Director and Associate General Counsel

CenterPoint Energy • Houston, TX

5d • Onsite

About The Position

CenterPoint Energy is seeking an experienced senior attorney to join its Legal Department to manage and advise on the legal aspects of the Company’s real estate, surveying and right-of-way work, related litigation matters and disputes, and various operational issues across the states in which the Company operates. The AGC – Real Property will work closely with the Company’s Land and Field Services group and other operational personnel, advising on land acquisition strategy for major and other projects; day-to-day surveying and right-of-way matters; preserving and protecting the Company’s fee and easement property rights; negotiating easements and consents to encroach in coordination with the Company’s Land and Field Services group and other operational teams; and handling disputes with landowners, governmental entities, and other authorities, entities, and stakeholders. The AGC – Real Property may supervise internal attorneys and/or contract attorneys, as applicable, and manage outside counsel in litigated and administrative proceedings involving such matters. The AGC – Real Property will report to the Vice President, Legal and Associate General Counsel. This position is in person and based in Houston, Texas, and is not eligible for remote work.

Requirements

• Requires a bachelor’s 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 law in the State of Texas and have minimum of ten (10) years of real estate transactional, real estate litigation, and/or condemnation & eminent domain experience in a law firm, as in-house counsel, or in a corporate land department.
• Able to complete at least the State Bar’s required minimum hours of accredited continuing legal education (CLE) during each compliance year.

Nice To Haves

• At least 15 years of experience in the relevant practice areas.
• Experience in energy and utilities, including experience supporting acquisition of land and other real property interests for gas and electric transmission and distribution work.
• Experience working at a utility or other regulated entity.
• Experience with large scale transmission (electric, gas, or otherwise).

Responsibilities

• Must possess expert knowledge of real estate and property law, including eminent domain and condemnation proceedings, and federal, state, and local regulations, rules, and requirements related to same, and preferably knowledge of utility tariffs and their impact on real estate and land related agreements.
• Responsibilities will include supporting our business and business partners with acquisition and management of the land assets of the company, including capital investments, transactions, negotiations, and disputed matters related to land and field services work (including land acquisition and conveyances, sales, leases, transfers, easements, licenses, grants, gifts, attachments, rights of way, title work and title opinions), advising our business and business partners and negotiating agreements on various relocation issues with governmental and other entities; and managing disputes and litigation related to same (encroachments, trespass, nuisance, infringement, condemnation, etc.).
• Advise, counsel, and collaborate with a variety of internal stakeholders and business unit leaders on matters within area of responsibility.
• Draft, review, revise, and negotiate, in coordination with the Company’s Land and Field Services department and other operations teams, land and land purchase agreements independently without the assistance of outside counsel, as needed.
• Advise on large projects involving a significant number of simultaneous land and land rights acquisitions.
• Advise on eminent domain issues and manage condemnation proceedings end-to-end.
• Provide timely assessments and updates on land and field services and other matters for legal department management.
• Develop, coordinate, and provide training on land and field services risks to the business and other functions, collaborate with other departments to prevent, identify, investigate, and resolve such issues, and take appropriate corrective and preventative actions.
• Lead, develop, and mentor internal personnel and staff supporting real property legal work.
• Serve as the supervising authority over contract attorneys, as needed, and outside counsel retained on matters within area of responsibility.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive pay
• Paid training
• Benefits eligibility begins on your first day
• Transit subsidies
• Flexible work schedule
• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
• Access to discounts at fitness clubs
• On-site wellness center at our headquarters in Houston
• Professional growth and development programs
• 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