Chief Legal Officer

Position: Chief Legal Officer, Senior Counsel, General Counsel - C&I Solar and Energy Storage (Renewables)

Location: Texas strongly preferred

Sector: Utility-scale, C&I Renewable Energy

Package: $275,000 - $300,000 + Cash bonus + equity

Company: C&I (Commercial and Industrial) IPP (Independent Power Producer) - PE Backed (Private Equity)

Important Note: You must have recent experience in Commercial & Industrial (C&I) renewables to be considered for this role.

Company Overview

Our client is an emerging start-up in the renewable energy space. Well-funded and building an investment team focused on accelerating the energy transition market (wind, solar, storage) by deploying capital into clean energy projects across the US.

The Role

As a Chief Legal Officer, this individual plays a crucial role in building and steering the company's legal team to structure, draft, negotiate, and/or close project documentation for storage and utility-scale solar project investments.

The role with engage directly with all divisions of the business, with a significant focus on project finance such as debt and tax equity investments.

Core Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate key documents for energy storage and solar projects, including PPAs, EPCs, leases, and NDAs.
• Handle project and corporate financing documents, including debt and tax equity transactions.
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance for all project agreements.
• Collaborate with various teams to drive business development strategies and identify risks.
• Offer strategic advice on contractual matters to internal teams.
• Update and maintain legal precedents and form agreements.
• Implement and manage a comprehensive document management system.
• Work with outside counsel on project-specific legal issues.
• Proactively address commercial and regulatory challenges in multiple markets.
• Support policy development and corporate governance initiatives.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of legal experience, with a preference for backgrounds in the renewable energy sector.
• Strong understanding of project finance concepts and structures, specifically tax equity
• Experience with warranty claims and the lifespan of dispute resolution
• Understanding of the nexus of accounting and legal compliance
• Experience with securities regulation, SOX compliance, and public disclosure principles
• Regulatory awareness of the power markets in the US (e.g. FERC, NERC, ERCOT, PJM, etc.)
• Demonstrated proficiency in drafting and negotiating complex agreements in project finance, specifically tax equity.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and leadership skills.
• Ability to manage a high-volume workload under tight deadlines.
• Willingness to travel as needed for business requirements.