Associate General Counsel

About the role

Distributed Sun (DSUN) is a clean energy infrastructure provider founded in 2009 that develops, finances, owns, and operates solar and battery storage projects across the community solar, commercial & industrial and utility-scale markets. It has developed and delivered systems – many the first-of-their-kind – in 17 states. It is in our DNA to be nimble, constructively challenging, forward thinking, and creative; we value those attributes in our team members – it’s how we’ve led and thrived over the last 15 years. You’ll join a team committed to accelerating the clean energy transition through smart infrastructure and bold thinking.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate & Contract Management: Lead negotiations with customers, vendors, and other parties to secure favorable terms and conditions for DSUN’s business agreements. Manage contract lifecycle from negotiation to execution, ensuring compliance with legal standards and mitigating risks.
• Offtake Agreements: Draft, review, and negotiate off-take agreements, including power purchase agreements (PPAs), tolling agreements, energy supply agreements, and other contractual arrangements related to the sale and delivery of energy generated by our assets.
• Financing Agreements, including Tax Equity: Provide legal support and guidance for financing agreements including debt and tax equity financing transactions related to our energy projects. This includes structuring, negotiating, and closing investments, partnership agreements, and other arrangements such as loans and security contracts with investors and tax equity partners.
• M&A: Lead legal due diligence, negotiation, and documentation including MIPAs for M&A transactions strategic partnerships, and joint ventures. Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and safeguard DSUN’s interests throughout the transaction.
• Transaction Closing: Oversee transaction closing processes for energy projects, including drafting and reviewing transaction documents, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, and ensuring timely completion of all closing requirements.
• Corporate issues: provide strategic advice to executives in support of efficient and effective corporate structure. Perform entity formation for the companies created to hold the energy assets developed by the team, maintaining required documentation for commercial and corporate governance purposes, acting as Company Secretary. Assist with personnel-related legal matters as they arise, and any other internal business legal issues.
• Legal Compliance: Stay abreast of legal and regulatory developments impacting the renewable energy industry, including tax laws, energy regulations, and environmental policies. Provide guidance and counsel to internal teams on compliance matters and risk management strategies.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, external partners, investors, and regulatory authorities. Serve as a trusted advisor to senior management on legal matters and strategic initiatives.
• Team Leadership & Development: build an appropriate legal team. Foster a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous learning. Develop talent and capabilities to support long-term growth and success for the talent and for DSUN.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with the bar association.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of experience practicing law, with a focus on corporate transactions, tax equity financing, and renewable energy projects preferred.
• Strong understanding of tax equity structures, M&A transactions, and contractual agreements, particularly in the renewable energy sector. Experience with real estate agreements welcomed, alongside ability to parse legal risks associated with sites and property transactions.
• Experience managing outside counsel: the Associate GC must effectively allocate legal issues to external counsel where additional resource or expertise is required ensure that DSUN receives cost efficient as well as top-quality legal advice.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex legal matters, drive strategic initiatives, and provide practical solutions to business challenges.
• Leadership capabilities with a track record of building and leading high-performing legal teams in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Bonus compensation plan
• Unit option award
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Health, dental, and vision benefits plan

Location

Willingness to work flexibly, Tues/Weds in our Washington, DC HQ, Mon/Thurs/Fri from home is preferred, or remote. Please note that our team operates on Eastern Time hours.