Corporate Counsel – Contracts & Disputes- Green Brick Partners

Green Brick Partners•Plano, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Corporate Counsel must believe in, practice and initiate all Green Brick Partners values set forth in an acronym we call HOME. They must be H onest, O bjective, M ature and E fficient in how he or she approaches their role at Green Brick Partners. As Corporate Counsel you will support the day-to-day commercial and dispute-resolution needs of Green Brick Partners and its affiliated builders. You will work directly with our General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, and alongside our purchasing, construction, warranty, and sales teams, to perform a variety of legal tasks, including reviewing, drafting, and negotiating vendor, trade partner, and other commercial contracts; investigating and resolving vendor and customer disputes; assisting in the management of the Company’s litigation docket and its outside counsel; and other matters assigned by the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel. This position is well suited to a commercial litigator making a first move in-house, and offers direct exposure to senior leadership across the organization.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate Degree; licensed and in good standing to practice law in Texas, or eligible for admission to the State Bar of Texas within a reasonable period following hire.
3 to 6 years of commercial litigation experience at a law firm and/or in-house legal department
Demonstrated ability to manage matters through the litigation lifecycle, including responding timely to arbitration or court deadlines, drafting discovery requests and responses, drafting pleadings, motions, and other legal briefing, and appearing for oral argument
Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial contracts, with sound judgment on risk allocation, indemnity, insurance, and limitation of liability provisions
Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.)
Strong verbal and written communication skills that reflect attention to detail are required
Ability to work as part of a team and interact effectively with employees across the company, from the C-suite to entry-level employees
Superb initiative, ability, and desire to work independently and assertively and to take ownership of assigned matters
Superior research skills and the ability to analyze complex matters required
Ability to manage multiple matters and competing deadlines, prioritize practically, and deliver business-oriented advice under time pressure

Nice To Haves

Experience with vendor, supplier, subcontractor, and trade partner contracting
Residential construction defect experience, including familiarity handling DTPA claims, the RCLA process, construction defect allegations, and allegations regarding implied or express warranties
Prior in-house experience or exposure to the homebuilding, construction, or real estate development industry

Responsibilities

Investigate and manage vendor and customer disputes from initial demand through resolution, including evaluating potential liability or recovery and developing a practical resolution strategy
Evaluate and respond to attorney letters, demands from customers and vendors, requests from governmental agencies or regulators, and handle other inquiries and responses as assigned by General Counsel or the Deputy General Counsel
Assist in managing the Company’s litigation docket, including tracking deadlines, coordinating document collection and discovery responses, preparing witnesses, and reporting on case status to senior leaders
Assist in the selection, supervision, and budget management of outside counsel
Attend and participate in depositions, mediations, court conferences, arbitration hearings, and trials
Review, draft, revise, and negotiate commercial agreements, including vendor, supplier, trade partner, professional services, information technology, purchasing, and other operational contracts
Serve as a primary day-to-day legal contact for the business teams on contract interpretation, risk allocation, and escalation questions
Assist in periodic reviews and updates to contract templates utilized by the Company and affiliated builders
Advise and provide support to affiliated builders’ purchasing, warranty, and sales departments
Conduct legal research and prepare related memos, summaries, and briefs
Assist in the development of policies and procedures to mitigate and manage corporate risk
Monitor, track, and report on legislative, judicial, and regulatory developments that may impact the Company’s operations
Participate in special projects and perform additional duties