Housing Policy & Litigation Counsel

About Energo Energo is a rapidly growing energy supplier that provides a broad range of energy products and services to customers in NY, NJ, and PA. Energo is an equal opportunity employer, and applicants considered will not be because of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Energo is seeking an experienced In-House Counsel focused on receivables and collections to lead legal recovery efforts, reduce bad debt, and strengthen contract enforceability across a growing portfolio of commercial and multifamily clients. Accounts Receivable Recovery & Bad Debt Reduction (Primary Focus) Own and lead the company's end-to-end AR recovery strategy, from early-stage delinquency outreach through formal collections, demand letters, small claims/civil litigation, and criminal referral (e.g., bad check complaints) where appropriate Design and implement a structured escalation framework for past-due accounts across all divisions, including notice timelines, demand letter templates, and criteria for legal escalation Evaluate and reduce the company's overall bad debt exposure by identifying root causes (credit terms, contract language, customer vetting) and recommending policy changes Manage relationships with collections agencies, process servers, and outside litigation counsel engaged for recovery matters Pursue recovery through appropriate channels, including small claims court, civil litigation, mechanic's liens, and coordination with law enforcement/DA offices on check fraud or similar matters Partner with Finance and division leaders (HVAC, Plumbing & Fire Suppression, Solar, Energy Services) to strengthen credit and billing practices that prevent future delinquency General Legal Support Serve as primary point of contact for day-to-day legal questions from leadership and division heads Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial contracts, including vendor service agreements, customer service agreements, subcontractor agreements, and hold-harmless/indemnification agreements Identify and flag legal, regulatory, and compliance risks proactively across all business lines Advise on employment matters, licensing, and regulatory compliance relevant to HVAC, plumbing, fire suppression, fuel oil, and solar operations in New York State and NYC Outside Counsel & Litigation Management Select, engage, and manage outside counsel across practice areas (litigation, employment, real estate, transactional, regulatory) to ensure cost-effective, high-quality representation Oversee active litigation matters, coordinating strategy and reporting status and exposure to leadership Manage legal spend and outside counsel budgets, including review and approval of invoices Support potential business transactions, including due diligence, deal structuring input, and drafting/review of transaction documents (e.g., asset purchases, joint ventures, financing arrangements) Advise on corporate structuring matters across Energo's divisions and affiliated entities (e.g., Assist with insurance program review as it relates to contractual risk transfer (indemnification, additional insured requirements, certificates of insurance) D. from an accredited law school; 3+ years of legal experience, with demonstrated experience in collections/AR recovery, commercial litigation, or creditor's rights ~ Experience managing outside counsel and litigation budgets ~ Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills ~ Working knowledge of New York commercial law, including bad check/check fraud statutes, mechanic's lien law, and small claims/civil procedure, UCC filings ~ Prior in-house experience, particularly in construction, trades, energy, or field-services company, is a plus ~ Excellent judgment, discretion, and ability to communicate complex legal issues clearly to non-legal executives ~ A documented, repeatable AR escalation and recovery process adopted across all divisions Reduced legal spend and improved outcomes through more effective outside counsel management Proactive identification and mitigation of legal/compliance risk before it becomes costly Increased collection rate / recovery % Faster legal resolution timelines Full-Time: Woodside, Queens Exposure across multiple business lines, including HVAC, plumbing, fire suppression, fuel oil, energy services, and solar Collaborative, hands-on work environment