Position Summary:
The In‑House Counsel serves as a trusted legal advisor to the company, supporting all aspects of legal risk management within an energy construction environment. This role provides practical, business‑focused legal guidance on contracts, compliance, labor and employment matters, regulatory issues, and dispute resolution while reporting directly to Risk Management and further assisting with executive leadership, operations, HR, safety, and project management teams.
Job Description:
Essential Functions
Contract & Commercial Law
- Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of agreements, including, but not limited to master service agreements (MSAs), EPC and construction contracts, subcontractor agreements, joint venture and alliance agreements, vendor/supplier agreements, and equipment lease contracts.
- Advise on contract risk allocation, including indemnity, limitations of liability, insurance requirements, warranties, and dispute resolution provisions.
- Support project teams throughout the contract lifecycle—from bid review and award through performance, change order management, claims mitigation, and close‑out.
- Provide guidance on change order disputes, scope clarifications, payment terms, lien/bond issues (as applicable), and documentation best practices.
Regulatory & Compliance
- Provide legal guidance on federal, state, and local regulations affecting construction, including OSHA and workplace safety, environmental permitting and compliance, DOT and transportation regulations, and energy‑sector requirements (pipeline, renewables, and related infrastructure).
- Support HR with its compliance with labor and employment laws (e.g., FLSA, FMLA, IRCA/I‑9, EEO, wage and hour, and union considerations).
- Support internal audits, investigations, and compliance training initiatives; help develop practical controls and corrective action plans.
- Monitor emerging regulatory developments and advise leadership on potential impacts to operations, projects, and commercial strategy.
Risk Management & Litigation Support
- Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and operational risks across projects and corporate operations; provide pragmatic recommendations aligned with business objectives.
- Manage and coordinate outside counsel for litigation, arbitration, and claims; oversee budgets, strategy, reporting, and document retention/collection.
- Support dispute resolution efforts, including mediation, settlement negotiations, and claims avoidance strategies.
- Assist with insurance matters, including review of coverage, claim submissions, and coordination with brokers and carriers.
Corporate & Strategic Support
- Advise executive leadership on corporate governance, entity structure, and strategic initiatives; support board and governance documentation as needed.
- Support mergers, acquisitions, and due diligence efforts, including risk assessment, contract review, and integration planning support.
- Draft, maintain, and help implement corporate policies, ethics standards, and governance documentation.
- Provide timely, practical legal advice that balances risk with business priorities and operational realities.
Cross‑Functional Partnership
- Work closely with operations, estimating, procurement, safety, HR, finance, and executive leadership to proactively identify and resolve legal issues.
- Translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non‑legal stakeholders.
- Participate in leadership meetings and project reviews as a strategic partner and trusted advisor.
- Promote a culture of compliance, risk awareness, and consistent contract and documentation practices.
Position Qualifications
- Accountability – Ability to accept responsibility for his/her actions.
- Accuracy – Ability to perform work in an organized manner, both accurately and thoroughly.
- Assertiveness – Ability to act in a self-confident manner to facilitate completion of a work assignment or to defend a position or idea.
- Communication – Ability to communicate effectively with others – both written and verbal.
- Core Value Adoption – Ability to adopt the Company’s Core Values of: Integrity, Family, Hard Work, Safety.
- Conflict Resolution – Ability to work with employees and customers to negotiate a successful resolution for the company.
- Customer Oriented – Ability to fulfill Company needs while following company procedures.
- Decision Making – Ability to make critical decisions while following company procedures.
- Detail Oriented – Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
- Flexibility – Ability to travel (travel 25% of the time).
- Honesty / Integrity – Ability to lead by example in your actions, while being truthful and be credible, while having zero tolerance for distrust and theft.
- Leadership – Ability to positively influence others and to be responsible for making decisions.
- Multi-task -The ability to work at several different tasks simultaneously.
- Problem Solving – Ability to find a solution for or to deal proactively with work-related problems.
- Reliability – The trait of being dependable and trustworthy.
- Time Management – Ability to organize and complete work within given deadlines, while being flexible with trending or changing workload demands.
- Working Under Pressure – Ability to complete assigned tasks in stressful situations.
- Other duties coordinated with VPSRM.
Experience Required:
- 5+ years of legal experience, including substantial responsibility for contract negotiation and commercial agreements.
- Experience supporting construction, energy, infrastructure, or industrial services matters (preferred).
- Working knowledge of employment and regulatory compliance in a multi‑state environment.
- Prior in‑house counsel experience strongly preferred; energy construction or EPC experience a plus.
Education:
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
- Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (multi‑state licensure preferred) and be registered in Mississippi.
Computer/General Skills:
- Proficient with Microsoft Office applications
Benefits: Health, Dental, Vision, Cancer, Accident, Telemedicine, STD, LTD, Life Insurance, 401K, Vacation, Holiday, and Sick leave.
Castle provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.
