Senior Construction Attorney

Ryan Companies•Minneapolis, MN

About The Position

Ryan Companies US, Inc. is hiring a Senior Construction Attorney for its Minneapolis office. The position focuses on managing risk, negotiating and drafting complex construction contracts, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, supporting project teams, and managing claims and litigation. The attorney will work closely with active construction and development teams to provide practical, business-oriented legal solutions in a fast-paced environment. Candidates with approximately 10 years of relevant legal experience are most likely to be successful. The role includes drafting and negotiating construction and development agreements; advising on construction-related claims, change orders, delays, and disputes; managing litigation, arbitration, mediation, and other dispute-resolution processes; coordinating with outside counsel; supporting regulatory compliance and project delivery; and providing training and day-to-day legal guidance to construction and development teams.

Requirements

Juris Doctor degree from an ABA-accredited law school.
Strong knowledge of construction contracts, including AIA, Consensus Docs, and custom agreements.
Experience in dispute resolution, including litigation and arbitration.
Excellent drafting, negotiation, verbal, written, and communication skills.
Ability to balance legal risk with business priorities.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively across departments.
Prior law firm experience with a construction law practice or in-house counsel experience at a construction or development company.
Practical, solutions-oriented approach with strong business acumen.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate owner construction contracts, design agreements, subcontracts, development agreements, and related documents.
Work closely with active construction and development project teams to handle, mitigate, and resolve conflicts and disputes, including alignment with insurance programs.
Identify potential legal and business risks in construction projects and provide proactive guidance to mitigate them.
Partner with project teams, development teams, and executives to align risk management strategies with business objectives.
Advise on construction-related claims, change orders, delay issues, and disputes.
Support compliance with safety, environmental, and labor laws throughout the project lifecycle.
Assist with licensing, permitting, and regulatory compliance issues.
Develop and maintain contract templates and best practices.
Manage and oversee construction litigation, arbitration, mediation, and other dispute-resolution claims and processes.
Work with outside counsel as needed and drive efficient, cost-effective outcomes.
Provide day-to-day support to construction and development teams.
Conduct training sessions on contract compliance, risk management, and relevant legal topics.