TRANSACTIONAL CONSTRUCTION/PROJECTS ASSOCIATE

About the role

Kaplan Kirsch seeks a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative mid-level transactional associate (3 to 5+ years of experience) to join our Project Funding and Delivery Practice. You will focus on construction procurement, contracting, project finance, and project delivery (P3, design-build, CMAR/CM/GC, progressive design-build) across infrastructure sectors for airports, transit agencies, state departments of transportation, and other public and private entities. The work is sophisticated, varied, collaborative, nationwide, and rarely routine.

Responsibilities

• Drive our nationwide Project Funding and Delivery practice while collaborating across airports, environmental, rail/transit and other transportation, social infrastructure, real estate, tribal, and energy sectors.
• Draft, negotiate, and manage project delivery procurements, construction and project delivery contracts, funding and financing agreements and documentation, pre-development agreements, leases, and other documentation.
• Guide public/private clients through federal, state, and local funding schemes and regulations for projects.
• Advise clients on infrastructure delivery, real estate transactions, funding and financing structures, and construction and project delivery strategies.
• Travel periodically for client meetings, site visits, negotiations, and conferences.

Requirements

• Experience: 3–5+ years in transactional law, including construction, project development, project finance, and/or government procurement.
• Skills & Delivery: Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills; familiarity with alternative project delivery methods (CMAR/CM/GC, design-build, P3, progressive design-build, etc.).
• Mindset: Intellectual curiosity, commercial judgment, adaptability in a fast-paced environment, and a high comfort level working both independently and collaboratively.
• Credentials: J.D. from an accredited law school and active U.S. bar admission (CO, NY, FL, or CA preferred).

Qualifications

• Background in complex infrastructure construction and alternative delivery methods.
• Familiarity with federal transportation frameworks and agencies (USDOT, FAA, FRA, FTA, FHWA, STB, Build America Bureau).
• A demonstrated passion for public infrastructure, transportation, and public policy.
• An entrepreneurial, collegial mindset paired with top-tier communication skills and a love for solving nuanced, non-routine legal challenges.

Pay

Salary Range: $172,000 – $185,000 (commensurate with experience) + performance/billable bonuses.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, STD, LTE, life insurance, 401(k), parental leave, flexible PTO, public transit cost coverage, hybrid/remote flexibility.

Schedule

Billable Hours: 1,600 annual target (includes unlimited approved pro bono hours).