TRANSACTIONAL CONSTRUCTION/PROJECTS ASSOCIATE

Description:

Shape how millions move, regions grow, and communities connect—outside the traditional "Big Law" model.

About the Role:

Kaplan Kirsch seeks a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative mid-level transactional associate (3 to 5+ years of experience) to join our Project Funding and Delivery Practice. You will focus on construction procurement, contracting, project finance, and project delivery (P3, design-build, CMAR/CM/GC, progressive design-build) across infrastructure sectors for airports, transit agencies, state departments of transportation, and other public and private entities. The work is sophisticated, varied, collaborative, nationwide, and rarely routine.

The Ideal Candidate:

You bring strong commercial instincts, sharp judgment, and a drive to own complex procurements, contracts, funding and financing structures, and delivery issues. While transportation or social infrastructure experience is a plus, we value intellectual curiosity—someone who loves tackling unfamiliar regulatory frameworks, working across disciplines, and solving practical problems for complex projects that leave a lasting mark on communities and the built environment.

About the Firm:

Founded in 2003 as an alternative to the "business of law as usual," Kaplan Kirsch is a fast-growing, collegial, and collaborative national specialized law firm. A majority of our clients are states, local governments, Native American Tribes, airports, transit agencies, renewable energy companies, and non-profit organizations. Our firm offers a rare opportunity to work on matters that shape how people and goods move, how regions grow, and how communities stay connected. Just as important, it is deeply meaningful: our clients own and operate essential public assets, and the legal work surrounding them affects millions of travelers, businesses, and communities across the United States every day.

Our leadership includes multiple former U.S. Department of Transportation General Counsels and former chief counsels from the Federal Railroad and Federal Transit Administrations. We offer associates real-world significance, substantial responsibility, direct client contact, and a clear path toward partnership in a supportive environment.

In This Role, You Will:

• Core Practice: Drive our nationwide Project Funding and Delivery practice while collaborating across airports, environmental, rail/transit and other transportation, social infrastructure, real estate, tribal, and energy sectors.
• Contracts & Procurement: Draft, negotiate, and manage project delivery procurements, construction and project delivery contracts, funding and financing agreements and documentation, pre-development agreements, leases, and other documentation.
• Regulatory Guidance: Guide public/private clients through federal, state, and local funding schemes and regulations for projects.
• Advisory Services: Advise clients on infrastructure delivery, real estate transactions, funding and financing structures, and construction and project delivery strategies.
• Industry Exposure: Travel periodically for client meetings, site visits, negotiations, and conferences.

Requirements:

You’ll Excel With:

• Experience: 3–5+ years in transactional law, including construction, project development, project finance, and/or government procurement.
• Skills & Delivery: Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills; familiarity with alternative project delivery methods (CMAR/CM/GC, design-build, P3, progressive design-build, etc.).
• Mindset: Intellectual curiosity, commercial judgment, adaptability in a fast-paced environment, and a high comfort level working both independently and collaboratively.
• Credentials: J.D. from an accredited law school and active U.S. bar admission (CO, NY, FL, or CA preferred).

How You’ll Stand Out:

• Background in complex infrastructure construction and alternative delivery methods.
• Familiarity with federal transportation frameworks and agencies (USDOT, FAA, FRA, FTA, FHWA, STB, Build America Bureau).
• A demonstrated passion for public infrastructure, transportation, and public policy.
• An entrepreneurial, collegial mindset paired with top-tier communication skills and a love for solving nuanced, non-routine legal challenges.

Compensation & Benefits:

• Salary Range: $172,000 – $185,000 (commensurate with experience) + performance/billable bonuses.
• Billable Hours: 1,600 annual target (includes unlimited approved pro bono hours).
• Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, STD, LTE, life insurance, 401(k), parental leave, flexible PTO, as well as some public transit cost coverage, and hybrid/remote flexibility.

The Firm is actively committed to fostering the principles of diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity. We do not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity, disability, marital status, military status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.

If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application process, please do not hesitate to reach out by emailing [email protected]