Senior Counsel, Development

Canadian Solar Inc.•Walnut Creek, CA

7d•$210,000 - $245,000•Remote

About The Position

Canadian Solar’s Commercial Energy Storage Project Development business, a unit of the Module and Systems Solutions (MSS) business in North America, is seeking an experienced project development lawyer to join its legal team. Experience drafting and negotiating site control, project finance and offtake agreements in the solar and/or energy storage industries is preferred. The ideal candidate will have big firm and in-house transactional experience in project development, real estate, finance, M&A or a related area. We are looking for a confident self-starter with strong interpersonal and organizational skills and a demonstrated ability to operate autonomously supporting the development and construction of distributed BESS projects. This is a full-time position with the opportunity to work in an office setting or remotely.

Requirements

8+ years of relevant experience, including a minimum of 3 years’ relevant transactional experience in a large law firm; in-house experience with a renewable energy developer is preferred.
Must have energy asset project development experience; experience in the development and financing of distributed solar and/or battery storage projects is preferred.
Tax equity project finance experience will be looked upon very favorably.
Solid academic credentials are required, including a JD from a top 50 law school.
Must be licensed to practice law in your U.S. State of residence.
Strong drafting skills and experience leading negotiation of complex commercial contracts as part of a deal team.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work cooperatively in a fast-paced environment with sales representatives and other highly motivated individuals.
Willingness and ability to travel regularly within North America for negotiations or for meetings.

Nice To Haves

Experience drafting and negotiating site control, project finance and offtake agreements in the solar and/or energy storage industries is preferred.
The ideal candidate will have big firm and in-house transactional experience in project development, real estate, finance, M&A or a related area.
In-house experience with a renewable energy developer is preferred.
Experience in the development and financing of distributed solar and/or battery storage projects is preferred.
Tax equity project finance experience will be looked upon very favorably.

Responsibilities

Act as a lead transactional lawyer for the development, financing, and construction of distributed battery energy storage and solar projects.
Provide strategic and business-oriented legal advice on site control, offtake agreements, regulatory approvals, sale and acquisition of projects, construction contracts, and energy storage system installation and procurement primarily in the United States.
Assist with all aspects of project financing, including debt financing, tax credit monetization, and ancillary documentation.
As part of the Legal team, assist in the development of legal policies, processes, and resources for the North America business.
Develop and maintain contract templates for the BESS project development business.
Coordinate and supervise outside counsel when necessary, with a view to balancing legal costs with business goals.
Ensure that all activities are performed with the highest ethical standards and that transactions comply with Canadian Solar policies and procedures.