Counsel – Real Estate

Duke Energy•Charlotte, NC

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Duke Energy Corporation is seeking an organized, collaborative, results-oriented attorney to join the real estate practice group within its Legal Transactions & Enterprise Growth Support team. The Counsel will provide transactional legal services to support company operations, working with other attorneys and staff in the Office of General Counsel. This is an early-career role for an attorney continuing a practice in real estate transactions, supporting multiple business units and engaging with outside parties and their counsel. The position is hybrid, with work performed remotely and onsite at the company’s Charlotte, North Carolina headquarters; hybrid employees should live within 50 miles of the posted reporting location and work onsite three days per week. The attorney will advise business units and project teams, prepare and negotiate legal documents, and help negotiate a significant volume of real estate agreements, including easements, leases, licenses, encroachment agreements, and purchase and sale agreements. The role involves handling day-to-day legal matters with limited supervision, consulting senior attorneys on significant issues, monitoring applicable laws and regulations, supporting company policies and procedures, providing legal and compliance training, and managing outside counsel. Periodic travel within the United States is required. Relocation assistance is not provided. The position is not represented by a union and does not offer visa sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
At least two years of experience practicing law.
Real property or real estate experience.
Licensed to practice law in North Carolina or South Carolina.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Exceptional judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.
Organizational agility, process management, planning, presentation, and team-building skills.
Ability to gain the confidence and respect of management and clients.
Ability to take direction and act accordingly with conviction, in a timely and high-quality manner.
Ability to work with a variety of personalities and be part of a team.
Ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and prioritize conflicting demands from multiple business clients.
Ability to analyze complex business situations and develop recommendations that meet the company’s legal and business needs.
Willingness to learn and continuously develop legal practice skills and proficiencies.
Technological proficiency and ability to work independently.
Ability to work lawfully in the United States without employment-based immigration sponsorship, now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

Experience drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts.
Experience drafting and reviewing real estate documents, including deeds, leases, licenses, easements, access agreements, and purchase and sale agreements.
Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts.
Energy industry experience, particularly in natural gas or electric utilities.
Regulated utility industry experience.
Licensure to practice law in both North Carolina and South Carolina.
Technical proficiency in multiple areas of the law.
Postgraduate business education.

Responsibilities

Provide legal advice to key business units and project teams, including preparing, reviewing, and negotiating contracts, correspondence, agreements, and other legal documents.
Consult with more senior Office of General Counsel attorneys on legal issues with significant value or potential economic, political, or regulatory implications.
Support negotiations of easements, leases, licenses, encroachment agreements, and purchase and sale agreements with a broad range of counterparties, sometimes without outside counsel and with limited supervision.
Stay current on legal trends, laws, and regulations, and proactively communicate relevant information to other Office of General Counsel attorneys.
Research and monitor federal and state laws and regulations that affect or may affect the company.
Manage and resolve legal matters and concerns arising from the company’s day-to-day functions with limited supervision.
Work on non-routine matters requiring a broad understanding of the company and its business environment.
Assist in developing company policies and procedures.
Provide or assist with legal and compliance training for business units.
Work with and manage outside counsel to maximize efficiency.
Follow processes and reporting requirements designed to protect the company from unnecessary risks and liabilities.
Promote a positive corporate image through involvement in company and civic affairs.
Lead or serve on committees, special projects, or other assignments as directed to further departmental goals.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Travel periodically within the United States.