In House Counsel

Hewitt Young•Rochester, NY

14h

About The Position

The In-House Counsel protects and builds the business by managing legal risk across all construction operations—ensuring contracts are structured to preserve margin, disputes are resolved strategically, and the company operates with speed, confidence, and compliance. This role’s primary responsibility is to convert legal exposure into controlled risk, enabling profitable execution while safeguarding the company’s financial position, reputation, and long-term growth.

Requirements

Strong background in construction law (civil, electrical, infrastructure preferred).
Proven experience with: Contract negotiation and drafting.
Proven experience with: Construction litigation and dispute resolution.
Proven experience with: Claims and change order strategy.
Deep understanding of: Risk allocation in construction contracts.
Deep understanding of: Project lifecycle and field operations.
Ability to balance legal protection with business execution speed.
Strong communication and negotiation skills.
Experience managing outside counsel and controlling legal costs.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate construction contracts (prime, subcontracts, vendor agreements).
Identify and mitigate risk in: Indemnification clauses, Liquidated damages, Payment terms, Schedule and delay provisions.
Standardize contract templates to protect margin and reduce risk exposure.
Partner with Operations and Estimating during preconstruction.
Manage all litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution processes.
Oversee external counsel and control legal spend.
Develop strategy for: Claims defense, Revenue recovery, Risk containment.
Lead dispute resolution efforts to minimize financial and reputational impact.
Advise project teams on legal risks throughout project lifecycle.
Support change order strategy, claims documentation, and entitlement positioning.
Identify risk trends across projects and implement preventative strategies.
Act as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and operations teams.
Provide practical, business-focused legal guidance—not theoretical advice.
Enable faster decision-making with clear risk/reward frameworks.
Ensure compliance with: State and federal construction laws, Labor (union/non-union) considerations, Licensing and regulatory requirements.
Maintain corporate governance standards and documentation.
Train PMs, Estimators, and Operations on: Contract risk, Claims documentation, Legal best practices.
Build legal awareness across the organization.