Job Description

At PARTNER, success starts with the right mindset: connection, compassion, and curiosity. Whether consulting with clients or collaborating with colleagues, these principles guide how we work. We deliver engineering, environmental, and energy consulting, plus design services across the Americas, Europe, and beyond. As a leader in Commercial Real Estate (CRE), we’re 1,600+ professionals strong in 40+ offices. Our mission is simple: create the best home for talented professionals. If you value delivering exceptional experiences through problem-solving, coordination, and a mindset of care for clients and colleagues, you’ll feel right at home. That approach has earned us recognition on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms, Inc. 5000’s Fastest-Growing Companies, and Zweig’s Best Firms to Work For. Here, your ideas matter, your impact is real, and your work helps shape the future. Check out this role and join our team of talented professionals.

Learn more about Partner at www.partneresi.com

We are seeking an experienced and business minded General Counsel to lead and manage the organization’s legal function. This role will serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and business partners, overseeing a broad range of legal matters with a strong emphasis on corporate claims & litigation, contract review, claims & collections, and insurance & risk management.

The ideal candidate brings a hands-on, pragmatic approach to risk mitigation and problem solving, with the ability to balance legal rigor and commercial judgment. Experience within a professional service, consulting, or services‑based organization is highly valued but not required. Exposure to real estate, environmental, engineering, or regulated industries is a plus.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & TASKS

Legal Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Serve as the organization’s chief legal advisor, providing practical, business oriented counsel to executive leadership and internal stakeholders.
• Lead and oversee the legal function, ensuring alignment with organizational strategy, risk tolerance, and growth objectives.
• Translate complex legal issues into clear guidance that supports effective decision‑making.

Litigation, Claims & Collections

• Oversee all corporate litigation, claims, and dispute resolution matters, including management of outside counsel.
• Develop and execute strategies related to collections, recovery actions, and adversarial proceedings , balancing risk, cost, and business impact.
• Track litigation exposure, trends, and outcomes, and advise leadership on risk mitigation strategies.

Contracts & Commercial Matters

• Oversee drafting, negotiation, and execution of a broad range of commercial agreements, including client contracts, vendor agreements, and professional services engagements.
• Establish and refine contract processes, templates, and approval standards to support operational efficiency and risk management.
• Partner closely with business teams to support revenue generating activities while protecting the organization’s interests.

Insurance & Risk Management

• Manage the organization’s insurance programs in collaboration with internal partners and brokers.
• Oversee coverage issues, claims management, and negotiations related to policy interpretation and renewals.
• Support enterprise risk management efforts through proactive identification and mitigation of legal and operational risks.

Compliance & Regulatory Matters

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations relevant to the organization’s operations.
• Support internal policies, governance practices, and compliance initiatives to promote ethical and legally sound operations.

Employment & Labor Support

• Manage employment-related claims and disputes, including coordination with external counsel when needed.
• Provide legal guidance and support HR leadership on employment agreements, independent contractor matters, and compliance with applicable federal and state laws, and employment matters, including separations and workplace policies.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Provide legal oversight and strategic support for mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions.
• Advise leadership on legal risk, structure, and execution of strategic growth initiatives.
• Manage outside counsel and support due diligence and post‑transaction integration as needed.

Real Estate

• Oversee legal matters related to the organization’s real estate interests, including owned and leased properties.
• Provide guidance on real estate‑related risk, transactions, and contractual arrangements.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external counsel on real estate matters as required.

Taxation

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on tax-related legal matters, including coordination with internal finance teams and external tax advisors.
• Advise on tax considerations related to corporate structure, transactions, and risk management, as needed.

External Counsel & Budget Management

• Select, manage, and oversee outside counsel across various practice areas.
• Manage legal spend and budgets, ensuring cost‑effective delivery of legal services.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active bar admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (New Jersey required, NY and CA preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive legal experience, with meaningful responsibility across litigation, contracts, and corporate matters.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing corporate litigation, claims/collections, insurance matters, and commercial contracts.
• Working knowledge of employment law and HR-related legal issues.
• Experience in a professional services, consulting, engineering, environmental, real estate, or similarly complex services environment is a plus.
• Proven ability to manage outside counsel and legal budgets effectively with a strong network of contacts to support those efforts.
• Strong commercial judgment, executive presence, and ability to partner with non‑legal stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills.

WHY THIS ROLE

• Opportunity to serve as a true business partner and member of senior leadership.
• Broad, hands‑on legal portfolio with meaningful impact across the organization.
• Flexibility around industry background, with openness to diverse professional experiences.
• Platform to shape legal strategy, improve processes, and support long‑term growth.

COMPENSATION

Salary range: $275,000 - $325,000. This is what we reasonably expect to pay for the role. The pay scale for this role considers a wide range of factors when making compensation decisions, including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that the disclosed pay scale estimate has not been adjusted for the applicable geographic location where the position may be filled. You may also be eligible to participate in a discretionary incentive bonus program, which is dependent on various factors, including, but not limited to individual and organizational performance.

BENEFITS

Competitive benefits package including health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, vacation and sick time, and a 401(k) plan with a company match.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is Partner Engineering and Science, Inc’s (The Company) policy is to provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. The company maintains a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation based on an individual’s race (including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks, and twists), color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender (including gender identity and gender expression), age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves (requesting or approved for leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act or the California Family Rights Act), reproductive health decision making, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

We will consider qualified applicants who have criminal histories in a manner consistent with the law.

California Consumer Privacy Act

We collect personal information from you in connection with your application for employment with Partner Engineering and Science, Inc. For details on what personal information we collect and the purposes for which we collect it, please visit:

https://www.partneresi.com/careers/california-consumer-privacy-act/