Senior In-House Counsel

Our Mission is to Identify, Hire, Train and Retain the very best people!  Could that be you? 

Join the Ace Electric team for opportunities to work with the best team and build your career with Ace University!

Since our inception in Valdosta, GA in 1975, Ace has been performing quality electrical installations in a full range of markets including: retail, education, healthcare, institutional, industrial, commercial, correctional facilities, hospitality, military bases and others. In the past 15 years, locations have been added in Macon, GA, Atlanta, GA, Jackson, TN, Statesboro, GA and Siler City, NC. Ace offers fabrication services, hard bid, design-build, negotiated contracts and fee-based work. We have the resources, professional staff and project management team to handle almost any type of electrical project. Our history of safety and quality has been established through years of successful projects and satisfied customers. Ace Electric is growing bigger in business each year and has no signs of slowing down!  

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!

General Summary: 

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.

Preferred Job Skills:

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.

Mandatory Hiring Requirements:

References, Background Check, Drug Screen Testing, Valid Driver’s License.

Core Objectives:

Protect the Company from contractual, financial, regulatory, and reputational risk.

Enable Growth by supporting faster, smarter contracting and deal execution.

Standardize & Strengthen Contracts across owners, GCs, suppliers, and subcontractors.

Reduce Outside Counsel Spend through strong in-house expertise.

Serve as a Strategic Partner to the executive team, not a gatekeeper

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

Position 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

Working Conditions:

Office-based role with regular use of computers, phones, and standard office equipment.

Occasional travel may be required to company offices, project sites, or legal proceedings.

May involve exposure to construction environments during site visits (appropriate safety protocols will be followed).

Standard business hours with occasional extended hours based on business needs or legal matters.

Required Physical/Mental Functions:

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.

AAP/EEO Statement:

Ace Electric, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identification, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.