Transactional Construction & Design Associate

Dorsey & Whitney LLP; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 245,000 - 300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus program

Relocation assistance

Bar review stipend

Parental leave

Job summary

Dorsey & Whitney LLP seeks a transactional construction and development law associate with a minimum of four years of experience to join our Construction & Design Practice Group in Minneapolis. The associate will work directly with clients, assisting in structuring deals and projects, providing construction law advice, and negotiating and drafting contracts.

Qualified candidates will have a JD from an ABA-accredited law school, Minnesota bar admission or eligibility, strong communication and

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
• At least four years of transactional construction experience.
• Minnesota bar admission, or the ability to get admitted in Minnesota.
• Strong communication and writing skills.
• Top academic credentials.

Responsibilities

• Work directly with clients, assisting with deal and project structuring.
• Provide construction law advice and negotiate and draft contracts.
• Fill a key role supporting clients on construction and development projects.

Skills

Strong communication

Writing skills

Contract negotiation

Deal structuring

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Overview

• The Construction & Design Practice Group advises on a wide variety of projects, including energy (wind, solar, hydroelectric, and natural gas facilities), agricultural, food processing, industrial, mining and natural resource facilities, athletic stadiums, and general commercial construction.


• The associate will work directly with clients, assisting with deal and project structuring, providing construction law advice, and negotiating and drafting contracts.


• Associates may elect a lower billable-hours track with a proportional reduction in salary.

Posting details

Practice Area: Constr & Design

Dorsey & Whitney LLP is seeking a transactional construction and development law associate with at least four years of experience to join our Construction & Design Practice Group in our Minneapolis office. Our projects cover a wide variety of legal work, including:

• Energy projects, including wind, solar, hydroelectric, and natural gas facilities


• Agricultural, food processing, and industrial facilities


• Mining and natural resource facilities


• Athletic stadiums and facilities


• General commercial construction

This associate will have the opportunity to fill a key role in working directly with our clients, including assisting in the structuring of deals and projects, providing construction law advice, and negotiating and drafting contracts.

Qualified candidates will have:

• A JD degree from an ABA-accredited law school


• At least four years of transactional construction experience


• Minnesota bar admission, or the ability to get admitted in Minnesota


• Strong communication and writing skills


• Top academic credentials

For Minneapolis applicants only, the salary range for this position is $245,000 - $300,000. Pay is determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, depth of experience in the practice area. The individual hired for this position may have the option of electing a lower billable-hours track with a proportional reduction in salary. Associates are eligible to participate in Dorsey’s associate bonus program, subject to the program’s conditions and restrictions.

Dorsey offers a collaborative and dynamic environment, with competitive compensation and excellent benefits. Our benefits are available to attorneys working 17+ hours/week along with their dependents, including spouses and domestic partners regardless of gender. Dorsey’s benefits package includes: comprehensive medical insurance with coverage for infertility, gender-affirming care, behavioral health, and access to virtual providers; dental insurance; vision insurance; 401(k) retirement savings plan; basic and optional life insurance; short and long-term disability; flexible time off; up to 15 weeks of paid parental leave with up to an additional 6-8 weeks of paid short-term disability for attorneys who give birth; paid holidays; adoption assistance; healthcare, dependent care, and transportation pre-tax reimbursement accounts; back-up child and elder care program; education and college advising program; virtual tutoring; wellbeing programs and activities; mass transit program (certain offices); travel assistance program; 24/7 employee assistance program with access to five confidential visits with a licensed counselor at no cost. Where applicable, attorneys may be eligible for a discretionary bonus and/or a productivity bonus, clerkship bonus, relocation expenses, and bar review expenses. First-year associates are also eligible for a salary advance and bar review stipend. (Some benefits are subject to eligibility criteria and may result in taxable income to the recipient.)

You will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, affectional preference, disability, age, marital status, familial status, status with regard to public assistance, military or veteran status, or any other legally-protected status.

Dorsey participates in E-Verify.

About Dorsey

Dorsey & Whitney is a global law firm with over 650 lawyers across 22 offices in the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. We provide strategic legal counsel to companies worldwide across a diverse range of industries, including banking & financial institutions; development & infrastructure; energy & natural resources; food, beverage & agribusiness; healthcare & life sciences; and technology.

Clients have relied on the international law firm of Dorsey & Whitney LLP since 1912 as a trusted legal advisor and valued business partner. With locations across the United States as well as Canada, Europe and Asia, Dorsey provides an integrated, dedicated approach to its clients' legal and business needs. Dorsey’s diverse client base includes more than one-third of Fortune 100 companies.

Our lawyers apply superb legal knowledge and skills with practical wisdom and a deep understanding of business and industry. We serve clients in nearly all industries, but focus on six key industries in which we have excellent depth and a history of achieving client success:

• Banking and Financial Institutions


• Development and Infrastructure


• Energy & Natural Resources


• Food, Beverage & Agribusiness


• Healthcare


• Technology

Among Dorsey’s many distinguished alumni are U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, noted law professor and scholar William Prosser, Minnesota’s first woman judge Betty Washburn, former U.S. Vice President and Ambassador to Japan Walter Mondale, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, former Corporation Counsel of the City of New York Zachary Carter, and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. Recognized for our dedication to community, Dorsey has met the ABA Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge every year since the Challenge began in 1993 by devoting more than 3% of billable hours to pro bono work.

One of our greatest strengths is a friendly, cooperative culture that values and appreciates each individual. Dorsey has received external recognition for our welcoming workplace, including:

• Mansfield Certification Plus (Diversity Lab)


• Best Law Firms for Women (Seramount)


• 100% rating on the Corporate Equality Index (Human Rights Campaign)


• Top 100 Adoption-Friendly Workplace (Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption)

We are accepting applications for this position until December 31, 2026, or until the position has been filled.

Please note that Dorsey is not currently accepting search firm submissions in connection with this opening.

#LI-Hybrid