Senior Counsel

JE Dunn; Kansas City (MO); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

JE Dunn Construction seeks a Senior Counsel to provide complex legal support for the region assigned, drafting and reviewing contracts to minimize risk. The role supports strategy, vision, and values of JE Dunn.

The candidate will lead legal research, manage outside counsel, and oversee civil litigation defense, as well as negotiate prime/subcontracts and vendor agreements.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required and licensed to practice law.
• 8+ years of legal experience, preferably with construction or real estate focus.
• Ability to manage complex contracts, litigation support, and external counsel coordination.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal support to regional area; draft and review prime and subcontracts.
• Review procurement documents and participate in proposal legal review.
• Lead in collecting evidence for civil litigation and formulate defense.
• Oversee outside counsel and monitor legal proceedings.
• Draft and negotiate commercial transactions related to projects and corporate functions.

Skills

Communication

Analytical skills

MS Office

Legal research

Team collaboration

Presentations

Education

Juris Doctor (Required)

Bachelor’s in construction management, architecture, engineering or related field (Preferred)

Equivalent relevant experience

Job description

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Best People + Right Culture. These are the driving forces behind JE Dunn’s success.

By hiring inspired people, giving them interesting and challenging work, enabling them with innovative tools, and letting them share in the company’s rewards, we’ve found a sustainable way to grow in our industry for the last 100+ years.

Our diverse teams around the country strive to enrich lives through inspired people and places everyday, and we need inspired people like you to join us in building authentic partnerships.

Role Summary

The Senior Counsel will provide complex, broad and in-depth legal support to the region or area to which they are assigned. This position will prepare and review contracts and other documents and prepare legal evidence and arguments to protect the Company’s interests and minimize legal risk. All activities will be performed in support of the strategy, vision and values of JE Dunn.

• Autonomy & Decision-Making: Makes complex decisions on most tasks and consults senior management as needed.
• Career Path: Group or Regional General Counsel
  

Key Role Responsibilities - Core

COUNSEL FAMILY – CORE

• Provides legal support on routine matters to the region to which they are assigned.
• Reviews project procurement documents and assists with proposal legal review.
• Prepares draft prime contracts and subcontracts with assistance of the project team.
• Provides counsel and guidance regarding transactions, programs, policies and procedures.
• Researches and prepares appropriate and effective draft legal opinions, memoranda, and other documents.
• Interprets laws, rulings, and regulations for relevance and to help the Company prepare clear and effective policies and practices to minimize legal risk.
• Assists with management of claims and litigation. Provides assistance to gather and prepare evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions.
• Implements litigation hold memoranda.
• Leads, supports and promotes a culture of diversity and inclusion within JE Dunn. Understands JE Dunn’s policy of non-discrimination and ensures positive, proactive implementation throughout the organization.

Key Role Responsibilities - Additional Core

SENIOR COUNSEL

In addition, this positon will be responsible for the following:

• Leads legal research efforts and prepares appropriate and effective legal opinions, memoranda, and other documents.
• Oversees and manages outside counsel and monitors legal proceedings
• Leads in the collection and preparation of evidence to formulate defense or to initiate legal actions, by such means as interviewing clients and witnesses to ascertain the facts of a case, to defend the Company in civil litigation.
• Reviews and approves advertising copy and public statements from a legal standpoint.
• Prepares and negotiates all types of commercial transactions related to projects and corporate functions. Includes prime and subcontracts, vendor and support services.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to perform work accurately, completely and in a timely manner
• Communication skills, verbal and written – Advanced
• Ability to follow-up on inquiries in a timely manner
• Analytical skills, with ability to independently analyze problems and provide the appropriate solution – Advanced
• Ability to conduct effective presentations - Advanced
• Proficiency in MS Office – Intermediate
• Ability to perform legal research - Advanced
• Ability to build relationships and collaborate within a team, internally and externally - Advanced

Education

• Doctorate Degree - Juris Doctor (Required)
• Bachelor’s degree in construction management, architecture, engineering or other technical field (Preferred)
• In lieu of the above requirements, equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Experience

• 8+ years legal experience (Required)
• Construction litigation with large law firm (Preferred)
• In lieu of the above requirements, experience in a related practice, such as real estate, may be considered.

Benefits Information

The benefits package aligned to this position is Professional Non-Union.

This role is expected to accept applications for at least three business days and may continue to be posted until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

JE Dunn Construction is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all people without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected category. JE Dunn Construction is a background screening, drug-free workplace.

JE Dunn Construction does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of JE Dunn Construction without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of JE Dunn Construction Company. Please, no phone calls or emails.

***For this opportunity, JE Dunn Construction will not sponsor an applicant for work visa status or employment authorization, nor will we offer any immigration-related support for this position (including but not limited to H-1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN-1 or TN-2, E-3, O-1, or future sponsorship for U.S. lawful permanent residence status.)***

Requisition ID: 64224

Why People Work Here

At JE Dunn we offer our employees an inspired place to enrich their life and the lives of those around them

Building on our rich history, our employee owners are shaping the future of JE Dunn. In our team-focused environment we do life together and are generously rewarded for our efforts

About JE Dunn

For more information on who we are, click here.

JE Dunn participates in the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program.