Woodward Design + Build is a leading commercial design and construction company located in southeast Louisiana, efficiently delivering high-quality projects for a wide variety of clients and industries across the Gulf Coast region of the United States. We are uniquely positioned for continued success as a vertically integrated enterprise with Architecture, Structural Engineering, General Contracting, Millwork, and Steel divisions. Our over 100 years in business is a testament to our commitment to excellence, safety, and innovation. As we continue to grow, we are seeking an experienced and dynamic Corporate Counsel to lead our legal, risk management, and insurance functions.
Position Overview: The Corporate Counsel will serve as the chief legal advisor for the company, providing strategic legal guidance and overseeing all legal, risk management, and insurance matters related to Woodward’s design and construction projects as well as its corporate matters. This role requires extensive experience in construction law, contract negotiation, risk management, and insurance. The ideal candidate is proactive and detail-oriented with exceptional problem-solving skills and a deep understanding of the construction industry and the lifecycle of large commercial construction projects.
The successful candidate will exemplify Woodward’s core values of Reliability, Determination, Courage, Teamwork, and Humility. This role will report to Woodward’s Chief Financial Officer and will directly supervise at least one Woodward team member.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide expert legal advice and counsel to company ownership, the executive team, project teams, and other stakeholders on a wide range of legal and regulatory issues.
- Draft, review, and negotiate owner contracts, subcontracts, and other legal documents related to construction projects or corporate matters.
- Manage and mitigate legal risks by developing and implementing effective risk management strategies.
- Oversee all insurance matters, including policy procurement, claims management, and compliance with insurance requirements, leveraging external resources where appropriate.
- Represent the company in legal proceedings as appropriate, including litigation, arbitration, and mediation, engaging external counsel as needed.
- Manage external legal counsel and coordinate with them and others on the team regarding various legal and insurance matters.
- Ensure company compliance with federal, state, and local laws and regulations affecting the construction industry.
- Manage the Company’s risk management team consisting of internal personnel and external partners in their support of Woodward team members and Company goals.
- Stay current with industry trends, legal developments, and best practices in construction law, employment law, and insurance. Communicate with stakeholders as appropriate.
- Provide training and guidance to company project and office personnel on legal, compliance, and risk management matters and processes.
Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
- Active license to practice law in Louisiana.
- Minimum of 8 years of legal experience, with a focus on construction law and insurance.
- Unimpeachable ethical standards and professional integrity.
Preferred Qualifications:
- In-house experience working with a mid-size to large construction, design, or real estate company.
- Familiarity with OSHA regulations and other safety compliance requirements.
- Detailed understanding of DBE, MBE, WBE program requirements.
- Certification in risk management or insurance (e.g., CPCU, CRIS, ARM) is a plus.
- Keen business sense, flexible and analytical thinker able to identify legal issues quickly and accurately in a complex environment and to develop practical solutions by exercising judgment in ambiguous situations.
- Working knowledge and experience in Lean productivity methodology.
- Adept at communicating simply and clearly at all levels of the organization.
- Strong attention to detail and organization.
- Ability to work efficiently, meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment, prioritize workflow with minimal supervision, and adjust to evolving business imperatives.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate well with team members on projects that cut across organizational and geographical boundaries.
- Experience and comfort working with data and utilizing data to measure program performance and effectiveness, inform priorities, and deliver insights to stakeholders.
To staffing/placement agencies:
We are not responsible for any fee related to unsolicited resumes from 3rd party staffing and placement agencies (whether submitted through a website or sent directly to an employee of Woodward Design + Build, LLC) unless a written agreement is in place between the agency and Woodward Design + Build, LLC (“Woodward”) and an authorized Company representative makes a written request to the agency to assist with a requisition. Similarly, no fee will be paid for candidates who apply and claim to be represented by an agency. Any unsolicited resumes, CVs, or other candidate information submitted by an agency will become the property of Woodward, and no fee will be paid in the event such candidate is hired If you are an agency and would like to be considered for partnership with Woodward, please send your company’s information to Steve Kirsch at skirsch@woodwarddesignbuild.com.
