Legal Counsel

Cenovus Energy•Calgary, AB

About The Position

Reporting to the Director Senior Manager and Associate General Counsel, Canadian Upstream Legal Operations, the Legal Counsel will play a meaningful role in handling a wide variety of upstream oil and gas legal matters.

Requirements

Legally authorized to work in Canada.
Minimum 6 years of relevant legal experience, with a focus on commercial upstream oil and gas matters, gained either in-house or at a national law firm.
Bachelor of Law (LLB) or Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school and active membership in the Law Society of Alberta.
Experience with commercial transactions, contract negotiation and drafting, coupled with a proven understanding of industry-specific agreements and regulations.
Sound knowledge of Canadian and Alberta upstream land use and regulatory frameworks, including environmental and safety regulations.

Nice To Haves

We acknowledge the value of transferrable skills and may consider equivalent combinations of experience and education should you not meet a specific requirement.

Responsibilities

Serve as an expert in onshore Canadian oil and gas legal matters, providing guidance and support to internal partners and diverse operational teams.
Interpret, draft, and negotiate a wide variety of upstream commercial agreements related to exploration, development, and production activities, including purchase and sale agreements, joint operating agreements, joint venture agreements, royalty agreements, unit agreements, mineral and surface leases, farm-in/farm-out agreements, construction, ownership and operation agreements and other industry form agreements.
Provide legal assistance on multi-disciplinary Cenovus initiatives involving the Canadian upstream, including upstream acquisitions and divestitures, strategic review of joint venture and joint interest relationships, advice and direction on preferred and alternative transaction structures, dispute resolution and management, and other similar initiatives.
Advise on compliance matters related to federal and provincial regulations impacting upstream operations, including licensing requirements and liability management. Collaborate with members of the Cenovus regulatory legal team on regulatory matters affecting upstream operations. Support Cenovus’s emergency response plan as a member of the Incident Support Team.
Lead legal due diligence and research for upstream oil and gas projects, including acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures, while preparing briefing notes on related matters.