Associate General Counsel

For more than 75 years, NBBJ has been guided by a vision to design for life. We are an award-winning global design and architecture firm, a creative company fueled by ideas, and a place where everyone is empowered to contribute to creating a better practice. Recognized as the world’s most innovative architecture firm by Fast Company, we have partnered with some of the world’s leading companies and institutions — Google, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanford University and Massachusetts General Hospital, among many others — to set new standards for performance, organizational culture, health and wellness, and technology- and data-driven design. 

This is an excellent opportunity for you to join NBBJ - Seattle in an  Associate General Counsel Role.  

NBBJ is seeking an attorney with a minimum of ten years of experience to fill the role of Associate General Counsel .The person will report to the General Counsel and will work collaboratively with other legal team members. Frequent collaboration these people occur so that the expertise of the entire team can be leveraged firm wide. 

NBBJ is a learning firm. An important part of the Assistant General Counsel role will include an educational and mentoring component for our staff. NBBJ wants to be using best practices in all aspects of its professional services and business activities. In order to achieve that goal our staff needs education and mentoring from the legal team on what that means for contract practices.Primarily the Assistant General Counsel will be helping one on one and in small groups but will also present to larger audiences to raise awareness levels so that the issues that can benefit from legal review will be presented to the legal team for review. 

Your New Role:  

• Responsible for end-to-end domestic and international Requests for Proposals process, ranging from providing advice on legal and business issues, collaborating with all NBBJ internal functional groups to develop strategies, negotiations and providing legal support to project teams.
• Prepare, review and negotiate client project contracts, vendor contracts, software license agreements, and other business agreements with a focus on business risk mitigation.
• Assist the General Counsel with claims management and litigation support.
• Work together with a highly relational, collaborative legal team, as well as project teams and other internal functional groups, such as Finance, Marketing and Human Resources.
• Provide necessary legal and business research.
• Use excellent verbal and written communication skills to create high quality business correspondence, presentations, and legal documents that are clear, concise and effective.
• Create, train and advise on NBBJ’s various policies and practices.

What You Will Need To Succeed:

• JD degree from an accredited, national school and active license to practice required.
• 15+ years of experience practicing law with proven record of accomplishments as an in-house legal counsel or in a law firm.
• Ability to travel (domestic and international).
• Experience negotiating contracts in Asia Pacific is preferred. 
• Transactional experience and excellent contract drafting and negotiating skills are a must.
• Must be able to adjust work schedule to accommodate contract negotiation calls in China time zone.
• Deep experience in the architecture/engineering/construction industry with knowledge of AIA contracts is a plus.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative team-oriented environment and to prioritize multiple deadlines.
• General knowledge of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, UK Bribery Act, HIPAA, Federal contracting, and other laws impacting NBBJ’s domestic and international compliance obligations.
• Excellent business/legal judgment to identify and assess legal risk and mitigate the firm’s exposure.
• Ability to proactively manage problems and identify opportunities, as well as think strategically to provide critical analysis and innovative thinking.
• High level of awareness of the ultimate impact of communications, decisions and actions on internal and external clients.
• Demonstrated ability to handle conflicts and challenges professionally, with grace under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional judgment, emotional intelligence, self-awareness, humility and accountability is required.
• Inquisitive, proactive, positive and energetic with the desire to help drive creative solutions to novel and challenging issues.
• Eager and open to learn and grow in your career with NBBJ.

The annual base pay range for this role is anticipated to be up to $210,000-$250,000, commensurate with experience. Actual compensation for successful candidates will be carefully determined based on a number of factors, including their skills, qualifications and experience.

This role requires the individual to be based in the United States. 

We believe that all NBBJ employees should love their work. This means not only loving what you do but having pride in your workplace. We strive to be that irresistible place to work by enhancing your employee experience with customized programs and comprehensive benefits. In addition to 100% covered employee healthcare costs and 401k contributions, we offer unique professional development opportunities, volunteer opportunities and access to leading technology and resources to further help you love your work and advance your career.

• NBBJ has been named three times by Fast Company as one of the most innovative architecture firms.
• Founded in 1943, our first office opened over 75 years ago in Seattle, Washington. We now have over 10 office locations around the globe.
• We are a transdisciplinary, cross-practice focused firm with a deep portfolio of Civic & Cultural, Commercial, Corporate, Healthcare, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Sports, and Urban Environment projects. We also have several areas of service expertise including: Architecture, Environmental Graphic Design, Interior Design, Lighting Design, Workplace Consulting and more.
• In the past decade, NBBJ has received more than 300 awards from leading global, national and regional award programs across the business, real estate and design communities.
• We work with 5 of the top global high-tech companies, 14 of the U.S. News and World Report Top Hospitals, and 4 of the top 10 highest-ranked learning institutions.
• Our clients include institutional leaders such as Cambridge University, Google, Samsung, Cleveland Clinic, Tencent, and Stanford University.