Legal Counsel/Assistant General Counsel

RWE

2mo ago

Job
Full-time
Senior Level
Legal
Boston, +1

AI generated summary

You should have 5+ years of legal experience, JD degree, proven corporate law knowledge, complex transaction experience, teamwork skills, and a desire to become an expert in renewables projects, with willingness to travel internationally.
You will provide legal counsel for RWE Offshore Wind US, supporting corporate activities, developing policies, coordinating legal advice, managing project milestones, overseeing legal matters, driving process improvement, and negotiating contracts for JV partnerships.

Requirements

A comprehensive, experience-based working knowledge of corporate and transactional law, especially in the context of large-scale, high-value infrastructure projects (renewables and in particular offshore wind experience would be beneficial but is not a pre-requisite).
Experience with corporate governance, and, in particular, the governance of joint ventures.
A full understanding of the processes and underlying drivers of development, construction, and financing of infrastructure projects, and in particular renewable energy projects.
An understanding of and some experience with the tax equity financing structures employed by most US renewables projects, and an appreciation for how the Inflation Reduction Act has altered this landscape.
Close alignment and cooperation with other members of RWE’s Offshore Wind Legal team, including both colleagues supporting the US market and also the larger global portfolio, based in locations across Europe and the APAC region.
Close alignment with the wider Offshore Wind business, including key stakeholders from other internal departments such as Development, Finance, Government Relations, Tax/Accounting, Insurance, Credit Risk, Treasury, Permitting, Communications, and External Affairs.
Demonstrated ability to apply a practical rather than theoretical focus to legal issues with a view to finding viable business solutions.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
Either a physical presence in proximity to one of RWE’s primary Offshore Wind offices in the US (Boston, MA or San Francisco, CA) or a willingness to travel to Boston at least one week per month. Periodically, additional travel, including to Germany and other locations in Europe, will also be necessary.
Skills and Experience:
Qualified as a lawyer in the US with a JD degree; preferred jurisdictions include New York, Massachusetts, and California, but other states are also potentially acceptable.
At least 5 years of work experience as a lawyer in a esteemed law firms and or in-house counsel for company working within either in the energy sector or with a focus of working on complex international infrastructure projects.
Significant expertise working on complex M&A transactions, corporate governance (especially for joint ventures), power purchase arrangements (including competitive bids for power offtake), or financing of infrastructure projects (including tax equity financing and the growing credit transfer market).
Renewables experience (and offshore wind experience in particular) would be beneficial but is not a pre-requisite, however the qualified candidate will be able to demonstrate a desire to become an expert in this field.
Self-motivated worker with the ability to handle multiple tasks, take on new responsibilities and organize tasks efficiently in a collaborative environment.
Commercial and technical understanding of large industrial projects and a good understanding how to best support them from the legal point of view.
Enhanced organizational, analytical and communication skills and a solution-oriented and positive mindset.
A high level of engagement, a strong team contributor, and ability to work both individually and as part of a wider cross-functional team.
Enjoys working in an international team and open to some work-related travel, both domestic and international.
Some project management or project leadership experience would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

Providing legal support for all corporate, M&A, partnering, and joint venture activities of the RWE Offshore Wind business in the US, including negotiation of potential new JV partnerships, management of ongoing JV relationships, purchase or sale of development-stage project assets, and internal corporate governance support.
Advising on, developing, drafting, and aligning all types of internal and external facing policies and procedures for RWE’s US Offshore Wind business.
Would be the project’s first point of contact within the legal team, working closely with the Development, Finance, Partnering, External Relations, Credit Risk, Tax, and Permitting teams (among others), for legal advice and coordinating specialized in-house and external legal advice in a cost and work efficient manner.
Coordinating legal support (including coordination with JV counsel) for key project milestones, including BOEM auctions, bids responsive to PPA offtake solicitations, and tax equity financing.
Overseeing all legal matters relating to projects in your remit and advising senior management about all related legal risks, including claims and disputes.
Providing legal support (including liaising with external counsel) in relation to any disputes arising out of JV partnerships.
Driving standardization and process improvement initiatives within the US Offshore Wind team and also the larger global Legal team.
Developing non-standard, customized solutions when needed to address complex project challenges.
Working to negotiate and enforce contracts on behalf of joint venture entities to which RWE is a member, including coordination with attorneys of our JV partners.

FAQs

What are the day-to-day responsibilities of this Legal Counsel position?

The day-to-day responsibilities include providing legal support for corporate, M&A, partnering, and joint venture activities, advising on policies and procedures, coordinating legal support for key project milestones, overseeing legal matters related to projects, providing legal support for disputes, driving standardization and process improvement initiatives, and negotiating and enforcing contracts on behalf of joint venture entities.

What qualifications and experience are required for this Legal Counsel position?

The candidate must be a qualified lawyer in the US with a JD degree, have at least 5 years of experience in esteemed law firms or as in-house counsel, possess expertise in M&A transactions, corporate governance, power purchase arrangements, or financing of infrastructure projects, and have a desire to become an expert in renewables and offshore wind projects.

What skills and attributes are important for this Legal Counsel role?

Important skills and attributes include being self-motivated, able to handle multiple tasks, organize efficiently, have a commercial and technical understanding of large industrial projects, possess excellent organizational, analytical, and communication skills, be a strong team contributor, and have a positive and solution-oriented mindset.

What benefits are offered with this position?

Benefits offered include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off and holidays, short-term incentives, flexible working time and location arrangement, room for growth and development within the company, and a positive, diverse, and collaborative work environment.

RWE

Our energy for a sustainable life.

Energy

Industry

10,001+

Employees

Mission & Purpose

RWE is leading the way to a green energy world. With an extensive investment and growth strategy, the company will expand its powerful, green generation capacity to 50 gigawatts internationally by 2030. RWE is investing €50 billion gross for this purpose in this decade. The portfolio is based on offshore and onshore wind, solar, hydrogen, batteries, biomass and gas. RWE Supply & Trading provides tailored energy solutions for large customers. RWE has locations in the attractive markets of Europe, North America and the Asia-Pacific region. The company is responsibly phasing out nuclear energy and coal. Government-mandated phaseout roadmaps have been defined for both of these energy sources. RWE employs around 19,000 people worldwide and has a clear target: to get to net zero by 2040. On its way there, the company has set itself ambitious targets for all activities that cause greenhouse gas emissions. The Science Based Targets initiative has confirmed that these emission reduction targets are in line with the Paris Agreement. Very much in the spirit of the company’s purpose: Our energy for a sustainable life.