At Recurrent Energy, our mission is to power the world with solar energy and create a better and cleaner Earth for future generations. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar Inc., we are a leading global developer, owner, operator, and asset manager of utility-scale solar and energy storage projects.
Through Recurrent Energy Power Services, we provide operations, maintenance, monitoring, engineering, and asset management services that support renewable energy facilities across North America.
With a proven track record spanning six continents, Recurrent Energy brings together experts across every stage of the renewable energy lifecycle, from project origination, development, financing, and construction to operations, maintenance, and long-term asset management. Our work is helping shape a cleaner, more resilient energy future worldwide.
Backed by the innovation, strength, and global reach of Canadian Solar, we are helping accelerate the transition to a sustainable energy future while creating meaningful opportunities for our employees to grow, innovate, and make a lasting impact. Guided by our values of Trust, Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, and Inclusiveness, we are building a cleaner world for generations to come.
If you're passionate about renewable energy and driven to make a difference, join Recurrent Energy to power the world with clean energy and create a better, cleaner future for generations to come.
Position Title: Sr. Legal Counsel
Department: Legal
Location: Austin, TX/Remote U.S. or Kitchener, Greater Toronto Area and Southwestern Ontario (Canada)
Position Summary
Reporting to the Legal leadership team, the Senior Legal Counsel will be a key member of the North America Legal Team, providing practical, business-focused legal support for the company’s established and growing utility-scale solar energy and energy storage development pipeline and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) business across the United States and Canada.
This is a broad, high-impact role spanning real estate and land acquisition, environmental and permitting matters, project development, O&M contracting, subcontracting, warranty matters, corporate and commercial law, and related governance and litigation management. The Senior Legal Counsel will collaborate regularly with Project Development, Project Finance, Construction, Operations, Business Development, Procurement, Finance, Tax, IT, and other functional teams. The ideal candidate is a strong technical lawyer, pragmatic business partner, clear communicator, and creative problem-solver who can translate complex legal issues into actionable advice.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as a primary legal partner for North American renewable energy development and O&M activities, providing timely, practical, and commercially focused advice.
- Lead strategic real estate legal support for site control, project finance, and M&A transactions, including due diligence and the drafting, review, negotiation, and management of real estate provisions in letters of intent, term sheets, real estate agreements, and closing deliverables.
- Review title commitments, title pro formas, title policies, and surveys, and oversee title curative work connected with project development, financing, construction, and operations.
- Provide legal support across project development matters, including project design, site control, real property tax abatements, permitting and environmental matters, interconnection, offtake, and financing opportunities.
- Draft and negotiate O&M agreements, services and supply agreements, subcontracts, warranties, requests for proposal documents, non-disclosure agreements, and related security arrangements, including bonds, letters of credit, and guarantees.
- Support due diligence in M&A and other strategic transactions as the development and O&M businesses grow.
- Advise Operations, Business Development, Procurement, Finance, Tax, IT, Project Finance, Construction, and other internal stakeholders on corporate, commercial, operational, and risk matters.
- Review regional contract documents for alignment with global legal framework requirements and company policies, codes, and procedures.
- Coordinate litigation matters, provide clear instructions to outside counsel, and manage external legal resources efficiently.
- Interact with title companies, environmental and tax consultants, outside counsel, customers, regulators, lenders, investors, and other external counterparties.
- Provide general corporate real estate support relating to corporate facilities and assist with corporate governance matters, policies, and procedures.
- Develop and oversee practical internal legal processes and create efficient, scalable solutions for the delivery of legal services to internal clients.
- Develop legal strategies for new and innovative transactions, including financing structures and site-control approaches for emerging renewable energy projects.
- Communicate legal risk, transaction structures, and recommended solutions clearly to commercial teams, senior management, and executives.
- Perform all responsibilities with sound judgment, discretion, confidentiality, and the highest ethical standards.
Qualifications & Experience
- J.D., LL.B., or equivalent law degree from an accredited or reputable law school.
- Licensed and in good standing to practise law in at least one U.S. state or Canadian province or territory, or eligible to qualify in the applicable jurisdiction.
- 2-8 years of relevant legal experience gained with a leading law firm, corporate legal department, or a combination of both. Candidates with strong directly relevant experience at the Legal Counsel level may also be considered.
- Substantial experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating sophisticated real estate, commercial, services, supply, O&M, construction-related, or project agreements.
- Demonstrated experience in one or more of the following: renewable energy project development, real estate and site control, permitting and environmental matters, interconnection, offtake, project finance, M&A, or O&M contracting.
- Experience with utility-scale solar energy and/or battery energy storage projects is preferred but not required.
- Ability to support due diligence and M&A activities and to identify, communicate, and help mitigate material legal and commercial risks.
- Familiarity with energy project agreements, security arrangements, and corporate governance matters.
- Litigation management experience is preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with outside counsel, customers, regulators, title companies, consultants, lenders, investors, and senior leaders
Capabilities for Success
- Strong business judgment and the ability to provide clear, practical, and solutions-oriented legal advice.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, negotiation, project management, and planning skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
- Ability to manage a significant workload, shifting priorities, and complex matters in a fast-paced environment with limited oversight.
- Clear and confident communicator who can explain complex issues to commercial teams and present risks and structures to executives.
- Self-starter who builds trusted relationships across functions and works effectively as part of a collaborative team.
- Entrepreneurial, creative, strategic, responsive, and committed to high-quality execution.
- Ability to maintain discretion and confidentiality and exercise consistently sound judgment.
Recurrent Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status.
For more information about Recurrent Energy, please visit www.recurrentenergy.com
