Corporate Counsel, Development, NA

Vantage Data Centers powers, cools, protects and connects the technology of the world's well-known hyperscalers, cloud providers and large enterprises. Developing and operating across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific, Vantage has evolved data center design in innovative ways to deliver dramatic gains in reliability, efficiency and sustainability in flexible environments that can scale as quickly as the market demands.

Legal Department

The Legal team is responsible for managing the company's legal affairs from compliance through litigation, collaborating with departments such as Sales, Operations, Human Resources, and Innovation along the way. The Legal team also works closely with external law firms to develop a comprehensive legal strategy and manages these partners to address issues efficiently and effectively. Unlike many other companies where legal roles are purely advisory, Vantage distinguishes itself by granting our legal staff the authority to directly influence business decisions. This empowers our internal team to align legal strategies with long-term operational goals, risk management, and cost efficiency to deliver outcomes that support corporate objectives. This approach allows each team member to make significant, impactful decisions, driving substantial results for the company.

Position Overview

This role can be based in our US locations: Ashburn, VA or Denver, CO. in alignment with our flexible work policy. (3 days on site required, 2 days flexible).

The Corporate Counsel, North America is responsible for legal and corporate governance in support of Vantage's strategic opportunities and business objectives in general, with a focus on real estate related matters. In addition to providing excellent legal expertise and support, the candidate must bring a proactive, business and solution-oriented approach to legal matters, and a proven ability to work across the organization. Ideal candidates for this role will have both in-house and law firm experience, strong eye for business, enterprise leadership, passion for growing a business and experience in continuous improvement and driving enhancements that benefit the Company.

Essential Job Functions

Legal Support and Strategic Partnership:

• Support Vantage and be a strategic partner by providing practical, business-focused and sound legal advice to the Site Acquisition, Site Development and Energy teams.

• Provide proactive and strategic legal advice that enables Vantage to achieve its business and strategic objectives while fully and appropriately handling legal risk.

• Responsible for supporting legal matters across the business with a focus on Site Acquisition, Site Development and Energy teams, including negotiating purchase agreements, assisting with power transactions (both utility and self-generation), general governance, and management of outside counsel.

Real Estate Legal Expertise:

• Provide primary support to the Site Acquisition and Site Development teams by drafting and reviewing various real estate documents and providing legal support for real estate acquisitions.

• Coordinate and lead legal matters related to North American real estate acquisitions and development, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.

Transactional and Governance Support:

• Structure, review, draft and negotiate various transactional documents, including purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, easements, and other real estate documents.

• Support global legal strategies for real estate acquisitions, ensuring alignment with regional and company goals.

Management of Outside Counsel:

• Oversee and handle the work of outside counsel on matters related to site acquisition, development, electrical delivery, and other relevant areas.

• Ensure that all external legal work is completed to a high standard and aligns with Vantage's business objectives.

Continuous Improvement and Standardization:

• Contribute to ongoing initiatives aimed at improving and standardizing legal practices across the region.

• Support the legal department in implementing standard methodologies and streamlining processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Additional Duties:

Handle additional duties as assigned by Management.

Job Requirements

Education:

• JD from an ABA accredited law school and admission to a State Bar.

• Experience:

• 3+ years of relevant legal experience.

• Experience with real estate law.

• Experience with zoning and land-use matters.

• Experience within the energy utility, data center or telecommunications industry preferred, but not required.

Skills:

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Well-rounded corporate and commercial lawyer who is also a practical and business-minded executive.

• Strong communication, negotiation and legal writing skills. Good interpersonal and management skills.

• Self-motivated with the ability to operate independently.

• Ability to navigate seamlessly between being highly strategic and hands-on approach.

• Proactive and solution oriented with the ability to see opportunities for improvements within legal practices.

• Excellent organization and problem-solving skills that enable the successful candidate to juggle multiple responsibilities at once and consistently meet tight deadlines.

• Impeccable integrity, credibility, character and ethics.

• Travel required is expected to be up to 10% but may increase over time as the business evolves.

Physical Demands and Special Requirements

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop or kneel; talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

Additional Details

• Salary Range: $155,000 - $175,000 Base + Bonus (this range is based on Colorado market data and may vary in other locations)

• This position is eligible for company benefits including but not limited to medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and AD&D, short and long-term disability coverage, paid time off, employee assistance, participation in a 401k program that includes company match, and many other additional voluntary benefits.

• Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including your qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience and may fall outside of the range shown.

#LI-Hybrid #LI-CM1

We operate with No Ego and No Arrogance. We work to build each other up and support one another, appreciating each other's strengths and respecting each other's weaknesses. We find joy in our work and each other, actively seeking opportunities to inject fun into what we do. Our hard and efficient work is rewarded with an above market total compensation package. We offer a comprehensive suite of health and welfare, retirement, and paid leave benefits exceeding local expectations.

Throughout the year, the advantage of being part of the Vantage team is evident with an array of benefits, recognition, training and development, and the knowledge that your contribution adds value to the company and our community.

Don't meet all the requirements? Please still apply if you think you are the right person for the position. We are always keen to speak to people who connect with our mission and values.

Vantage Data Centers is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Vantage Data Centers does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firm agencies. Fees will not be paid in the event a candidate submitted by a recruiter without an agreement in place is hired; such resumes will be deemed the sole property of Vantage Data Centers.

We'll be accepting applications for at least one week from the date this role is posted. If you're interested, we encourage you to apply soon-we're excited to find the right person and will keep the role open until we do!