AW Construction LLC, an Allentown-based construction and real estate development company focused on multifamily and mixed-use properties, is seeking an experienced Pennsylvania attorney to serve as General Counsel and the company's principal in-house legal advisor. The position offers a combination of hands-on litigation, real estate and construction transactional work, and direct involvement in business decisions. The General Counsel will report directly to the company's owner and will have substantial responsibility for managing the company's legal matters and advising ownership on legal and business risk.
Approximately 65-70% of the role will involve litigation and dispute resolution, with the remaining 30-35% focused on real estate, construction, development, and related transactional matters. AW Construction operates with a closely integrated management team, giving the General Counsel direct access to ownership and meaningful involvement in decisions that would often be several levels removed from legal counsel at a larger organization. The attorney selected for this position will have significant independence in managing matters, developing litigation strategy, working with outside counsel where appropriate, and helping establish and improve the company's internal legal processes. There is no billable-hour requirement. The emphasis is on sound judgment, effective management of legal matters, and practical results for the business. The General Counsel will take primary responsibility for a substantial portion of the company's litigation and dispute-resolution matters arising from its construction, development, ownership, leasing, and business activities.
Matters may include:
Construction contract disputes; Mechanics' lien claims and defenses; Contractor, subcontractor, supplier, and vendor disputes; Payment and performance disputes; Real estate and development-related litigation; Commercial contract disputes; Commercial and residential landlord-tenant matters; Property-related claims; Pre-litigation demands and negotiations; Mediation and settlement negotiations; and Other commercial disputes arising from the company's operations. This is a hands-on litigation role. Depending upon the matter, the General Counsel may investigate claims, develop litigation strategy, prepare pleadings and motions, manage discovery, take or defend depositions, negotiate with opposing counsel, appear in court, prepare matters for hearings or trial, and advise ownership regarding litigation and settlement strategy. The General Counsel will also determine when matters can be handled efficiently in-house and when specialized or additional outside counsel would be beneficial. Where outside counsel is retained, the General Counsel will coordinate strategy and manage the relationship on behalf of the company. The General Counsel will also advise AW Construction on legal matters arising throughout the real estate development and construction process.
Responsibilities may include:
Construction contracts and subcontracts; Architect, engineer, consultant, vendor, and service agreements; Real estate purchase and sale agreements; Land and property acquisitions and dispositions; Commercial and residential leases; Development agreements; Zoning, land-use, entitlement, and municipal matters; Real estate financing and loan-related documentation; Easements, access agreements, and other property agreements; Due diligence; Entity and general corporate matters; Contract negotiation and risk allocation; and Other legal matters relating to the acquisition, financing, construction, development, leasing, ownership, and operation of real estate. We do not expect one attorney to arrive with substantial experience in every area listed above. AW Construction is more interested in hiring an excellent lawyer with strong judgment, writing ability, litigation skills, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to learn than in finding someone who simply checks every individual practice-area box. This position should be particularly attractive to a civil, commercial, construction, or real estate litigator who enjoys substantive legal work and is ready to assume broader responsibility for both legal matters and business counseling.
Candidates should have:
A J.D. from an accredited law school; Active admission to the Pennsylvania Bar, or the ability to obtain Pennsylvania admission promptly; Generally three or more years of substantive legal experience; Meaningful civil litigation experience; Experience independently managing cases or significant portions of cases; Strong legal research, writing, drafting, advocacy, and negotiation skills; The ability to analyze legal issues in the context of practical business considerations; Sound professional judgment; The confidence to provide direct advice to ownership; Strong organizational skills and the ability to independently manage multiple active matters; and A practical approach to problem-solving and risk management. Experience involving construction law, commercial litigation, real estate litigation, mechanics' liens, landlord-tenant matters, construction contracts, real estate transactions, zoning, or development is preferred but not required across every category. There is no rigid seniority requirement. Relevant experience, judgment, writing ability, demonstrated responsibility for matters, and overall fit will be more important than a particular number of years in practice. Law-firm attorneys considering their first move in-house are encouraged to apply. AW Construction is a privately held, owner-led construction and real estate development company. Its principal has nearly two decades of experience in the construction and real estate industries. AW Construction's closely integrated management structure gives the General Counsel direct access to ownership and a level of responsibility that is uncommon in larger legal departments. The position offers the opportunity to: Serve as the company's principal in-house attorney; Work directly with ownership on important legal and business decisions; Independently manage meaningful litigation; Handle matters from initial dispute through resolution rather than working on only one portion of a case; Develop experience across both litigation and transactional matters; Participate directly in real estate development and construction activities; Help establish contracts, procedures, litigation-management systems, and risk-management practices; Develop and manage relationships with outside counsel; and Practice without a traditional law-firm billable-hour requirement. The role is best suited for an attorney who is comfortable exercising independent judgment and who prefers substantive responsibility, flexibility, and direct involvement in the business over the more layered structure of a large corporate legal department.
