General Counsel

Cloudbreak Energy•Boulder, CO

5d•Remote

About The Position

Formed by experienced renewable energy professionals in 2020, Cloudbreak is already one of the leading commercial and community solar developers in the United States. Our mission is to accelerate the growth in domestic renewable energy capacity while also bringing economic benefits to communities across the country. We are executing on this mission by developing projects that save local residents and businesses money on their electric bills, generate significant tax revenue, create well-paying, local jobs, and diversify utility generation with renewable energy. Our team is a tightly-knit group that is passionate about deploying high quality distributed solar and storage solutions. When we aren’t building renewable energy projects, we love to ski, board, bike, hike, camp, see live music, and dine together. As passionate outdoor-loving people, we believe climate change poses an existential risk to both the places we love and humanity itself. Harnessing the sun to generate renewable electricity with zero carbon emissions is one of the most tangible ways to slow climate change. If you are passionate about accelerating the transition to renewable energy and willing to roll up your sleeves to solve hard problems, this is the place for you. Cloudbreak Energy is seeking a General Counsel who is practical and solutions-oriented to review, draft, and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements and provide ongoing advice to Cloudbreak. This position provides immense growth opportunities as the lead member of the legal team. This position will support Cloudbreak’s overall corporate organization and strategy, site control agreements, offtake agreements in regulated programs, project finance, regulatory, and related matters critical to operating a solar energy and storage developer and owner-operator. This is an opportunity for an entrepreneurial, highly organized leader who thrives in a dynamic environment and enjoys building functions from the ground up, while also being comfortable with detail-oriented work and executing with a small team.

Requirements

6+ years of experience practicing corporate, real estate, renewable energy, or commercial law, with a focus on transactional work and deal execution.
Proven ability to analyze complex legal issues, identify solutions, and communicate them effectively.
Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, and negotiation skills.
Growth mindset: Be willing to push yourself and those around you to grow.
Analytical & Problem-solving skills: Find the needle in the haystack that gets the deal across the finish line if needed. You should have strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a keen eye for detail.
Work Ethic: Ability to operate independently and manage competing priority
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school
Active and in good standing with the applicable State Bar.

Nice To Haves

Experience centered in renewable energy in the large-scale DG space.
Boulder-based or willing to relocate preferred, but remote candidates considered.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate (and support key business functions in the same) a variety of commercial agreements, including EPC contracts, O&M agreements, project finance, corporate finance, site control, NDAs, and other contracts that support solar and storage lifecycle development and operations.
Support the origination and development lifecycle of solar and storage projects, including legal advice on development, permitting, interconnection, and stakeholder relations for renewable energy and battery storage projects from inception through operations and management.
Support the Head of Policy in analyzing legal and regulatory matters that impact Cloudbreak’s operations and work to navigate such systems and where appropriate, elect to intervene and work to change such systems or structures, including analysis on administrative processes and pathways for project and company success.
In partnership with the relevant business unit lead, perform legal services and advisory for solar and storage development through ownership and operations; solar and storage asset purchase and sale agreements (MIPAs and Asset Transfer Agreements); and support corporate structure to optimize deal execution.
Participate in improving and managing Cloudbreak’s contract intake, review, execution, and post-execution processes to keep commercial operations running smoothly.
Conduct legal research and provide sound legal advice on a range of legal and business issues, including without limitation real estate, vesting of development rights, state and local tax, operational and regulatory requirements in markets, and bespoke contract structures.
Collaborate closely with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translate them into clear and concise legal terms.
Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including vendors, customers, and legal counsel.
Proactively identify and address potential legal issues. Understand and be able to work through any pre-dispute matters, working to avoid disputes and keep projects on time and on budget. Know how to leverage contractual tools and mechanisms to swiftly reach resolution.
Effectively communicate legal concepts to non-lawyers in a clear and concise manner, including training and working with business units on legal concepts to support commercial operations.
Oversee, manage, and execute on outside counsel strategy and support.
Contribute to the development and improvement of processes, workflows, and procedures.
Develop and maintain commercial contract templates and playbooks.
Drive efficiency and innovation within legal services for Cloudbreak.