Lead Counsel, Commercial (Energy - Infrastructure)
About The Position
OpenAI is seeking an experienced energy lawyer to advise on legal matters relating to the energy and power infrastructure supporting its growing data center portfolio. The role partners with energy, infrastructure development, engineering, procurement, and finance teams on complex legal and regulatory issues, and helps structure, negotiate, and manage transactions that secure reliable, cost-effective power for OpenAI’s long-term infrastructure ambitions. The successful candidate will help define the commercial playbook for power procurement and energy project development in the AI era. The role reports to the Associate General Counsel for Infrastructure, and its scope and level will reflect the successful candidate’s experience and expertise. OpenAI’s Legal team works across legal disciplines and collaborates closely with colleagues throughout the company to address innovative and fundamental legal issues in AI. OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity.
Requirements
- 10 or more years of legal experience, with substantial focus on complex commercial energy transactions.
- Juris Doctor (JD) and a license or qualification to practice in California.
- Relevant experience in-house, at a law firm, or a combination of both, advising energy companies, utilities, developers, major power customers, or infrastructure investors.
- Demonstrated experience independently leading complex energy transactions, including power purchase, utility service, or interconnection agreements.
- Familiarity with U.S. electricity markets, utility tariffs, and regulatory frameworks affecting energy supply, interconnection, and transmission, including FERC, state utility commissions, and regional grid operators.
- Strong commercial judgment and financial fluency in energy pricing, volume commitments, credit support, and allocation of development and operating risk.
- Ability to operate with autonomy and sound judgment in highly technical and fast-moving environments.
- Exceptional communication skills, including the ability to distill complexity into actionable, business-aligned guidance and advise senior business leaders on strategic decisions.
Nice To Haves
- Experience advising on cross-border energy deals and international energy regulatory frameworks.
- Prior experience with data center power procurement, generation or storage development, energy project finance, joint ventures, or on-site and behind-the-meter energy projects.
Responsibilities
- Own legal strategy and risk management for global energy procurement and power infrastructure transactions, from initial structuring through execution and ongoing implementation.
- Draft, negotiate, and advise on power purchase agreements, energy supply and hedging arrangements, and utility service and special contracts, including related regulatory requirements and approvals.
- Structure and negotiate interconnection, transmission, and utility infrastructure arrangements that align power availability with data center development and operating schedules.
- Advise leadership and business leaders on legal and regulatory considerations as they develop and implement energy and data center strategy.
- Support strategic partnerships involving renewable and other carbon-free generation, energy storage, and on-site or behind-the-meter power solutions for AI infrastructure.
- Develop legal and regulatory frameworks for energy procurement, project development, and collaboration with utilities, independent power producers, and energy developers.
- Partner with finance and operations teams to align contract terms with business and compliance requirements, including pricing, delivery and curtailment risk, credit support, and project milestones.
- Collaborate with policy and regulatory colleagues on issues affecting energy transactions, utility tariffs, grid access, market participation, retail service requirements, and renewable energy attributes.
- Build scalable, efficient contracting processes that support energy and infrastructure development while managing legal and regulatory risk.
- Guide outside counsel and coordinate with real estate, construction, tax, and regulatory counsel on energy transactions and project development.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
