Contracts Attorney

Wendel is a nationally recognized innovative Architecture, Engineering, Energy Efficiency, and Construction Management firm that collaborates with private and public entities to holistically approach facility and infrastructure projects. Our clients benefit from our full-service capability that allows us to tackle technically complex projects with our own in-house experts. With multiple regional offices, Wendel presents the opportunity to work on an exciting variety of projects with a collaborative team approach. If you are looking to make a real impact, to challenge the status quo, and develop and implement solutions with real results, then Wendel is the place for you!

Wendel is seeking a Contracts Attorney for our Williamsville office. If you like reading contracts more than tracking billable hours, this role is for you. You’ll be the go-to person for contract review on architecture, engineering, energy efficiency, and construction projects. You’ll work closely with our project managers and business leaders, with no billable hour requirements and the kind of predictable schedule that’s rare in legal work. Your work is measured by quality, professionalism, and the ability to meet or exceed deadlines efficiently, not by time entries. This is a hands-on, individual contributor role on our legal team.

Responsibilities:

• Review and draft contract documents, including owner-architect/engineer agreements, construction and construction management agreements, subconsultant and subcontractor agreements, RFPs, purchase orders, and vendor agreements.
• Identify and manage contractual risk, including indemnification, standard of care, limitation of liability, waiver of consequential damages, and insurability.
• Work with industry-standard contract forms (AIA, ConsensusDocs, EJCDC) and public-sector agreements.
• Participate in contract negotiations with clients, subconsultants, subcontractors, and vendors.
• Advise project managers and business leaders on contract terms and help them understand what they’re signing.
• Develop and maintain Wendel’s standard contract templates and guidelines.
• Verify subconsultant and subcontractor compliance with insurance requirements and support the firm’s insurance program in coordination with our broker.
• Support claims and dispute matters and coordinate with outside counsel as needed.
• Train project managers and staff on contract risk and Wendel’s standard terms.

 Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Admitted to practice law and in good standing with a U.S. state bar.
• 5-10 years of experience in contract drafting, review, and negotiation.
• Construction law or architecture/engineering/construction industry experience preferred.
• Genuine enjoyment of contract review and close attention to detail.
• Ability to explain legal issues clearly to non-lawyers.
• Able to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Proficient in Microsoft 365, Adobe Acrobat, and contract management platforms.

 What we offer

• Employee-focused company culture and work environment.
• Work-life balance including: 
  • Hybrid work policy
  • Flexible work
• Great benefits including: 
  • Medical, dental, and vision
  • 401k match
  • PTO
  • Life insurance
• HSA and FSA options.
• Career advancement opportunities with Career and Professional Development.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Wellness programs and health stipend.
• CLE and bar dues reimbursement

Salary range: $115,000 - $145,000

Wendel is committed to providing fair, competitive, and market-informed compensation. The salary offered will be determined by the successful candidate’s relevant education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. The salary offered will also take into consideration regional adjustment factors.

Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Wendel is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer and provides a drug-free workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by law. We are a VEVRAA federal contractor and request priority referrals of protected veterans.