Director of Legal Affairs & General Counsel

Description:

GeoStabilization International (GSI), Access Limited, and RoadGuard together form a leading infrastructure solutions platform dedicated to protecting people and strengthening critical infrastructure across North America and New Zealand.

GSI is the premier geohazard mitigation firm specializing in emergency slope stabilization, landslide repair, grouting, and micropiles through innovative design-build delivery. Access Limited brings over a century of steep-slope expertise and operates North America's largest fleet of spider excavators, delivering complex rockfall and geotechnical solutions in the most challenging environments. RoadGuard, founded in 2024, unites industry-leading roadway safety companies providing guardrail, bridge railing, highway signage, fencing, and specialty fabrication services.

Across all our businesses, we are driven by innovation, extreme ownership, technical excellence, and a relentless commitment to measurable results that improve safety and infrastructure resilience.

The Director of Legal Affairs and General Counsel serves as Soil Nail Holdings' chief legal officer, providing strategic counsel and hands-on legal support across all business units. This individual will manage the company's legal risk, oversee contract negotiation and compliance, and act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on matters including construction law, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, employment, and insurance.

Key Responsibilities:
Contract Management & Negotiation

• Draft, review, and negotiate a high volume of construction contracts including prime contracts, subcontractor agreements, design-build documents, and owner-furnished agreements
• Advise project teams on contract risk allocation, indemnification, limitation of liability, and insurance provisions specific to geotechnical and specialty construction
• Establish and maintain standard contract templates and playbooks to accelerate deal cycles

Construction & Project Legal Support

• Provide legal guidance on project-level disputes, including differing site conditions, delays, scope changes, and defective work claims
• Support lien filing and bond claim processes in multiple jurisdictions
• Advise on OSHA compliance, safety regulatory requirements, and incident response protocols relevant to slope stabilization, rock fall mitigation, and guardrail installation
• Coordinate with project managers on insurance claims, subcontractor defaults, and surety matters

Regulatory & Environmental Compliance

• Monitor federal, state, and local regulations affecting construction operations, geohazard mitigation, and transportation infrastructure projects
• Advise on permitting requirements, environmental compliance, and right-of-way matters with Departments of Transportation and other public agencies
• Oversee compliance programs and train field leadership on regulatory obligations

Corporate & Governance

• Manage corporate governance matters including entity maintenance, board resolutions, and subsidiary structures
• Support M&A activity, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships including due diligence and transaction documentation
• Advise on intellectual property matters related to proprietary design methods and trade secrets

Employment & HR Legal Support

• Counsel HR and operations leadership on employment matters including wage and hour compliance, workplace investigations, terminations, and accommodation requests
• Review and revise employment agreements, independent contractor arrangements, and non-compete provisions across applicable state jurisdictions
• Support HR in creating and updating employee handbook policies and procedures

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Manage outside counsel relationships for active litigation, arbitration, and mediation matters
• Coordinate litigation holds, document production, and legal strategy in conjunction with external counsel
• Develop and track legal budget for outside legal spend and proactively identify opportunities to reduce exposure

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school
• Active bar membership in at least one U.S. state; multi-state licensure preferred
• Minimum 8 years of legal experience with significant exposure to construction law, either in private practice or in-house
• Demonstrated expertise in contract drafting and negotiation in a construction or infrastructure context
• Experience advising on OSHA, DOT, or other construction-related regulatory frameworks
• Strong business judgment and ability to deliver practical legal advice in a fast-paced, field-driven environment
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage credibly at all levels of the organization

Preferred Qualifications:

• In-house legal experience at a specialty contractor, geotechnical firm, or heavy civil company
• Familiarity with AIA, ConsensusDocs, or EJCDC standard contract forms
• Experience with public agency contracting (CALTRANS, FHWA, state DOTs, municipal governments)
• Background in surety, bonding, and construction insurance coverage disputes
• Experience supporting M&A transactions or private equity-backed portfolio companies
• Knowledge of geohazard mitigation, soil nailing, rock anchoring, or slope stabilization is a plus — but not required

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