Associate Counsel

Overview

In-house counsel handling construction contracts and litigation for real estate projects

Key Responsibilities

• contract review
• risk mitigation
• client negotiation
• proposal submission
• claim management
• lien waivers

Tasks

-Assisting with client negotiations and providing contract guidance to project teams. -Reviewing RFPs and bidding requirements, assisting in proposal submissions, and preparing markups of proposed contracts. -Reviewing, analyzing, and negotiating construction or design-build contracts in accordance with company risk parameters. -Collaborating with internal stakeholders and assisting with project-related challenges and risk mitigation. -Reviewing and advising on commercial contracts, including subcontracts, vendor agreements, confidentiality agreements, and leases. -Supporting responses to contract-related claims and managing documentation related to mediation, arbitration, and litigation. -Assisting with project change orders, contract modifications, delay claims, and close-out disputes. -Preparing and reviewing lien waivers, affidavits, and responding to subpoenas or discovery requests. -Researching and responding to claims of lien by subcontractors or material suppliers.

Requirements

• 4+ years
• law degree
• construction contracts
• aia forms
• negotiation
• bar admitted

What You Bring

We are seeking an Illinois or Missouri bar-admitted Associate or Senior Associate Counsel with 4 or more years of construction contracts and/or construction litigation experience. The role will support the General Counsel on sophisticated and innovative real estate and construction projects across the country. This is a great in-house opportunity to work closely with senior leadership on high-impact work. -4+ years of legal experience with construction or real estate matters. -Understanding of commercial construction contracts, AIA forms, subcontracts, and purchase orders. -Law degree required. -Strong communication, negotiation, and analytical skills. -Ability to learn and work with AI technologies and legal team workflow platforms.

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Benefits

-2025 Best Places to Work – St. Louis Business Journal, Los Angeles Business Journal, and Phoenix Business Journal. -Discretionary annual bonus subject to company and individual performance. -Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k), generous PTO, paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, and learning & development programs. -The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors including education, qualifications, skills, experience, and location. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range. The Clayco Nationwide salary range for this position is approximately $180,000 - $250,000 annually (not adjusted for location).

About Clayco

-Founded in 1984 by Bob Clark in St. Louis, the company grew rapidly with integrated design‑build services. -Moved headquarters to Chicago in 2013, expanding reach across North America. -Launched Clayco Compute in 2025, focusing on mission‑critical data center construction with 57 active projects. -Specializes in Commercial, Industrial, Institutional, Residential & Hospitality, Life Sciences, Data Center and Manufacturing sectors. -Typical projects include large‑scale data centers, life sciences facilities, manufacturing plants and hospitality developments. -Known for pioneering fast‑track, tech‑enabled design‑build methods—using BIM, drones and modular solutions. -Integrated subsidiaries cover architecture (Lamar Johnson Collaborative), concrete (Concrete Strategies), and façade systems (Ventana). -Handles end‑to‑end delivery—from site acquisition and financing through design, engineering and self‑performed construction. -Stands out for fully integrated project delivery, overlapping design and build phases to boost efficiency and innovation.

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