General Counsel

Job Title : General Counsel, Construction

Location : New York, NY

Position Type : Full-time, Direct Hire

Salary Range : $250-325,000 (negotiable based on experience) + bonus

Summary

Verigent's client is seeking a business leader who brings a legal focus to strategic planning for the General Counsel role to join their team. This position provides comprehensive legal guidance across all business areas, ensuring compliance, protecting the company’s interests, and enabling informed decision-making at both the leadership and project levels. Your expertise in construction law, labor matters, contracts, and corporate governance will help drive operational efficiency and mitigate risk.

Responsibilities

• Advise executive leadership and project teams on legal rights, responsibilities, and potential risks across all business operations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts, including owner agreements, subcontractor agreements, vendor contracts, joint ventures, NDAs, and professional services agreements.
• Assist with various claims (General Liability, Construction Defect, Subcontractor Defaults, etc.) as necessary.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including construction, employment, safety (OSHA), environmental, procurement, and licensing requirements.
• Oversee corporate governance, including board matters, entity management, insurance, and risk assessment.
• Oversee and manage the company’s portfolio of legal matters handled by outside counsel, including litigation, claims, employment matters, regulatory issues, and specialized transactional work.
• Develop and implement legal policies, internal controls, risk‑mitigation strategies, and training programs for staff.
• Manage legal aspects related to union labor matters, including collective bargaining agreements, grievance procedures, and compliance with labor laws affecting electricians and field personnel.
• Lead or support legal aspects of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic joint ventures, including target evaluation, due diligence, and legal risk assessment, as well as negotiating key transaction documents.
• Support HR on training, safety incidents, and compliance with apprenticeship and licensing requirements for electrical workers.
• Manage relationships with external counsel, insurers, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active bar admission in good standing.
• 10+ years of relevant legal experience, preferably with significant exposure to the construction or real estate development industries.
• Strong background in contract negotiation, risk management, construction law, and dispute resolution.
• Prior involvement in M&A activities, including due diligence, risk assessment, and negotiation of transaction documents.
• Familiarity with union labor (IBEW or similar), collective bargaining agreements, and prevailing wage requirements.
• Experience managing and coordinating outside counsel across litigation, claims, and specialized legal matters.
• Exceptional analytical abilities, communication skills, and business judgment.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and business‑partnering abilities.
• Proven ability to collaborate cross‑functionally and support both field and corporate teams.