Part-Time Legal Counsel

Heapy • Cincinnati, OH

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

At HEAPY, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of legal compliance and risk management. The General Counsel – Risk Management position plays a critical role in contract review and negotiation, liability management, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and insurance oversight. This position provides strategic legal guidance to senior leadership, ensuring that business operations align with legal and regulatory requirements while minimizing risk exposure. The ideal candidate thrives in a dynamic environment, demonstrates exceptional analytical and communication skills, and proactively develops risk management strategies to support HEAPY’s growth and stability.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school and admission to at least one U.S. state bar, active and in good standing
• Located in and licensed in OH, IN, PA, NC, SC or FL preferrably
• 5+ years of legal experience with a strong foundation in professional services and general corporate /business law
• Proven ability to advise and support executive leadership.
• Experience managing outside legal counsel and serving as a strategic advisor to executive leadership.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to educate non-legal stakeholders on contracts, risk, and compliance.

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of ISO 9001, particularly requirements related to documented information and records control.
• Experience supporting professional services firms, preferably within the AEC sector.
• Experience advising mid-sized businesses on corporate structure, risk mitigation, licensing, etc.
• Familiarity with multi-state business operations

Responsibilities

• Identifies, assesses, and prioritizes legal, regulatory, contractual, and operational risks across the company.
• Develops, implements, and continuously improves risk management strategies.
• Advises leadership and participates in C-Suite discussions to provide strategic legal, risk, and compliance counsel across all areas of the business.
• Develops, updates, and maintains HEAPY standard form legal documents (including contracts, subcontractor agreements, NDA’s, Non-competes, etc.).
• Supports Project Managers and Practice Leaders with review of contracts, focusing on standard of care, indemnification, limitation of liability, and other risk-shifting provisions.
• Works with clients’ legal contacts on negotiating fair and balanced terms and conditions.
• Advises project teams on contract administration, scope and change management, dispute avoidance, payment issues, and project-specific risk mitigation strategies.
• Ensures compliance with engineering licensure, ethics, business registration, and state, federal, and international regulations (e.g., OSHA, EPA), including research and filings for new markets and geographies.
• Manages registrations, renewals, qualifications, and related filings.
• Supports Board and related sub-Committees as needed regarding Governance, including Buy/Sell, Non- Competes, transition and other matters.
• In partnership with the CFO, oversees HEAPY’s insurance programs, including policy review, negotiation, and alignment with contractual and business risks.
• Liaises with assigned external legal counsel and insurers on litigation, disputes, and specialized legal matters to assess risk and determine optimal legal strategy.
• Provides legal guidance on employment and HR matters, including workplace policies, non-competes, separation agreements, compliance, and claims.
• Manages and coordinates with outside counsel as necessary.
• Provides legal support for mergers and acquisitions, including due diligence, transaction structuring, regulatory compliance, drafting and negotiating transaction documents, and post-acquisition risk mitigation.
• Supports facilities and real estate matters, including review/negotiation of leases and subleases.
• Advises on potential international expansion, including entity formation, business structuring, regulatory compliance, and contract execution.
• Influences and supports internal initiatives to strengthen design quality, risk awareness, and business outcomes.
• Develops and delivers training for colleagues on risk management, contracting best practices, and project risk mitigation.
• Monitors changes in laws, regulations, and industry standards; update policies, templates, and practices accordingly.
• Additional responsibilities as requested/needed.

Benefits

• premium medical, dental & vision coverage
• 401(k) with competitive contributions
• 10–15% annual bonus potential tied to company performance and your contributions
• open PTO and paid sick time
• annual wellness benefit bonus focused on your overall well-being
• annual professional development stipend to support your career goals

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree