Corporate Counsel - Contracts & Disputes

Overview

The Corporate Counsel must believe in, practice and initiate all Green Brick Partners values set forth in an acronym we call HOME. They must be Honest, Objective, Mature and Efficient in how he or she approaches their role at Green Brick Partners.

As Corporate Counsel you will support the day-to-day commercial and dispute-resolution needs of Green Brick Partners and its affiliated builders. You will work directly with our General Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, and alongside our purchasing, construction, warranty, and sales teams, to perform a variety of legal tasks, including reviewing, drafting, and negotiating vendor, trade partner, and other commercial contracts; investigating and resolving vendor and customer disputes; assisting in the management of the Company’s litigation docket and its outside counsel; and other matters assigned by the General Counsel or Deputy General Counsel. This position is well suited to a commercial litigator making a first move in-house, and offers direct exposure to senior leadership across the organization.

Responsibilities

• Investigate and manage vendor and customer disputes from initial demand through resolution, including evaluating potential liability or recovery and developing a practical resolution strategy
• Evaluate and respond to attorney letters, demands from customers and vendors, requests from governmental agencies or regulators, and handle other inquiries and responses as assigned by General Counsel or the Deputy General Counsel
• Assist in managing the Company’s litigation docket, including tracking deadlines, coordinating document collection and discovery responses, preparing witnesses, and reporting on case status to senior leaders
• Assist in the selection, supervision, and budget management of outside counsel
• Attend and participate in depositions, mediations, court conferences, arbitration hearings, and trials
• Review, draft, revise, and negotiate commercial agreements, including vendor, supplier, trade partner, professional services, information technology, purchasing, and other operational contracts
• Serve as a primary day-to-day legal contact for the business teams on contract interpretation, risk allocation, and escalation questions
• Assist in periodic reviews and updates to contract templates utilized by the Company and affiliated builders
• Advise and provide support to affiliated builders’ purchasing, warranty, and sales departments
• Conduct legal research and prepare related memos, summaries, and briefs
• Assist in the development of policies and procedures to mitigate and manage corporate risk
• Monitor, track, and report on legislative, judicial, and regulatory developments that may impact the Company’s operations
• Participate in special projects and perform additional duties

Supervision of Others:  N/A

Authority/Budget/Decision Making/Discretion and Independent Judgment Ability: This position carries a high level of critical thinking and decision-making responsibility, exercised under the direction of the Deputy General Counsel.

Physical Requirements: Ability to stand and walk for 4 hours straight or up to a full 8-hour day; sit for extended periods; kneel and bend at the waist; walk up and down stairs; walk on unlevel terrain; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Ability to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision ability required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision and peripheral vision.

Location: Plano Corporate Office

Qualifications

Education: Juris Doctorate Degree; licensed and in good standing to practice law in Texas, or eligible for admission to the State Bar of Texas within a reasonable period following hire.

Qualifications:

• 3 to 6 years of commercial litigation experience at a law firm and/or in-house legal department
• Demonstrated ability to manage matters through the litigation lifecycle, including responding timely to arbitration or court deadlines, drafting discovery requests and responses, drafting pleadings, motions, and other legal briefing, and appearing for oral argument
• Experience reviewing, drafting, and negotiating commercial contracts, with sound judgment on risk allocation, indemnity, insurance, and limitation of liability provisions
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with vendor, supplier, subcontractor, and trade partner contracting
• Residential construction defect experience, including familiarity handling DTPA claims, the RCLA process, construction defect allegations, and allegations regarding implied or express warranties
• Prior in-house experience or exposure to the homebuilding, construction, or real estate development industry

Competencies:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills that reflect attention to detail are required
• Ability to work as part of a team and interact effectively with employees across the company, from the C-suite to entry-level employees
• Superb initiative, ability, and desire to work independently and assertively and to take ownership of assigned matters
• Superior research skills and the ability to analyze complex matters required
• Ability to manage multiple matters and competing deadlines, prioritize practically, and deliver business-oriented advice under time pressure

Green Brick Total Compensation:

• Competitive salary and bonus program
• Multiple Medical and ancillary benefits
• 401(k) with Company Match
• Home Purchase Discount

 Nothing in this position description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.