Senior Counsel, Nuclear

OverviewA global nuclear renaissance is creating an exceptional pipeline of complex opportunities: new nuclear development, reactor refurbishment and life extension, engineering and technology programs, decommissioning, strategic partnerships and international projects. Our Nuclear Legal Affairs team works alongside project executives, commercial leaders, engineers, procurement professionals and project controls teams to turn those opportunities into executable, defensible and commercially sound projects.
We are expanding our legal team and are seeking a senior, business-minded lawyer who understands both sophisticated contracting and how major projects are delivered. This is not a traditional contract-review role. You will lead legal strategy for major pursuits, shape delivery and governance structures, challenge assumptions, negotiate material risk allocation and help ensure that the deal developed at pursuit stage can be administered, performed and defended in execution.
Why this role is unique:
This role places legal counsel at the centre of project formation, not at the end of the approval process. You will help shape the commercial and contractual architecture for major nuclear opportunities before execution commitments crystallize.
The position combines strategic legal judgment, sophisticated negotiation, construction and project-delivery insight, commercial acumen, executive advisory work and direct engagement with technical and commercial leaders on some of the most consequential energy projects in Canada and internationally.
Your roleThe Senior Counsel will be a member of the Nuclear Legal Affairs team. The role reports to the Senior Director, Legal Affairs Candu. The role will work closely with other nuclear counsel, IP and Technology counsel, embedded project lawyers, external and local counsel, project leadership and Candu corporate functions.
Lead legal support for major nuclear infrastructure projects from opportunity development through contract award and execution.
Structure, draft and negotiate development agreements, design collaboration agreements, early works arrangements, framework agreements, teaming and consortium arrangements, supply-chain agreements and other project related contracts.
Advise on, negotiate and work with external counsel in developing agreements for a variety of project delivery models, including EPC, EPCM, alliance, IPD, hybrid and other collaborative contracting structures.
Develop and negotiate risk allocation relating to scope, interfaces, schedule and delay, change, completion, pricing, performance security, liability, indemnities, warranty, force majeure, claims, dispute resolution and governance.
Translate legal positions into practical project outcomes by working closely with commercial, estimating, project controls, engineering, procurement, finance and project delivery teams.
Support executive and gated risk reviews by identifying material departures, bad-deal risk, execution implications and recommended mitigations.
Challenge assumptions constructively and escalat risks that could materially affect margin, liability, intellectual property, schedule, execution readiness, governance approval or dispute position.
Coordinate with IP and Technology counsel on retained IP, technology transfer, licensing, software, data, tooling and design rights.
Direct and manage external counsel and local counsel where specialist or jurisdiction-specific advice is required, while retaining internal ownership of strategy and institutional knowledge.
Prepare formal handover materials for embedded project lawyers, including negotiated risk allocation, key commitments, open issues, approvals, notice and change requirements, claims-sensitive provisions and lessons learned.
Develop and maintain major project playbooks, standard risk positions, model clauses and lessons learned, and promote consistent positions across the portfolio.
Provide surge support, continuity and redundancy across domestic and international pursuits as part of a collaborative pooled team.
About you
License to practice law in a Canadian jurisdiction and membership in good standing with the applicable law society.
7 or more years of relevant legal experience gained in a leading law firm, sophisticated in-house environment, or a combination of both.
Substantial experience supporting major infrastructure, nuclear, energy, transportation, construction or industrial projects.
Strong construction law and complex commercial contracting experience, including demonstrated exposure to EPC, EPCM, alliance, integrated, hybrid or collaborative delivery models.
Demonstrated experience leading complex, high-value negotiations and drafting bespoke project agreements, preferably at the pursuit, development or pre-execution stage.
Practical understanding of how major projects are executed, including scope breakdown, interfaces, schedule and delay, change management, notices, project controls, procurement, subcontracting, completion and claims development.
Ability to advise credibly and concisely at executive level, while working effectively with multidisciplinary project teams.
Excellent drafting, analytical and advocacy skills, with close attention to detail and an ability to make clear recommendations under time pressure.
Sound judgment in balancing opportunity creation with the need to protect margin, preserve rights and secure executable obligations.
Willingness to manage parallel workstreams, adapt quickly as pursuits accelerate or pause, and travel domestically or internationally when business needs require.
The characteristics that matter most:
Commercial and pragmatic: You understand the business objective and find workable paths to a good deal.
Constructively challenging: You test assumptions, surface execution risk and are prepared to flag a bad deal.
Executive credible: You communicate material risk clearly and confidently to senior decision-makers.
Project literate: You understand how contract language affects delivery, administration, entitlement and claims.
Decisive and solutions-oriented: You make practical recommendations even when facts, schedules or structures are evolving.
Collaborative and adaptable: You build trust across disciplines and shift effectively among simultaneous priorities.
Working relationships and organization:
Location and work model: Hybrid. Regular in-person collaboration at Candu offices and project or customer locations will be required, with flexibility to work from home in accordance with company policy.
Travel: Domestic and international travel may be required to support negotiations, governance reviews, project mobilization and key stakeholder meetings.
Rewards & benefitsExplore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career at AtkinsRéalis in Canada.
Enjoy competitive compensation, employee recognition, and a brilliant range of flexible benefits you can tailor to your health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle needs.
Make the most of diverse opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise.
And take advantage of our hybrid working culture and generous time-off policies to balance a fulfilling career with your personal life.
Be rewarded. Find out more.
About AtkinsRéalisWe’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s'infrastructure and energy systems. Together, with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.
Find out more.
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Appropriate accommodation will be provided upon request throughout the recruitment and hiring process as required by Company policy and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Successful applicants will be notified about AtkinsRéalis' accommodation policies at the time the employment offer is extended, and the information will be shared with new personnel during the onboarding process.
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