Director and Associate General Counsel

CenterPoint Energy • Houston, TX

3d • Onsite

About The Position

CenterPoint Energy is seeking an experienced senior attorney to join its Legal Department with a background in complex litigation, natural gas pipeline safety regulations and compliance, and related areas.

The AGC – Gas Litigation and Compliance is responsible for managing and advising on the Company’s personal injury and property damage claims and litigation, other litigation matters and disputes, and interpretation and compliance with federal and state pipeline safety and other regulations applicable to the Company’s Natural Gas Business. The AGC – Gas Litigation and Compliance will manage outside counsel in various proceedings involving personal injury, property damage, and other matters as needed. The AGC – Gas Litigation and Compliance will report to the Vice President, Legal and Associate General Counsel.

The AGC – Gas Litigation and Compliance will also work closely with and assist in advising the Company’s Natural Gas Operations management and personnel, Enterprise Compliance, Operations Governance & Compliance, Safety, Claims, Enterprise Risk Management, and Internal Audit, among others, on regulatory compliance and day-to-day operational issues requiring Legal’s involvement.
Position is in person and based in Houston, Texas. This role is not eligible for remote work.

Requirements

• Requires an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university and a J.D. (doctor of jurisprudence) degree from an accredited law school.
• Must be admitted to practice in the State of Texas and have at least 10 years of relevant litigation and/or regulatory compliance experience in a law firm or as in-house counsel.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in energy and utilities, including with gas and electric transmission and distribution work, is a plus.
• Demonstrating a commitment to pro bono and community activities strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Responsibilities will include managing personal injury and property damage claims and litigation in multiple states/jurisdictions involving the Company’s personnel or facilities, general business and commercial litigation, etc., including advising Company management and employees in connection with such claims and litigation; advising on insurance issues related to the foregoing; retaining and managing outside counsel as needed; and developing overall litigation strategy and tactics for effective litigation resolution.
• Responsible for other litigation-related matters as assigned, including handling or assisting on various types of general litigation claims; advising on legislative initiatives; preparing and delivering legal training and other presentations; and providing any other legal service related to litigation, disputes, and general Company operations.
• Provide timely assessments and updates on personal injury, property damage, and other matters for legal department management.
• Responsible for preparation of litigation reports to Board, management, auditors, and others; conducting trend analysis, key performance indicators and other metrics; and administration and enhancement of litigation processes and procedures.
• Must possess strong working knowledge of general litigation in state and federal courts, including pleadings, discovery (including e-discovery), motion practice, experts, and trials, and be able to understand and navigate related regulatory issues.
• Must possess strong working knowledge of DOT/PHMSA and other federal and state regulations applicable to natural gas transmission, distribution, and storage operations.
• Advise Natural Gas Business management, compliance, and operations personnel on new and changing regulations, interpretation of regulations and statutes, and impact on the Company, and be able to understand and navigate related regulatory issues.
• Advise and counsel internal company departments and business units on matters within area of responsibility or as assigned.
• Develop, coordinate, and provide training on operational, regulatory compliance, and litigation risks to the business and other functions, and collaborate with other departments to prevent, identify, investigate, and resolve such issues, and take appropriate corrective and preventative actions.
• Keep the department company updated and advised on general legal issues and best practices.
• Direct and manage other internal counsel or non-attorney personnel as assigned.
• Able to demonstrate and apply superior analytical ability, and work with confidential information, materials and files in an appropriate, professional and discrete manner.
• Participate in and leading legal department strategy, initiatives, and projects.
• Participate in mandatory emergency operations plan procedures.
• Able to work independently and manage a high volume of matters at any given time, working well under pressure, successfully handling and prioritizing multiple competing assignments, and effectively managing deadlines.
• Interacting with, and establishing the respect and confidence of, senior business leaders and members of business functions.
• Demonstrating strong leadership ability and conflict resolution skills.
• Excel at written and oral communication and have sound negotiation, presentation, and interpersonal skills, and be able to use communication skills (oral and written) and interpersonal skills to express opinions effectively, convey information in an appropriate manner and communicate clearly, effectively and persuasively.
• Demonstrating ability as a business-oriented problem solver and a flexible team player, with ability to partner across departments in order to provide legal support that will enable teams to do business effectively.
• Analyzing complex matters and proposing creative and practical solutions.
• Demonstrating professionalism, judgment, personal integrity, and confidentiality.
• Handling other litigation-related and other legal responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule, paid holidays and paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs and an on-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs including tuition reimbursement
• 401(k) Savings Plan featuring a company match dollar-for-dollar up to 6% and a company contribution of 3% regardless of your contribution

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees