Senior Associate Counsel - Disputes

Overview

In-house senior counsel handling construction contracts and disputes.

Key Responsibilities

• litigation support
• legal database
• lien waivers
• rfp review
• contract negotiation
• dispute resolution

Tasks

-Oversee responses to third party subpoena’s and litigation discovery requests, including research, review and preparation of responsive documents. -Maintain and update legal and other databases with current information on status of pending matters; review and preparation of litigation status reports. -Oversee review and / or preparation of lien wavers and related affidavits. -As needed, review of requests for proposal (RFP’s) and bidding requirements and assistance with the preparation and submission of RFP responses, including mark-up of proposed RFP contract forms and related bidding documents. -Assist General Counsel and project teams with responses to contract related claims (claims for delay, substantial completion claims; and related disputes, including management of documentation related to mediation, arbitration and / or litigation. -Reviewing, research, and responding to claims of lien against project sites / real estate by third party subcontractors or material suppliers. -As needed, negotiating construction or design-build contracts in accordance with Company specified risk parameters; assisting with client negotiations as needed to finalize and implement contracts, including providing contract guidance to project teams. -Assisting with Project change orders, contract modifications, construction change order or delay claim disputes, as needed. -Reviewing, analyzing and assisting with resolution of challenges and/or disputes on active construction and design projects working with General Counsel or Chief Operating Officer and project executives to achieve timely and efficient resolutions. -Reviewing, negotiating and advising business teams on commercial contracts, including: Subcontract and material supplier contracts terms and conditions, vendor and service contracts terms and conditions, credit application terms and conditions, confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, professional service agreements, maintenance contracts and leases.

Requirements

• law degree
• bar admitted
• 6+ years
• construction contracts
• aia forms
• problem solving

What You Bring

We are seeking an Illinois or Missouri bar admitted Senior Associate with, ideally, 6 years or more of construction contracts and/or construction litigation experience, including breach of contract, bonding, risk mitigation and lien law issues. Any experience drafting and negotiating design and construction agreements for complex development projects for owners and contractors is a plus. This is a great in-house opportunity to work closely with the General Counsel and assist with sophisticated real estate and construction projects across the country. Professional collaborative aptitude and ability to assist with all matters related to legal team support for design/construction firm operations. The ideal candidate for this position is a team player with a business-oriented mindset, willing to learn Company processes and protocols, work with executive teams, with a strong work ethic, exceptional problem-solving skills and comfortable working in a fast-paced and dynamic workplace. Experience with real estate construction prime contracts; subcontracts, AIA, Consensus, DBIA Forms, subcontracts, sufficient to assist with project related challenges or disputes through project close-out, including assisting with disputed change orders and delay claims as needed. Familiarity with AIA contract forms, design-build and other construction industry standard contract terms required. General commercial business transactions experience a plus, including leases, purchase orders, lien waivers and releases. -Familiarity with construction, material supplier subcontracts, AIA standard form contracts, purchase orders, and related terms and conditions. -Understanding of material supplier subcontracts, AIA form contracts, and purchase orders. -Law degree is required -Business oriented mindset for achieving timely resolution of challenges and disputes. -6+ years experience with construction industry contracts and disputes

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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, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!

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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