Associate Attorney

SMIRNOW seeks a full-time associate attorney with three to five years of experience. This remote position includes occasional in-person meetings in Washington, D.C. and offers sophisticated legal and strategic work within a sustainable 40-hour workweek.

The associate will work directly with founder John Smirnow and the firm’s clients on matters at the intersection of the U.S. energy transition, domestic manufacturing, federal tax incentives, international trade, supply chains, regulatory policy, national security, and commercial strategy.

The associate will work on high-stakes questions shaping U.S. energy investment and advanced manufacturing, with substantial responsibility, close mentorship, and a meaningful role in building the practice.

About SMIRNOW

SMIRNOW is a specialized legal and strategic advisory practice serving U.S. and international companies at the intersection of energy, advanced manufacturing, tax incentives, trade and customs, supply chains, national security, and commercial strategy.

We advise clients not only on what the law requires, but on how legal and policy developments affect real investment, sourcing, and manufacturing decisions.

Representative Matters

Advised advanced-energy manufacturers on Sections 48E and 45X, domestic-content and foreign-entity restrictions, and related federal guidance.

Advised developers and manufacturers on trade remedies, customs, tariffs, country of origin, government procurement, and enforcement risk.

Represented clean-energy manufacturers before Congress and federal agencies on trade, supply-chain, manufacturing, and energy policy.

Role Overview

The associate will produce client-ready memoranda, opinion letters, strategy papers, agency submissions, and client alerts; monitor legal and policy developments; review supply-chain and manufacturing information; and translate complex legal and technical questions into practical advice.

Over time, the associate will take the lead on defined client matters and communicate directly with clients, while working closely with John on major strategic and relationship issues.

Required Qualifications

Candidates must hold a J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school, be admitted to at least one U.S. bar, and have three to five years of relevant legal experience. Excellent judgment, research and writing, responsiveness, organization, attention to detail, and ownership are essential.

Preferred Profile

Relevant backgrounds include renewable energy, federal tax, domestic content, trade, customs, government procurement, supply-chain compliance, administrative law, or regulatory strategy. Candidates need not be experts in every area. We seek someone intellectually curious, comfortable learning across disciplines, attentive to clients’ business objectives, and able to communicate clear recommendations.

Compensation and Benefits

The anticipated salary range is $170,000 to $190,000, depending on experience and qualifications. The associate is also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus reflecting work quality, productivity, client service, and firm performance.

Benefits include flexible paid time off, with attorneys encouraged to take at least 20 business days annually, subject to advance coordination and client commitments; a 401(k) match; a $10,000 annual health-insurance contribution; a firm-provided laptop; and $2,500 annually for bar dues, continuing legal education, and professional development.

To Apply

Please submit a resume, brief cover letter, and representative legal writing sample to [email protected], with “Associate Attorney Application” in the subject line.