Legal, Managing Counsel II

Wood • Houston, TX

9h • Hybrid

About The Position

Wood's Managing Counsel is responsible for undertaking all matters and all legal services, supporting the needs of the business units (and Group) with the focus on the Projects business unit for the West Region (primarily the U.S. and Canada) and ensuring priorities are aligned with the business unit’s short- and long-term strategic priorities. The role provides or secures the provision of precise, commercial, timely, and cost-effective legal counsel within the business in respect of any matter which requires it and in respect of any matter which has potential or actual legal or reputational implications, enabling the success of the business through effective management of legal risk and cost. This individual will participate in the business unit’s leadership team meetings, as required, providing counsel and mentoring on legal matters to the business leadership team within the relevant area of responsibility. The role can cover a broad spectrum of specialist areas of law on a multi-jurisdictional basis where significant experience and judgment are needed, including engineering, procurement, and construction contracts and litigation/disputes relating to the same. This individual will be involved in executing functional strategy in line with the wider Legal and overall Group, Regional, and BU strategies. The role provides direction and management of external legal counsel and any specifically designated shared legal team resource operating within the relevant geographical region. This individual also contributes to the development of non-direct reports in the legal team.

Requirements

• Juris Doctorate is required.
• Must currently be licensed by the State Bar of Texas or another state.
• 8+ years as an attorney with significant engineering, procurement, and construction services experience, including litigation/dispute resolution relating to the same.
• Seasoned attorney with strong commercial and financial acumen and highly developed legal and analytical skills (e.g., negotiation, drafting, relevant legal knowledge, project management).
• Proven track record in managing teams.
• Time management, people management and development, use of IT systems and tools.
• Experience in complex legal analysis and problem solving.
• Experience implementing an effective legal training regime.
• Experience in multiple legal practice areas to support the Project Business Unit, for example, corporate, commercial, construction, dispute resolution, investigations, sanctions, export controls, competition, and IP.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and development.
• Knowledge of leading legal operations practices.
• Knowledge of BU/service bundle risk profile and risk appetite.
• Knowledge of Group performance and how it can deliver and add value to its customers.
• Knowledge of corporate governance and decision making.
• Knowledge of changing regulatory environment.
• Knowledge of current and future industry trends.
• Knowledge of legal systems in all jurisdictions in which the BU/service bundle(s) operates.
• English language fluency.
• Business Acumen.
• Strong technical skills and practical/business-oriented dispute resolution approach.
• Ability to disseminate complex legal issues in a clear, concise, and pragmatic manner.
• Ability to meet deadlines and provide a professional level of service at all times.
• Ability to measure performance of external counsel against budgets.
• Strategic Mindset: Anticipates the environment, is forward-thinking, and can see the ‘big picture.’
• Communication: Excellent oral and written skills.
• Capable of communicating complex legal issues.
• Ability to generate trust and credibility with audiences through continuous, open, and consistent communication.
• Good interpersonal skills, ability to communicate well at all levels of the organization and with staff at remote locations.
• Collaboration / Stakeholder Management: Relationship building/people skills.
• Ability to instill confidence and respect of peers and other functional/business leaders throughout the entire Wood organization.
• Ability to work effectively across different cultures, driving a global mind-set.
• Ability to work collaboratively with and influence key business unit/service bundle/functional leadership teams.
• Consistently deliver to stakeholders.
• Foster and contribute towards a customer-focused climate that delivers on expectations and strengthens relationships.
• Drives for Results / Plans & Aligns.
• Attention to detail.
• Takes initiative/proactive.
• Demonstrates leadership and project management skills.
• Strong problem solving and creative skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and make decisions based on accurate and timely analyses.
• Creative in the achievement of stretching objectives; does not accept failure easily.
• Agility: Works independently and well in a fast-paced, challenging environment.
• Flexibility to adapt quickly to new challenges and environments.
• Innovation: Push the boundaries to create smarter, more sustainable solutions.
• Champion and drive innovation and change initiatives focused on improving quality and effectiveness.
• Self-Awareness & Authenticity: Consistently model and lead on Wood’s values, working with integrity, respecting, and valuing others and our communities.
• Energy and compassion.
• Balance of humility and self-confidence.
• High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation.

Nice To Haves

• Construction and EPC litigation at a law firm or as in-house counsel.

Responsibilities

• Primary responsibility for managing all construction litigation and arbitrations arising within the United States and Canada, including disputes with clients and subcontractors/vendors, unpaid contract sums, claims for additional compensation, back charges, mechanic’s liens, property damage claims, and insurance coverage disputes.
• Analyzing legal issues, engaging external counsel and subject matter experts, collaborating with external counsel on case strategy, managing external counsel, overseeing case strategy, preparing case budgets, and managing legal spend.
• Preparing internal communications related to ongoing legal matters, including case summaries, risk assessments, and strategy/settlement recommendations.
• Collaborating with Commercial and Contracts teams on pre-litigation disputes to avoid formal proceedings and settle matters on the best possible terms.
• Providing strategy guidance for pre-litigation matters and supporting with privilege and document creation.
• Supporting Projects business management and leadership teams on dispute avoidance and pre-litigation claim management.
• Drafting and negotiating settlement agreements.
• Acting as an interface between Commercial and Legal teams to ensure matters resulting in formal proceedings are appropriately managed.
• Managing pre-litigation external counsel engagement and internal approvals.
• Providing ongoing advice and guidance to Commercial and Contracts teams regarding contract terms and conditions, contract interpretation, parent company guarantees, powers of attorney, and joint venture agreements.
• Advising Supply Chain teams on contract terms and conditions.
• Providing ongoing legal guidance to the business unit's management and leadership teams.
• Guiding Health and Safety teams on legislation, investigations, and whistle-blower laws.
• Participating in Incident Review Panel meetings.
• Advising the Ethics & Compliance team on Canadian privacy laws, data protection compliance, and Canadian employment laws.
• Providing reports and advice to Group Finance regarding year-end and mid-year audits in connection with supervised disputes.
• Advising Group Insurance regarding annual insurance renewals.
• Researching legal issues and drafting legal memos and internal briefs.
• Preparing and delivering proactive risk mitigation communications to Projects business leaders and stakeholders.
• Developing and implementing targeted training relating to emerging or identified risks.
• Identifying risk areas and developing initiatives to reduce risk/financial exposure.
• Inputting into and understanding the legal function agenda, strategy, policies, and programs.
• Clarifying business priorities and ensuring alignment of legal services.
• Supporting junior members of the team in the delivery of legal counsel.
• Performing complex legal analysis and problem-solving, research, counsel, and guidance.
• Ensuring the effective, timely, and cost-effective delivery of legal counsel, support, governance, and compliance.
• Managing legal budgets, obtaining estimates of external legal spend, managing approvals, engaging external legal service providers, and monitoring expenditure.
• Managing, maintaining, and inputting into matter and cost management databases and disseminating key metrics information.
• Providing oversight of functional legal risk and management, proactively identifying and effectively managing legal risk and compliance.
• Successfully communicating and delivering strategic legal and compliance initiatives.
• Managing current and new legal vendor relationships, identifying appropriate partners.
• Proactively sharing knowledge and experience with other members of the legal team.
• Supporting the creation of a cohesive team and organizational culture.
• Capturing lessons learned and contributing to progressive learning programs.
• Consistently exhibiting Wood’s behaviors and leading by personal example.
• Providing support to other BUs or Group as required.

Benefits

• Wood's behaviors and leads by personal example, encouraging all employees to conduct their activities in accordance with all applicable laws and Wood’s standards and policies

What This Job Offers

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