

Hours:

This is an exempt position. Workdays are scheduled from Monday through Friday. Typically, work hours begin and end between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm as scheduled with the position's supervisor. Work outside of regular hours may occasionally be necessary to meet business needs.

Physical Demands:

(The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus.

• Prolonged sitting.

• Frequently required to reach with hands and arms.

• Occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch.

Competitive Wages:

$158,000 to $208,000 Annual Salary. Applicants please note that actual compensation is determined by several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to job-related skills, depth of experience, certifications, relevant education or training, and specific work location, among others. The offered wage or salary is only one aspect of an employee's total compensation.

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ABOUT US

Why join ACCO? ACCO Engineered Systems is one of the largest mechanical contractors in the country. Since 1934, owners and builders have selected ACCO to design, install, and maintain more than 250,000 mechanical projects. ACCO is dedicated to the design, fabrication, installation, maintenance and service of commercial and industrial HVAC, refrigeration, plumbing, process piping, and building automation systems. Whether your project is a low or high-rise office building, a shopping mall, hospital, semi-conductor fabrication facility or pharmaceutical manufacturing plant…ACCO can design, build, install, and maintain a mechanical system to meet your needs.

Here at ACCO, we are a part of something bigger. Just ask our customers: California Academy of Sciences, L.A. Live, and San Francisco 49ers Stadium. While we have been around for 80+ years, we continue to grow at a dynamic pace. And we are looking for talented individuals to join our team.

What's great about working at ACCO is that we’re a big enough company to be the leader in HVAC mechanical contracting in California and the Southwest U.S., but as a 100% employee-owned ESOP, we’re a private company with a family-oriented feel. Several of our employees have worked at ACCO for twenty-five, thirty, and even over forty years! Together, the employees of ACCO are comprised of intelligent, dedicated, and entrepreneurial team members who put customers first and enjoy what they do.

ACCO IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AA M/F/V/D.

We proudly hire U.S. Military Veterans, and those qualified are encouraged to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity is The Law.|Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision

ACCO will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories for employment.