The Port Authority’s Law Department is seeking highly-qualified attorneys ranging in experience from junior to senior to join its Manhattan-based, 100+ person team. This position will report directly to the Assistant General Counsel of Transactions and will encompass an extraordinary range of sophisticated transactional work, such as: administrative law, aviation (including redevelopment of the New York/New Jersey area airports and related infrastructure), capital markets (including complex multi-party transactions involving major financial institutions and private equity funds, bond issuances, letters of credit and credit enhancements), corporate governance, contracts (commercial, professional, technical/IT and advisory, as well as arrangements with sophisticated domestic and international airlines and shippers), environmental, leasing, maritime, policy planning (involving city, state and federal agencies, including regular interaction with the EPA, FAA, MTA, City of New York and City of Newark), regulatory, real estate (including condemnation, construction, leasing, purchases, sales and zoning), security matters, transportation infrastructure (including tunnels, bridges, terminals and trains, as well as redevelopment plans for the Hudson River tunnels and the 42nd Street Port Authority Bus Terminal) and World Trade Center Cultural Center development matters.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Provide oversight and advice on a variety of transactional issues among the business segments and other functional areas of the Port Authority
• Draft, review and manage contracts in numerous subject areas - from administrative to real estate, third-party agreements and vendor/supplier relationships
• Give accurate and timely counsel to client departments on a variety of legal topics, offering proactive advice on possible legal issues and providing business-friendly options
• Manage outside counsel services, including legal spend and legal fee approvals
• Ensure the Port Authority conducts its business in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations
• Advise the General Counsel, the First Deputy General Counsel, the Assistant General Counsel, Executive Officers, Agency Chiefs, Department Directors and other senior management on transactional matters pertaining to the Port Authority
• Stay abreast of new laws, legal decisions, legal and legislative actions that affect the Port Authority and advise senior staff of their implications 

Qualifications

Candidates must present the following qualifications to be considered eligible for this position:

• Law degree from a top tier or highly regarded law school
• Member of the Bar in good standing in New York or New Jersey
• Must have at least three years of legal experience, with emphasis in transactional law gained through a combination of major law firm and in-house or government roles of increasing visibility and responsibility
• Experience in the following matters would fill particular needs of the agency:
  • Copyright, trademark and other intellectual property issues, including negotiations with vendors relating to software, professional services, equipment purchases and contracting work, such as master service agreements, and/or technology related commercial contracts (procurement, software licensing (proprietary and open source), cloud, and SaaS agreements), clearance rights for the use of Port Authority properties and IP in third-party advertising; and/or cybersecurity and data privacy
  • Finance matters, including bond financing and commercial paper

Desired

Ideal candidates will present the following profile.

• Detail-oriented with strong transactional, commercial, analytical and drafting skills, accompanied by outstanding communication skills
• Proven track record to perform effectively under pressure and to reconcile conflicting priorities toward resolution
• Exercise sound judgment, with savvy approach to recognition of intersection of public, business and political components of work
• Ability to think strategically and to act decisively regarding legal challenges facing the agency with the ability to balance and manage risk within time constraints
• Ability to take ownership of, and responsibility for, managing legal work on large, complex projects with aggressive completion deadlines
• Operate in a constantly evolving complex legal environment, while maintaining the highest ethical standards and integrity
• Ability to train and mentor attorneys with different skill levels