Overview
Associate General Counsel Jobs in San Francisco, USA at Innovation Consulting LLC
Associate General Counsel
Type: Direct Hire
Location: San Jose, CA (Hybrid) – Relocation required if not a commutable distance from San Jose
Salary: $220K – $265K annually (DOE)
About the Role
We are partnered with California’s largest investor-owned water utility – the third-largest publicly traded water utility in the United States – to recruit an Associate General Counsel for their Legal Department. The selected candidate will be hired as a full-time employee directly with our client.
The Legal Department is a lean, high-impact team of attorneys providing full-service legal support across a multi-state, CPUC-regulated enterprise. The Associate General Counsel will serve as a senior legal advisor across a broad practice portfolio, with primary emphasis on real property law and real estate transactions, supported by meaningful responsibility in commercial procurement, M&A transaction support, litigation and claims management, environmental compliance, land use and entitlements, and corporate governance.
This is a true generalist ALC role with a defined real estate center of gravity – not a narrow specialty position.
The ideal candidate is an experienced in-house attorney or senior associate from a real estate and transactions practice who is ready to step into a high-autonomy role from day one. You will work directly with business unit leaders, outside counsel, and executive leadership on a consequential and varied docket – supporting a company that has delivered 59 consecutive years of annual dividend increases, is investing over $600 million in infrastructure in 2026, and is actively expanding its regulated utility footprint through acquisition.
If you bring deep transactional real estate experience, comfort with regulated-industry legal frameworks, and the judgment to operate independently in a small department, this role is built for you.
Key Responsibilities
Real Estate & Transactions (Primary Focus)
• Draft, review, and negotiate real property instruments including Easements, Rights of Entry, Licenses, Leases, and Deeds across a multi-state service territory
• Lead real estate due diligence, title and survey review, and risk analysis for acquisitions, dispositions, and infrastructure-related transactions
• Manage escrow processes and coordinate transaction closings for real property matters
• Draft and negotiate commercial agreements including MSAs, SOWs, NDAs, and procurement contracts
• Support M&A diligence and transaction execution as the company actively expands its regulated utility portfolio through acquisition, including utility system purchases and public-private partnerships
• Advise on land use, entitlements, and permitting matters related to infrastructure development and capital projects
Regulatory, Environmental & Litigation
• Advise on CPUC regulatory matters, rate case proceedings, and compliance obligations applicable to a regulated investor-owned water utility
• Provide legal support on environmental compliance matters including water quality regulations, EPA and state environmental standards, PFAS-related requirements, and environmental permitting for infrastructure projects
• Manage litigation and claims dockets, including oversight of outside counsel in civil, administrative, and regulatory proceedings
• Draft demand letters, litigation holds, and preservation notices; coordinate discovery responses and document productions
• Monitor federal and state legislative and regulatory developments and assess legal risk and operational impact
Corporate Governance & Legal Operations
• Support SEC reporting, corporate governance filings, and entity maintenance across multiple states as a NYSE-listed public company
• Advise on privacy compliance, data governance, and labor and employment matters as needed
• Manage outside counsel relationships, billing oversight, and legal spend
• Contribute to development and refinement of internal legal policies, procedures, and legal operations initiatives
Qualifications
Required
• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school
• Active membership in good standing with the California State Bar, or eligibility to register as California in-house counsel
• 8+ years of legal…
Title: Associate General Counsel
Company: Innovation Consulting LLC
Location: San Francisco, USA
Category:
