Deputy General Counsel, Litigation and Disputes

Deputy General Counsel, Litigation And Disputes

Black & Veatch allows you to lend your talent and perspective to humanity's biggest challenges in a flexible environment where you are empowered to grow and explore new possibilities. We offer competitive compensation; 401K match and benefits that start day 1. At Black & Veatch, you own your career with purpose and meaning. You are empowered to grow and explore new possibilities at every step of your career journey. Bring your big ideas knowing you are safe to be who you are and speak up with concerns or questions and put your diverse talents and perspectives to use.

We are seeking a strategic and experienced Deputy General Counsel to lead litigation and dispute resolution efforts for a global Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) company. This role will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of disputes, claims management, and litigation, both domestically and internationally, with a focus on construction, commercial, contract, and regulatory matters. The successful candidate will also manage a small but highly capable legal team, including junior lawyers and a paralegal, and will serve as a key partner to business leaders, project managers, and external counsel in resolving high-stakes disputes efficiently and effectively.

Black & Veatch's Business Enablement consists of critical groups that help enable the organizations people, projects, and businesses to be as successful as possible. Functions in this group include Digital & Information Technology, Global Finance, Global Human Resources, Legal, Risk Management, and Government Affairs and Real Estate and Building Services.

Key Responsibilities

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

• Lead and manage all company litigation, arbitration, mediation, and pre-litigation dispute matters, including construction claims, breach of contract, delay claims, change order disputes, insurance recovery, and regulatory inquiries.
• Serve as primary liaison with outside counsel for active litigation matters, ensuring alignment with business goals, budgets, and timelines.
• Develop and implement dispute resolution strategies aimed at minimizing risk and achieving cost-effective outcomes.
• Provide timely, strategic advice on potential disputes arising from EPC project execution, supply chain issues, or customer/vendor relationships.
• Review and respond to legal claims, subpoenas, regulatory notices, and discovery requests.

Risk Management & Contract Dispute Prevention

• Partner with legal business partners, project teams, contracts, and commercial groups to proactively identify and mitigate legal risks during project planning and execution.
• Participate in internal project reviews and risk assessments to offer guidance on dispute-avoidance strategies.
• Draft, review, and continuously improve dispute resolution provisions and claim-handling procedures in contracts with clients, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Team Leadership & Development

• Manage and mentor a small legal team including junior attorneys and a paralegal; foster professional development and high-quality legal work.
• Assign litigation tasks, supervise research and drafting, and ensure consistent legal analysis and documentation across cases.
• Promote collaboration, accountability, and clear communication within the legal team and across business functions.

Stakeholder Engagement & Reporting

• Report regularly to the General Counsel on key disputes, litigation risks, reserves, and strategy.
• Provide legal training and guidance to project and commercial teams on dispute management, legal documentation, and risk allocation.

Management Responsibilities

Supervises work of others. Responsible for hiring, discipline, and pay administration of their subordinates.

Minimum Qualifications

• Law degree required
• Licensed to practice law in at least 1 jurisdiction.
• All applicants must be able to complete pre-employment onboarding requirements (if selected) which may include any/all of the following: criminal/civil background check, drug screen, and motor vehicle records search, in compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.

Preferred Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and admission in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 10+ years of legal experience with a strong focus on commercial litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolutionpreferably with experience in the EPC, infrastructure, or construction industry.
• Experience managing litigation portfolios, including direct oversight of outside counsel and litigation budgets.
• Deep knowledge of construction law, contract law, and dispute resolution mechanisms (e.g., ICC, AAA, ad hoc arbitration).
• Proven ability to lead and mentor a team of lawyers and legal professionals.
• Strong negotiation, analytical, and communication skills; business-oriented approach to resolving complex legal issues.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities, and provide clear legal guidance in a fast-paced, project-driven environment.
• Prior in-house experience in the EPC, heavy industrial, energy, or infrastructure sectors.
• Familiarity with international project delivery models, FIDIC contracts, and cross-border dispute resolution.
• Experience with insurance-related claims (e.g., builders risk, professional liability, performance bonds) a plus.

Work Environment/Physical Demands

Hybrid or flexible work options may be offered after the first 90 days of employment based upon manager discretion, job performance and work assignments.

Salary Plan

LGL: Legal

Job Grade

021