Assistant General Counsel Litigation & Employment Law

SOLV Energy•San Diego, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

SOLV Energy is seeking a seasoned, commercially minded Assistant General Counsel to serve as a legal partner across the organization. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Legal Officer and working closely with the Chief Legal Officer, this attorney will advise on employment law and workforce matters—including union relationships and prevailing wage requirements—litigation management, and regulatory compliance. The role calls for a collaborative attorney who can work autonomously, exercise sound judgment under pressure, and translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice for senior business stakeholders. The position is hybrid, with regular in-office presence in San Diego, California; specific location expectations will be discussed during the interview process. The Assistant General Counsel will advise People Operations and business leaders on employment matters; draft and negotiate employment and labor agreements; manage employment claims and proceedings; and support workforce policies, training, and compensation arrangements. The role will also oversee the company's litigation portfolio, outside counsel, litigation strategy, discovery obligations, and responses to investigations and subpoenas. In addition, the attorney will support regulatory compliance, agency interactions, filings, and compliance programs relevant to the company's operations. The position requires a J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school, active bar membership in good standing, and at least 10 years of post-bar legal experience, including meaningful experience in litigation management, employment law, and regulatory matters. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Requirements

J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
Active bar membership in good standing.
At least 10 years of post-bar legal experience, with meaningful experience in litigation management, employment law matters, and regulatory compliance or matters.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to non-lawyer audiences.
Ability to exercise sound, pragmatic legal judgment, identify and prioritize risk, and provide decisive, actionable advice in a fast-paced environment.
Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships with lawyers, business partners, senior leadership, and cross-functional teams.
Legal authorization to work in the United States without employer sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Combination of law firm experience, preferably in litigation, and in-house counsel experience.
Prior in-house experience at a company of comparable size and complexity.
Experience relevant to the specialty construction industry.
Experience managing employment litigation through trial or arbitration.
Experience managing other direct-report attorneys.

Responsibilities

Advise People Operations and business leadership on employment matters including hiring, performance management, terminations, leaves, accommodations, union and collective bargaining relationships, workforce reductions, and workplace investigations.
Draft, review, and negotiate employment agreements, collective bargaining agreements, project labor agreements, offer letters, separation agreements, restrictive covenants, and confidentiality agreements.
Counsel on compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA, NLRA, wage and hour laws, and applicable leave statutes.
Advise on union matters, including disputes under collective bargaining agreements and project labor agreements.
Advise on prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements, including requirements under the Inflation Reduction Act and similar state regulations.
Manage employment-related claims and proceedings before the EEOC, state agencies, arbitration panels, and courts, and supervise outside employment counsel as appropriate.
Partner with People Operations to develop and maintain employee handbooks, workplace policies, and training on harassment prevention, anti-discrimination, and employment compliance.
Advise on executive and key employee compensation arrangements, including equity plans and incentive structures, from an employment law perspective.
Provide Operations teams with day-to-day legal counsel on labor and employment matters.
Identify labor and employment legal risks in business operations and develop practical mitigation strategies.
Manage the company's litigation portfolio, including construction, commercial, and other contract litigation and claims, from inception through resolution.
Select, retain, supervise, and evaluate outside litigation counsel; negotiate engagement terms and manage legal budgets.
Develop litigation strategy, assess risk and exposure, and recommend settlement or trial decisions.
Coordinate litigation holds, document preservation, and discovery obligations with internal stakeholders.
Manage and coordinate responses to government investigations, regulatory inquiries, and subpoenas.
Prepare and present litigation status reports, risk assessments, and reserve recommendations to the Chief Legal Officer, Deputy Chief Legal Officer, and senior leadership.
Support environmental, health, and safety legal compliance as applicable to company operations.
Coordinate legal support for regulatory agency interactions, including correspondence, audits, inspections, and enforcement proceedings.
Monitor and advise on regulatory developments affecting the company's business, industry, and operations.
Manage regulatory filings and ongoing compliance obligations applicable to the company's industry sector.
Partner with Compliance and Risk functions to design, implement, and maintain compliance programs, policies, and internal controls.