Associate or Manager, Legal Operations

About DESRI

DESRI (formerly D. E. Shaw Renewable Investments) is a market-leading owner and operator of renewable energy projects throughout the United States. We have acquired or developed approximately 13 gigawatts of contracted capacity across a portfolio of over 85 renewable energy projects in 24 states.

At DESRI, our culture is grounded in rigorous analytics and thoughtful risk-taking, with a strong emphasis on creativity, intellectual curiosity, and continuous improvement. We operate with lean teams that prioritize efficiency and minimize unnecessary bureaucracy, enabling individuals to take ownership and move quickly. We value open, constructive dialogue and believe it leads to better outcomes. Above all, we are driven to go the extra mile and support one another, fostering a collaborative environment built on accountability, integrity, and care.

About the role

DESRI is seeking an experienced and highly organized paralegal to join our legal team in New York as an Associate or Manager, Legal Operations. This individual will provide broad-based legal and administrative support to the Chief Legal & Administrative Officer and the broader legal team across a wide range of corporate, transactional, governance, compliance, and project-related matters. This role is ideal for a proactive, detail-oriented professional who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and enjoys working across multiple disciplines.

What you'll do

• Provide direct support to the Chief Legal & Administrative Officer and the legal team on corporate, transactional, governance, and operational matters.
• Assist with preparation, review, and organization of contracts, agreements, and other legal documents across various business functions.
• Support corporate governance activities, including board materials, resolutions, entity management, and regulatory filings.
• Coordinate execution, tracking, and recordkeeping of contracts and legal documentation.
• Maintain and organize corporate records, entity documents, and internal legal files.
• Assist with transaction closings, due diligence processes, and checklist management across financing, development, M&A, and other strategic initiatives.
• Support compliance initiatives, internal policy documentation, and regulatory reporting.
• Manage calendaring of critical dates, filing deadlines, and corporate obligations.
• Interface with internal teams (development, finance, HR, asset management, and operations) and external counsel or counterparties as needed.
• Contribute to process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and organization within the legal function.
• Work cross-functionally with teams across DESRI and partner with the legal team on legal-specific AI initiatives, including identifying and supporting opportunities to use AI to improve legal workflows and processes.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in any field of study and at least 3–7 years of paralegal experience in a law firm or in-house legal department.
• Experience supporting senior legal leadership and handling a variety of corporate and transactional matters.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with contract administration, corporate governance documentation, and closing mechanics is preferred.
• Ability to summarize legal documents clearly and effectively for internal stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong attention to detail and analytical abilities.
• A proactive, service-oriented mindset and the ability to work collaboratively across teams.
• Experience in the renewable energy, infrastructure, or private investment sectors is preferred but not required.
• The expected annual base salary for this position is $80,000 - $110,000. Our compensation and benefits package includes variable compensation in the form of a year-end bonus, guaranteed in the first year of hire, and benefits including medical and prescription drug coverage, 401(k) contribution matching, paid time off, wellness reimbursement, family building benefits, and a charitable gift match program.