Senior In-House Counsel

Ace Electric • Valdosta, GA

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior In-House Counsel will serve as Ace Electric’s senior legal executive and trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team. This role will own and lead all legal matters across the enterprise, with a heavy emphasis on commercial construction contracts, risk mitigation, and proactive legal strategy. The Senior In-House Counsel will be deeply embedded in the business—partnering daily with Operations, Pre-Construction, Project Management, Finance, and Executive Leadership—to fabricate, negotiate, review, and manage construction contracts while reducing risk and supporting profitable growth. The General Counsel will report to the President of Corporate Support.

Requirements

• License: Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (multi-state preferred).
• Education: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school required.
• Experience: 10+ years of legal experience, with:
• Significant time in commercial construction law
• Prior experience as: In-house counsel for a construction, engineering, or specialty trade company or: Construction-focused attorney at a respected law firm
• Deep familiarity with: Large commercial/industrial projects, Multi-state contracting environments, High-dollar, high-complexity project risk
• Ability to analyze complex legal and business issues and exercise sound judgment.
• Ability to read, interpret, and draft detailed legal documents and contracts.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively under pressure.
• Ability to sit for extended periods while reviewing documents and working at a computer.
• Ability to attend meetings, training sessions, and occasional site visits as required.
• References, Background Check, Drug Screen Testing, Valid Driver’s License.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience supporting construction, electrical contracting, engineering, or other trade-based organizations strongly preferred.
• Proven experience negotiating and managing complex commercial and construction contracts.
• Strong business judgment with the ability to provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and leadership skills.
• Prior in-house counsel experience within construction, infrastructure, energy, or industrial services.
• Deep understanding of construction contracts, including risk allocation, indemnification, insurance, and bonding.
• Experience managing outside counsel and controlling legal spend.
• Familiarity with OSHA, labor compliance, and safety-related legal issues.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to balance legal risk and operational realities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to work effectively with non-legal stakeholders.
• Experience developing contract templates, legal processes, and compliance programs.
• High level of discretion, integrity, and professionalism.

Responsibilities

• Construction Contract Fabrication, Review & Negotiation (Primary Emphasis)
• Draft, review, and negotiate: Prime contracts (AIA, ConsensusDocs, AGC, custom owner forms), Subcontracts and supplier agreements, Design-build and EPC agreements, Master Service Agreements (MSAs), Change orders, amendments, and exhibits
• Lead contract risk reviews during: Bid phase, Pre-award negotiations, Major project escalations
• Identify and mitigate high-risk clauses including: Indemnification, Liquidated damages, Delay damages / no-damage-for-delay, Pay-if-paid / pay-when-paid, Flow-down provisions, Insurance and bonding requirements, Warranty and defect exposure
• Develop standard contract playbooks, redline guidance, and fallback positions for Operations and Pre-Construction teams.
• Legal Risk Management & Claims Oversight
• Provide legal guidance on: Project disputes, claims, and terminations, Delay, acceleration, and scope disputes, Lien rights, bond claims, and payment disputes
• Manage litigation strategy in coordination with outside counsel (when required)
• Proactively advise project teams to avoid disputes before they escalate
• Support resolution strategies that preserve client relationships when possible
• Corporate, Regulatory & Governance Support
• Oversee corporate governance, entity compliance, and state licensing requirements
• Ensure compliance with: Federal, state, and local construction regulations, Labor and employment laws (in coordination with HR), Safety, compliance, and insurance obligations
• Support executive leadership with: Strategic initiatives, M&A diligence and integration (if applicable), Joint ventures and strategic partnerships
• Internal Enablement & Process Improvement
• Train Operations, Project Managers, and Pre-Construction leaders on: Contract risk awareness, Common legal pitfalls in construction projects, How to spot early warning signs
• Build scalable legal processes, including: Contract review workflows, Risk escalation protocols, Document retention and dispute documentation standards
• Act as a practical business advisor, balancing legal risk with commercial realities

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Vision, Life, Disability, Accident and Critical Illness Insurances
• 401k with Match
• Access to Ace University: Apprenticeship Program, Leadership Training, Skill Building Classes and much more!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior