Senior Manager, Senior Counsel

MN8 Energy•New York, NY

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

MN8 Energy is one of the largest independent solar energy and energy storage owner-operators in the U.S., serving enterprise customers with clean energy and complementary solutions, such as battery storage and EV Charging, to enable an electrified, decarbonized world. Originally founded inside of Goldman Sachs in 2017, our fleet has grown to nearly 3-gigawatts of solar, including 850 projects across 27 states, and over 270 megawatts of battery storage projects, with each project tailored to achieve the bold decarbonization targets and goals of our more than 200 blue-chip customers. MN8 is headquartered in New York with offices in Boca Raton, Florida and Madrid. MN8 is building its internal legal team, providing a significant opportunity for the right individuals to shape the department. The successful candidate for the Senior Counsel – Corporate Finance role will possess a strong transactional background with significant experience in renewable energy. Main responsibilities will include providing legal advice and support regarding (a) complex renewable energy transactions (project finance, tax equity, acquisitions and divestitures, and joint ventures) with a particular focus on corporate structure and M&A, (b) the resulting long-term ownership, finance, and operation of assets, and (c) general corporate, compliance, and governance matters. The position provides legal support directly to the executive management team and to the investment, finance, execution, and asset management departments. Additionally, the Senior Counsel will provide support as needed to other legal team members, while reporting to the Assistant General Counsel.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree and J.D. from an accredited law school
Member in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar, preferably New York, California, or Florida
4+ years legal experience at a law firm or in-house working directly on finance transactions
Knowledge of a wide variety of contract formats relevant to the renewable energy industry
Demonstrated interest or experience in the development and finance of renewable energy and energy efficiency infrastructure projects for both public and private sectors
Proven record of managing multiple projects while meeting deadlines
Ability to build stakeholder consensus and appropriately balance legal and business risk in support of company’s business goals
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Team-orientation with demonstrated initiative and ability to work in a fast-paced business environment, handling varied and shifting priorities and deadlines as needed
Strong work ethic, detail oriented, business savvy, flexible schedule when necessary
Legally authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis without restrictions

Nice To Haves

7+ years’ experience in renewable energy structured or project finance, with a mix of big law firm and in-house work preferred, including familiarity with sale-leaseback, partnership flip, inverted lease, and other major finance structures common in renewable energy/tax-based finance
Strong capital markets and renewable energy finance experience; with EV, wind, and battery storage project finance and/or commodities trading experience a plus
Strong interpersonal skills, including a sense of kindness and humor (and preference for the Oxford comma)
Smart, decisive, organized, and innovative problem solver comfortable developing methods to think beyond existing solutions and possessing a willingness and ability to influence Company culture and strategy

Responsibilities

Broad functional expertise in leading and supporting M&A and other strategic transactions, from inception to integration, in coordination with other key company stakeholders and cross-functional due diligence teams
Reliable ability to identify and resolve legal and business issues, appropriately identifying risks and proactively proposes alternative risk-mitigating strategies in accomplishing project and Company objectives
Experience working with business development, tax, and other teams to assess and structure transactions
High capacity to balance competing and fluid priorities and deadlines successfully and exercise solid business judgment consistently
Consummate professionalism evidenced by self-motivation, independence, and comfort working with a diverse group of individuals, including senior representatives of external and internal organizations on complex and high-value/risk matters
Demonstrated capability to effectively share subject matter expertise to ensure successful transactions
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including solid drafting and consistent attention to detail
Exceptional organizational, planning, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills
Excellent presentation, facilitation, communication, and project management skills
Desire for coaching and/or mentoring relationships with both senior and junior team members
Strong interpersonal skills and teamwork orientation
Ethical mindset and willingness to raise concerns to internal team members when appropriate
Provide legal expertise and commercial support to all functional groups of the Company (including review and negotiating commercial contracts, preparing and reviewing proposals and terms sheet, devising new revenue, performance, and real property agreements, ensuring internal compliance with project agreements, monitoring post-closing obligations including borrower compliance with payments and loan covenants, and assisting with post-closing amendments to transaction documents including related waivers and consents) in the development, execution, administration, and operation of utility-scale renewable energy projects
Negotiate, implement, and support ongoing compliance obligations of project and portfolio finance facilities
Collaborate with origination, development, execution, procurement, treasury, tax, asset management, and O&M teams to prioritize and execute on requests for legal support from each different department
Manage negotiation and drafting of finance, development, and procurement agreements and applications
Review and approve documents for execution in accordance with Company policies and procedures
Support and, upon demonstrated ability, lead all phases of renewable energy transactions from inception through integration, particularly through due diligence process and transaction structuring, including drafting and negotiating term sheets, due diligence review, maintenance of virtual data rooms, drafting and negotiating transaction documents, and ensuring compliance with post-closing obligations
Advise on negotiating positions relating to insurance coverage and bankability for the major packages
Develop, review, and recommend changes to Company form documents
Assist with auditing and document compliance by preparing and reviewing document summaries as requested
Support efforts to comply with regulatory requirements and secure regulatory approvals, including strategic M&A transaction and SEC filings and disclosures
Provide guidance on regulatory matters, including assisting with public policy and regulatory issues and providing counsel in the identification of strategic markets
Support Company’s project documentation and compliance functions, including general post-closing support
Perform and manage corporate governance activities for Company and its subsidiaries as directed, including preparation of resolutions, operating agreements, and documents with respect to formation and dissolution of entities, and support Company’s Board or its committees as requested
Coordinate with the Legal Team and Risk Management to assess and manage disputes and claims and potential disputes, communicating with team members, counterparties, outside counsel, and other management as appropriate, and work to constructively resolve disputes in a cost-effective manner
Support management of external legal resources to ensure efficient, timely, and effective completion of tasks in compliance with project and legal department budgets during transaction/project life cycle
Coordinate efforts with other legal and management staff regarding corporate and project requirements to ensure maximum value and appropriate risk management for Company and its stakeholders
Achieve and maintain industry knowledge and strategy expertise for solar, wind, EV charging, hydrogen, and battery storage projects
Perform other tasks as assigned