ASSOCIATE ATTORNEY - Airport Regulatory Matters

We’re looking for highly motivated, creative, and collaborative attorneys to join our projects-oriented law firm. Operating outside the “Big Law” model, our collegial and collaborative firm enables our associate attorneys to advance quickly in their careers and further their professional development through meaningful involvement on public and private projects that benefit communities across the United States. Because many of our attorneys have substantial government service, we are able to provide a supportive and family-friendly environment for attorneys looking to transition to the private sector.

Why consider us?

We are a fast-growing national specialized law firm devoted exclusively to helping clients solve problems involving the nation’s most complex and high-profile projects in airports, real estate, land use, infrastructure, project financing, rail, transit, renewable energy, environmental, conservation, and tribal law. While the Firm is loosely organized into primary practices areas, we pride ourselves on complex, collaborative work that does not always respect boundaries of traditional legal disciplines, and associates will regularly work with colleagues across all of our practice areas. Over half of our practice groups and a number of partners and associates received recognition from Chambers & Partners in their USA rankings, reflecting our Firm’s outsized achievements and national recognition. The work we do is rewarding and we are tremendously proud of the superior services our team is able to provide to our clients.

Founded in 2003 to provide an alternative to the “business of law as usual,” our Firm’s focus remains on our colleagues as well as our clients. We believe that when you enjoy working with a great team, know that your contributions make a difference, and are able to pursue a challenging career without hindering personal life responsibilities and choices, your professional life can and should be more enjoyable and rewarding.

We are proud to be recognized for both the quality of our work and the opportunities for our associates to learn and grow. Our associates are uniquely positioned to have a significant impact for clients from day one, while also gaining valuable experience and training. We believe that as an associate, you should have a path toward partnership, and our collective mentoring approach has resulted in a number of internally promoted partners.

In this role, you will:

• Serve as a key member of our nationwide airports practice, while also supporting our other federal regulatory practices (e.g., environmental, rail/transit, and project delivery).
• Work directly with clients and partners on navigating complex federal regulatory and funding schemes in connection with airport operations, airport development, airport finance, construction, procurement, and environmental matters, ranging from the largest airports in the world to small general aviation facilities.
• Have opportunities for periodic travel to attend client meetings and industry conferences.

You will excel in this role by:

• Having 3-5 or more years of relevant regulatory experience in airports or other heavily regulated industries.
• Demonstrating exceptional writing, legal drafting, analytical, negotiating, and advocacy skills, and an ability to interact professionally with clients and colleagues.
• Adapting quickly in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment to successfully multi-task and manage deadlines and proactively address client matters.
• Demonstrating an ability to think through complex legal and business issues and work collaboratively to advise our clients on creative means of achieving their objectives.
• Having a high comfort level in working both independently and in a team environment.
• Taking initiative by being action-oriented, immediately responsible for and responsive to your client, delegating intelligently, and seeking opportunities for personal improvement.
• Showing academic excellence and leadership, having achieved a law degree from an accredited law school.
• Being admitted to practice in a U.S. jurisdiction (CO, NY, DC, or CA, preferred).

You will stand out from other candidates if you have:

• Have experience with the federal regulatory framework in which airports operate, or with other transportation regulations and/or federal transportation agencies (e.g., U.S. DOT, FAA, FRA, FTA, FHWA, STB and Build America Bureau).
• Have experience with airport operations, airport law, and/or other aspects of aviation.
• Have a demonstrated interest (professional or personal) in public infrastructure, aviation, transportation, public policy, and/or related matters.
• Have an entrepreneurial mindset with a collegial, team-focused approach to legal practice.
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills and attentively listen, actively engage, and effectively communicate complex matters.
• Are excited by the prospect of a highly creative practice of law, where developing solutions to client matters is difficult, nuanced, and rarely routine.

Position details: This is a full-time position to be located in Denver, CO, San Francisco, CA, New York, NY, or Washington DC. We have an annual expectation of 1,600 billable hours for our associates, and we have incorporated our values into this target by including an unlimited amount of approved pro bono hours when meeting this target. This position requires periodic travel for client meetings, industry conferences, and opportunities to visit with colleagues in other Firm offices. The salary range is $162,000 - $180,000 commensurate with experience. We offer medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, STD, LTD, group term life insurance, 401(k), flexible PTO, and parental leave. The Firm will also cover some public transportation costs. We are currently working in a hybrid environment, which may allow for remote work as business needs allow.

The Firm is actively committed to fostering the principles of diversity, inclusion, and equal employment opportunity. We do not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex, sexual orientation, sexual identity, disability, marital status, military status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application process, please do not hesitate to reach out by emailing HR@kaplankirsch.com