Legal Counsel - Development

Gigantes Group; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Gigantes Group is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to lead front-end solar project development, real estate, and site control risk management. This role focuses on drafting and negotiating NIPAs and related land access instruments to ensure unencumbered project layouts for tax equity and debt financing.

You will partner with Development, Interconnection, and Project Finance teams to de-risk deals, navigate title/survey issues, and support permitting and entitlements in multiple jurisdictions

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited US law school (bar admission in good standing).
• 5–8+ years in US renewable energy project development, solar real estate, or land development law.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal workstreams for solar land acquisition, land options, leases, easements, purchase agreements, and title/survey cures.
• Draft, negotiate, and execute NIPAs, set-back agreements, oil & gas waivers, and cross-claims with adjacent land and resource owners.
• Partner with Development and Interconnection teams to manage early-to-mid stage risks to meet tax equity and lender requirements.
• Advise on state/local land-use approvals, conditional use permits, zoning matters, and environmental compliance.
• Collaborate with Project Finance, Transmission, and Origination teams to move projects through gates toward RTB and NTP.

Skills

Real estate law

NIPA drafting

Land access

Negotiation

Solar development

Risk management

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from a US law school

Job description

Overview

Gigantes Group has been retained by a premier nationwide clean energy platform - a recognized leader in the development, funding, acquisition, and long-term ownership of solar and storage infrastructure - to secure a Senior Legal Counsel specializing in front-end solar project development, real estate, and site control risk management.

In this deal-driven role, you will partner directly with greenfield, acquisition, and mid-stage Development teams to de-risk commercial and community solar projects nationwide. A critical focus of this role will be navigating complex real estate, title, and site layout dynamics - specifically drafting and negotiating Non-Interference and Proximity Agreements (NIPAs), mineral severance agreements, crossing agreements, and complex land options to ensure project layouts are fully unencumbered and bankable for institutional tax equity and debt financing.

Key Responsibilities

• Site Control & Real Estate Strategy: Lead legal workstreams for solar land acquisition, structuring and negotiating land options, solar leases, easements, purchase agreements, and title/survey cures.
• NIPA & Co-Location Specialist: Draft, negotiate, and execute complex Non-Interference and Proximity Agreements (NIPAs), set-back agreements, oil & gas surface use waivers, and crossing agreements with adjacent land and resource owners.
• Development De-Risking: Partner closely with Development and Interconnection teams to manage early-to-mid stage risks, ensuring site control structures meet tax equity, lender, and title company requirements.
• Permitting & Entitlements Support: Advise on state and local land-use approval processes, conditional use permits, zoning matters, and environmental compliance (including brownfield/landfill development considerations).
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work hand-in-hand with Project Finance, Transmission, and Origination teams to guide projects seamlessly through development gates toward Ready-to-Build (RTB) and Notice to Proceed (NTP).

Requirements

• Education & Credentials: Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited US law school and an active bar admission in good standing.
• Experience: 5 to 8+ years of dedicated experience in US renewable energy project development, utility or commercial solar real estate transactions, or land development law.
• Specialized Expertise: Direct, hands-on experience drafting and negotiating Non-Interference and Proximity Agreements (NIPAs), mineral accommodation agreements, and complex multi-party land access instruments.
• Market Knowledge: Familiarity with US power markets, land title insurance standards, title/survey review processes, and project finance/bankability requirements for solar assets.
• Negotiation Skills: Exceptional negotiation tactics, with a proven ability to work constructively with adjacent landowners, developers, utility companies, and municipal authorities.

Why This Opportunity

• Front-End Ownership: Play a central role in unlocking solar capacity by solving the industry's most challenging real estate, title, and proximity hurdles.
• High Autonomy & Visibility: Serve as the lead subject matter expert on development agreements, working directly with senior development leaders and project directors.