Gilbane Building · 1 day ago
Sr. Legal Counsel
Milwaukee, WI
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$185K/yr - $260K/yr
8+ years expGilbane Building Company is seeking an experienced in-house construction attorney to serve as Senior Legal Counsel supporting the Midwest-West Division. This role is responsible for end-to-end legal support on construction projects and divisional operations including commercial contracting, claims and dispute avoidance and resolution, risk management, training, compliance and cross-functional counseling.
Commercial Real EstateConstructionReal Estate
Responsibilities
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of agreements: owner/CM agreements (CMAR/CM‑at‑Risk, CM as Agent, GMP, Design‑Build), design consultant agreements, subcontracts, purchase orders, equipment rental/lease agreements, master supply agreements, NDAs, teaming and JV agreements, and professional services agreements
Draft and negotiate self-perform trade agreements, including equipment rental/ownership, demolition, selective interior trades, and labor-intensive scopes typical of Next 150 operations
Structure, negotiate, and update contract templates, playbooks, and clause libraries, ensuring alignment with corporate standards and insurance/risk requirements
Support public and private sector procurement, bid protests, prequalification, and compliance with RFP/RFQ requirements, including small/diverse business participation
Guide project teams on claim preservation, notice requirements, changes, delay/acceleration/disruption, differing site conditions, constructive changes, defective work, backcharges, and pass‑through claims
Manage pre‑dispute processes (issue escalation, negotiation, mediation, DRBs) and oversee outside counsel for litigation, arbitration, and surety matters as needed
Handle lien and bond claims, subcontractor defaults/terminations, and recovery strategies
Develop practical protocols for claims documentation
Partner with Risk/Insurance to ensure appropriate insurance strategies are utilized based on project risk profile
Counsel on licensing, permitting, mechanic’s lien/bond compliance, prevailing wage, certified payroll, and other public procurement rules
Advise on craft labor issues in coordination with HR and Senior Legal Counsel/Employment and Labor (union agreements, project labor agreements, jurisdictional disputes, classification and prevailing wage)
Develop self-perform SOPs, risk-mitigation workflows, and operational best practices to support the strategic growth of Next 150
Collaborate with Safety on OSHA/MSHA compliance, incident response, and post‑incident reviews
Lead training programs for project teams and self-perform field leadership on contract compliance, claims preservation, documentation standards and operational risk management
Support ethics/compliance initiatives
Qualification
Required
Solid academic credentials from a top tier U.S. law school
Approximately 8 years of legal experience counseling businesses in the practice areas listed above
At least 3 years of relevant in-house experience
Relevant experience as in-house counsel for a medium-sized or large construction company
Familiarity with public and private contracting for institutional, commercial and residential projects, including developer projects
Demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted advisor to field superintendents, project executives, and division leadership, balancing legal risk with operational challenges
Strong communication skills
Ability to communicate effectively and clearly with clients, project teams, and other departments
Understand organizational and managerial structure related to operations management and projects
Experience reviewing, negotiating, and drafting construction contracts and related documents
Proven negotiation skills with the ability to secure favorable terms
Strong analytical skills and collaborative problem solver
Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously
Flexible and able to adapt to changing priorities and demands
Knowledge and understanding of complex legal issues and concepts and ability to explain such concepts to all levels of the enterprise
High level of accuracy and attention to detail
Excellent organizational and time management skills
Proficient user of Microsoft Office software and Contract Lifecycle Management software and similar products
Ability to work collaboratively with internal teams and external partners
High ethical standards and integrity
Preferred
Experience supporting self-perform trades or craft labor operations is a distinct plus
Benefits
Benefits
Retirement program
Company
Gilbane Building
Gilbane Building Company provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services—from preconstruction services planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services— for clients across various markets.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$16MKey Investors
Amazon
2022-12-19Debt Financing· $16M
Leadership Team
Heidi DeBenedetti
Chief Operating Officer
John Bonney
Vice President
Recent News
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