Assistant General Counsel

Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Construction and Development Company is responsible for all capital projects for the MTA operating agencies. The Assistant General Counsel will provide legal counsel, contract management, procurement, risk management, and policy advice to MTA C&D executives and management on a broad range of issues to protect the agency's legal interests.

Responsibilities

• Provide in-house legal counsel and business strategies for all activities affecting the agency to help agency executives make business decisions that will protect the agency's legal rights and minimize risk. Must be accountable for a broad range of practice areas, including real estate acquisitions, construction, contract drafting, federal and state compliance obligations, environmental issues, and human resources matters
• Draft and review multi-million construction contracts and multi-million design and professional services contracts to ensure compliance with MTA policy and state and federal regulations. Interpret and analyze complex technical engineering plans, designs, and specifications to ensure that contract requirements are written to minimize legal risk and contractor claims
• Analyze construction design plans, specifications, schedules, and estimates to determine the merit of contractor claims. Make recommendations on legal strategies for handling claims
• Represent MTA C&D in dispute resolution proceedings concerning complex construction claims with high values
• Negotiate multi-million dollar construction contract changes to preserve the agency's legal rights, minimize delays, and protect the project's budget and schedule
• Develop and implement a compliance training program for procurement and construction management staff and consultants to ensure that all actions conform to contract requirements, agency policies and procedures, and state and federal regulations
• Represent the agency in complex and sensitive special assignments as requested by the General Counsel
• Coordinate and monitor work performed by outside counsel

Skills

• A Law Degree (JD) from an accredited law school and admission to the Bar of the State of New York are required
• A minimum of one (1) year of progressively independent legal experience in a law firm, a governmental legal office, or a company's in-house legal department is required
• Strong interpersonal, problem-solving, writing, and communication skills
• Must be capable of building and maintaining client relationships
• Some background or education in engineering, construction, or architecture is preferred
• Some experience in working on matters involving construction projects and/or real estate matters and familiarity with relevant local, state, and federal laws is preferred
• Some Experience In Contract Drafting Or Litigation Is Preferred

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