Assistant General Counsel

Overview

A leading developer, owner, and operator of utility-scale energy storage projects across North America is seeking an Assistant General Counsel. The organization is a major player in the battery energy storage market, with approximately 2.0 GWh of projects in operation or construction and over 25 GWh in the development pipeline. The company focuses on providing utilities with fast-ramping capacity, energy, and ancillary grid services to support renewable energy integration and grid reliability.

This role involves partnering with the Chief Legal Officer, VP Deputy General Counsel, and VP Government and Regulatory Affairs to manage the legal and compliance functions and provide legal support for special projects and strategic initiatives. The position reports to the Chief Legal Officer and is remote within the continental United States.

Responsibilities

• Lead legal strategy and provide hands-on support throughout the full battery energy storage system (BESS) project lifecycle, including origination, site control, real estate, permitting, interconnection, commercial contracting, financing, and transition to construction, operations, and asset management
• Structure and negotiate key project agreements such as site control instruments, interconnection agreements, high voltage equipment procurement contracts, construction contracts, operations and maintenance (O&M) agreements, long-term service agreements (LTSAs), and other commercial arrangements
• Provide senior legal oversight and strategic direction on permitting, environmental review, land use, and siting matters related to utility-scale BESS projects
• Monitor and advise on ISO/RTO market rules, FERC regulations, state utility commission proceedings, and other regulatory matters in coordination with the government and regulatory affairs team
• Lead or supervise legal support for responses to utility and corporate RFPs and negotiate revenue and commercial agreements including power purchase agreements (PPAs), tolling arrangements, capacity and energy services agreements, and other offtake structures
• Advise on commercial arrangements with corporate offtakes, data center, and hyperscale customers
• Provide strategic counsel on commercial risk allocation, project bankability, and offtake structuring to support project financing and portfolio growth
• Direct legal due diligence, transaction management, and closing processes for project and portfolio acquisitions, divestitures, preferred equity financings, construction loans, tax equity, and other project finance structures
• Serve as primary legal contact for lenders, investors, and counterparties on transactional matters, managing legal workstreams from term sheet through closing
• Collaborate with senior legal leadership to develop and implement legal strategies supporting capital markets and M&A objectives

Legal Team Leadership & Outside Counsel Management

• Supervise and mentor junior legal team members, guiding workload management, professional development, and legal strategy
• Select, direct, and manage outside counsel engagements to ensure practical, cost-effective legal advice aligned with business priorities
• Develop legal playbooks and processes to support scalable, efficient legal operations across the project portfolio

Requirements

• Minimum 15 years of relevant legal experience in a law firm, sophisticated in-house legal department, or government agency, with substantial experience supporting energy project development and commercial transactions
• Demonstrated experience with utility-scale BESS projects in any of CAISO, WECC, SPP, ERCOT, or MISO
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited U.S. law school and active license in good standing; admission to the California, New York, or Texas bar preferred
• Prior in-house experience at an independent power producer, renewable energy developer, or energy storage company highly preferred
• Deep knowledge of permitting, environmental review, land use, siting, interconnection, real estate, procurement, and ISO/RTO market issues relevant to utility-scale BESS projects
• Substantial experience supporting project finance transactions, including construction lending, tax equity, and debt and equity capital markets structures for energy assets
• Proficiency with legal technology and contract management tools, including AI-assisted research, drafting, and workflow platforms, with sound judgment in their application
• Strategic and commercially minded with the ability to function as a trusted business partner, identify risks and opportunities early, analyze complex legal and commercial issues, and develop practical, business-oriented solutions
• Proven ability to lead legal workstreams independently, manage competing priorities, and deliver results under time pressure
• Experience managing cross-functional legal projects
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, capable of communicating clearly and persuasively with C-suite executives, board members, investors, deal teams, and technical stakeholders
• Collaborative, adaptable, and responsive with strong interpersonal and negotiation skills, able to build trusted relationships across development, commercial, finance, and operations teams
• Demonstrated ability to use AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Claude, Harvey) to improve efficiency, quality, and responsiveness of work while applying sound judgment and appropriate oversight

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary and bonus up to $250,000 plus 30% bonus, depending on skills and experience
• 401(k) program with 6% match
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• Medical, dental, and vision care benefits
• 20 vacation days, 5 sick days, and 9 observed holidays

Location

• Remote position within the continental United States (international work is not permitted)
• Periodic travel to company offices, project sites, or other meeting locations may be required as needed

Equal Opportunity

The employer is an equal opportunity organization committed to diversity and inclusion. Reasonable accommodations are provided for individuals with disabilities throughout the hiring process and employment.