Associate Legal Counsel, Commercial Transactions

Silicon Ranch is a fully integrated provider of customized renewable energy, carbon, and battery storage solutions for a diverse set of partners across North America.

• We are known for putting community partnerships first, and are the only renewable energy company in the U.S. that owns and operates all of its solar ranches and has a 100% track record for successful delivery.

• We have the largest utility scale agrivoltaics portfolio in the country under Regenerative Energy®, our nationally recognized holistic approach to project design, construction, and land management. Our model incorporates regenerative ranching and other regenerative land management practices to restore livelihoods and soil health, biodiversity, and water quality.

• Through our subsidiary, Clearloop, we are able to help businesses of all sizes reclaim their carbon footprint with a direct investment in building new solar projects while also helping bring renewable energy and economic development to distressed communities.

By joining Silicon Ranch, you will be joining a team of experienced and dedicated individuals who have proven time and again that it is indeed possible to not only “make solar do more”, but to make the promise of carbon-free, renewable energy that benefits people right where it comes from a tangible, measurable, and replicable reality. 

Silicon Ranch is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace that is reflective of the communities in which we work and serve. We are an equal opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Job Description

Position: Associate Legal Counsel, Commercial Transactions

Location: Nashville, TN

Silicon Ranch Legal Department Mission Statement: The Silicon Ranch Legal Department, leveraging years of legal practice and a deep and holistic understanding of Silicon Ranch’s business and structure, is committed to providing support to all business units by providing law firm quality, company-tailored legal services and counsel in an efficient, reliable, practical, professional, comprehensible, and approachable manner, thus enabling our internal stakeholders to:

•    Execute their commercial and operational objectives in a risk-appropriate fashion; 
•    Employ sound decision-making in all facets of company operations;
•    Comply with applicable laws, regulations, internal policies, and best practices; and 
•    Appropriately reduce exposure to formal disputes, reputational harm, and associated costs through the effective identification, mitigation, and allocation of legal and commercial risks.

Role Overview: We are seeking a commercial transactions/finance attorney (4-7+ years’ experience) to support legal aspects of the Company’s business development, corporate and project finance, and general corporate functions. This role partners closely with the Senior Legal Counsel, Commercial Transactions, and cross-functional business teams to structure, negotiate, and execute complex commercial and financing transactions. As such, the ideal candidate is proactive, has strong time management abilities, demonstrates effective communication and legal writing skills, and is capable of independently managing transactions while exercising sound legal judgment in a demanding environment with the opportunity to broaden areas of expertise over time. 

Core Responsibilities: As Associate Legal Counsel, Commercial Transactions, the candidate will oversee general commercial and financing matters affecting the Company, including:

• Transaction Execution: Manage and support corporate and project finance, M&A, and commercial transactions, including due diligence, structuring, drafting, and negotiation, as well as deal flow management. Oversee transaction closings, including stakeholder coordination and closing deliverables.
• Contracting: Draft, negotiate, and administer key agreements, including power purchase agreements, renewable energy certificate (REC) purchase and sale agreements, asset purchase agreements, stock purchase agreements, and consulting/services agreements for a variety of business units and needs. Support negotiation and drafting of financing agreements, including loan agreements, tax equity agreements, letters of credit, indemnity, bonding, and surety agreements, and portfolio credit agreements.
• Outside Counsel Management: Efficiently supervise outside counsels where engaged, though expect that much of the legal work will be managed in-house by the candidate.
• Business Partnership and General Support: Serve as a trusted legal advisor to the Business Development, Integrated Project Delivery, Accounting, and Project Finance teams and provide legal support on broader commercial and operational matters as needed in support of the growth of the Company.

Execution Expectations: As Associate Legal Counsel, Commercial Transactions, the candidate will:

• Manage multiple transactions and deadlines simultaneously.
• Deliver practical, risk-balanced legal advice to the Company’s business units.
• Communicate effectively, both in writing and orally, with internal and external stakeholders.
• Operate independently while collaborating across business teams.
• Represent the organization professionally with vendors, customers, utilities, local officials, financing partners, and other project stakeholders.

Education: J.D. degree from an ABA-accredited US law school; active bar admission in good standing in at least one state with ability to obtain bar admission in Tennessee.

Experience:

• Minimum of 4 years of experience as a commercial, M&A/corporate, or finance lawyer at a top-tier law firm or in-house legal department.
• Substantial experience with finance transactions and complex commercial transactions, including experience drafting and negotiating high-value agreements independently.
• Renewable energy project finance experience (debt and tax credit) strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to:
  • Manage multiple deals concurrently with strong attention to detail and organization.
  • Provide pragmatic, business-oriented advice.
  • Build relationships with internal stakeholders.

A typical interview process at Silicon Ranch might include the below stages. Please note that we may make changes to these steps as needed, and details will be provided to you early on in the process.

1. Introductory Interview with our recruiter
2. Hiring Manager Interview to dive into technical skills and behavioral questions
3. Panel Interview to assess cross-functional skills and dive deeper into technical skills
4. Executive Interview to answer high-level questions about SRC and the team