Assistant General Counsel

Overview

RWE Clean Energy, LLC is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to provide legal support to the U.S. renewable energy business team with a focus on real estate topics for development and construction of renewable energy projects in the United States. This is a full-time, permanent position based in the United States with potential travel (up to 5%).

Functional area: Legal / Compliance
Remuneration: Exempt

• Provide real estate and permitting legal support for the North American renewable energy business team (BESS, wind & solar) in connection with the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects in the United States
• Provide legal advice associated with land use, permitting, and real estate topics in connection with the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects. Work will include (a) reviewing, drafting, and negotiating lease agreements, purchase agreements, co-tenancy agreements, shared facilities agreements, and crossing agreements; (b) review of title documents, resolution of title issues, negotiation of title insurance policies; (c) review of ALTA project surveys;
  
  (d) working with business teams and other functional teams and local, state and federal agencies on topics related to permitting, land use, and zoning
• Advise legal leadership and other stakeholders during operations, identifying site control obligations and timing elements related to project operations, including advising on the impact of third-party requests, ownership changes, requests to release land, etc.
• Provide real estate and permitting support on mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, and other strategic transactions from inception through closing, including the review of transaction documents, purchase agreements, disclosure schedules, and other ancillary contracts. Develop and maintain templates and processes to streamline transaction execution and improve efficiency
• Conduct legal due diligence, identify risks and liabilities, and provide practical recommendations to mitigate those risks, including legal advice associated with land use, permitting, and real estate topics in connection with the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects
• Mentor junior attorneys and other legal staff in the real estate and permitting department
• Support tax equity financing efforts by preparing diligence materials, managing datarooms, and contributing to transaction documents and disclosure schedules in coordination with the structured finance team
• Ability to work with legal support staff, collaboratively, utilizing a land management software to support the business teams in the acquisition of land rights for the development, construction, and operation of renewable energy projects
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (finance, tax, HR, compliance, operations, and business leadership) to ensure projects are aligned with strategic objectives
• Manage and oversee outside counsel for overflow work, ensuring cost-effective and timely legal support
• Collaborate with and delegate to paralegals, real estate specialists, and administrative staff to ensure efficient workflow and task distribution
• Paramount is the ability to see the big picture as to how real estate and permitting risks fit into the overall project lifecycle and risk review, thus an understanding of interconnection, energy marketing, environmental, regulatory, and procurement topics are all necessary to be successful in this role

• J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree from a U.S. university
• Admission to a state bar in the United States
• Minimum 10 years’ experience as a real estate lawyer in the renewable space. Successful candidates are (i) required to have specific legal knowledge and experience in BESS, solar and wind permitting and real estate matters, and (ii) preferably have experience in some or all of the following areas: energy transmission, interconnection agreements, negotiation of tax abatement agreements and special use permits
• Industry experience: energy-related businesses in the U.S., with particular emphasis on legal work associated with the development, construction and operation of renewable energy and/or independent power projects
• The foregoing requirements are subject to change, and interested applicants are encouraged to apply or reapply for available positions. Hiring Manager may consider applicants with greater or lesser experience than that specified in the foregoing described requirements
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-management skills, with the ability to work effectively with internal teams, external counsel, title companies, surveyors, utilities, and counter parties
• Highly organized, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects, manage competing priorities, and ensure timely achievement of critical real estate and permitting milestones
• Adaptable and effective in rapidly changing environments
• Demonstrated desire to learn about the Company
• Goal-oriented, and…