Sr. Assistant General Counsel (Durham)

Summary

Strata Clean Energy, as a national developer, contractor, owner and operator of solar energy and battery energy storage projects, provides its attorneys with a multi disciplinary law practice. Strata’s attorneys serve as key members of the legal department and assist the General Counsel and other members of Strata’s executive team in executing overall strategic objectives from both legal and business perspectives. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel, this position will work closely with personnel in all of Strata’s departments. Upon demonstration of expertise and merit, the successful candidate, in addition to being an individual contributor, will be expected to assume supervisory and managerial responsibilities for certain functions and resources within the legal department.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Work alongside external counsel, and lead internal resources, in negotiating, drafting and closing corporate and project level (debt and tax equity) finance transactions.
• Assist Strata’s solar and energy storage project development teams in all matters and phases relating to project development, including site control, permitting, interconnection, power purchase agreements and tolling agreements.
• Assist engineering, procurement and construction team as‑needed, particularly with respect to EPC contract negotiations in connection with project finance and M&A transactions.
• Independently evaluate, negotiate and close M&A transactions, including those involving in‑service and development‑stage projects.
• Manage other attorneys in supporting matters relating to the asset management and operations and maintenance teams, including contract negotiation and administration.
• Provide leadership and support relating to any and all legal matters and questions presented to the legal team, such as reviewing and analyzing disputes, assisting on real estate title matters, contractor licensing requirements, due diligence requests, RFP reviews, procurement contracts, IT matters, etc.
• Identify, manage and advise business clients and executive management on risk allocation and mitigation.
• Contribute to creating, developing and implementing processes, procedures, best practices, systems and controls within the legal department and more broadly, and recommend improvements thereof.
• Stay constantly abreast of current events and developments affecting the renewable energy industry, with particular emphasis on possible impacts to Strata’s business, and help evaluate opportunities and issues relating thereto.
• Bring a positive, energetic, “can‑do,” problem‑solver attitude to the workplace.
• While close collaboration with external counsel is essential to this position, the successful candidate will be working directly alongside and not merely managing or “outsourcing” legal functions to external counsel. The successful candidate is expected to understand the core issues, negotiation points, contracts and risks as well as external counsel, and is responsible for directing external counsel in a manner so as to achieve Strata’s desired outcomes.

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements

• JD from an accredited law school.
• Current license to practice law in a U.S. state.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant experience (e.g., finance, M&A, general commercial/transactional work), including significant renewable energy experience.
• Possess effective drafting, negotiating and client communication skills to: (a) identify complex legal issues, (b) develop and implement alternative solutions, (c) negotiate independently and (d) cope with fast‑paced and ever‑changing relationships.
• Problem‑solver with pragmatic approach to satisfactorily address legal issues in relation to commercial objectives.
• Possess effective time management, project management, dispute resolution and interpersonal skills.
• Creative, adaptable and independent thinker.
• Strong team player.
• Ability to focus, direct and manage the efforts of external legal and other resources.
• Quality and execution focused.
• Possess strong leadership qualities to motivate colleagues and clients to drive initiatives to conclusion rapidly and efficiently.