Legal Counsel - Austell - MillerClapperton

Description

How to Apply:

To ensure your application is properly reviewed, please apply directly through our official company website:

Applications submitted through other platforms may not be considered.

Role Summary:

The Legal Counsel serves as MillerClapperton's in-house legal advisor, responsible for providing legal guidance, risk assessment, and advisory support across the Company's project agreements and broader business matters. This role partners closely with executive leadership, Preconstruction, and Project Management to ensure the Company's legal interests are protected, its project agreement positions are sound, and its operational teams are equipped to act proactively and decisively.

This position is a senior individual contributor role with advisory authority and does not include direct people management responsibilities. The Legal Counsel reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer and is expected to operate with a high degree of independence, sound judgment, and practical business orientation.

Responsibilities:

General Legal Advisory & Risk Management

· Serve as the Company's primary in-house legal resource, providing timely, practical legal guidance across construction and fabrication operations, employment matters, vendor and supplier relationships, and general corporate affairs.

· Identify, assess, and communicate legal risks and exposures to executive leadership, recommending mitigation strategies that balance legal soundness with business objectives.

· Proactively monitor changes in applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards that may affect Company operations or project agreement positions.

· Support executive leadership in making well-informed decisions on high-stakes matters by preparing concise legal analyses, summaries, and recommendations.

· Assist in developing and maintaining Company policies, procedures, and internal standards that reflect sound legal practice and reduce operational risk.

Project Agreement Review, Negotiation & Interpretation

· Serve as the Company's internal authority on all project agreement matters, including reviewing, analyzing, interpreting, and negotiating subcontract agreements, purchase orders, order confirmations, and sub-subcontractor agreements.

· Establish and maintain approved project agreement positions, fallback language, and negotiation standards to ensure consistency and legal soundness across all projects.

· Advise Preconstruction and Project Management teams on project agreement rights, obligations, risk allocations, and the practical implications of key provisions.

· Identify recurring or high-risk project agreement terms and develop systematic strategies to address them in the Company's favor.

· Ensure that executed project agreements accurately reflect negotiated positions and business intent.

Project Management Support & Contractual Notices

· Partner with Project Managers, Senior Project Managers, and Project Management leadership to interpret project agreement provisions and translate legal obligations into clear, actionable guidance for operational teams.

· Champion a proactive contractual notice culture by educating teams on notice rights and requirements, identifying notice opportunities, and ensuring timely, properly supported notices are issued in accordance with project agreement terms.

· Draft, review, and approve contractual notice letters (both proactive and reactive), serving as a required compliance checkpoint for content accuracy, project agreement alignment, and legal sufficiency prior to issuance.

· Provide guidance on escalation strategies for disputes, claims, and high-risk contractual situations, including recommended courses of action and supporting documentation requirements.

Outside Counsel Management & Legal Coordination

· Serve as the primary internal liaison for all outside legal counsel relationships, managing the scope, timing, and cost of outside legal engagements.

· Prepare materials, organize key facts, and synthesize outside counsel recommendations for executive review to enable efficient and cost-effective decision-making.

· Proactively identify matters that can be handled in-house versus those requiring outside expertise, with the explicit goal of reducing outside legal spend over time.

· Maintain organized records of legal matters, correspondence, project agreements, and related documentation.

Process Improvement & Legal Standards Development

· Continuously evaluate and improve project agreement templates, legal review workflows, notice processes, and internal documentation standards.

· Build and maintain a practical legal knowledge base that empowers operational teams to make informed day-to-day project agreement decisions without unnecessary legal escalation.

· Promote a culture of project agreement discipline, proactive risk management, and consistent legal practice across the organization.

Qualifications:

Required:

· Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA-accredited law school.

· Active license to practice law in the State of Georgia, in good standing.

· Demonstrated experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial project agreements.

· Ability to operate with a high degree of independence, sound judgment, and professional accountability.

· Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts clearly to non-legal audiences.

· Practical, business-oriented approach to legal problem-solving focused on outcomes.

Strongly Preferred:

· Prior experience in construction law, specialty subcontractor operations, or related legal practice, either in-house or in private practice.

· Familiarity with legal issues specific to specialty subcontractors, including subcontract risk allocation, indemnification, pay-when-paid provisions, notice requirements, and delay or impact claims.

· Experience managing outside legal counsel relationships and actively working to reduce outside legal spend.

· Prior in-house counsel experience within a contractor, specialty subcontractor, fabricator, or construction services organization.

A Plus:

· Familiarity with project agreement review or contract intelligence platforms (e.g., Document Crunch).

· Working knowledge of construction project management or documentation platforms (e.g., Procore, Bluebeam).

· Experience with electronic signature and document workflow platforms (e.g., DocuSign, Adobe Sign).