Principal Counsel

Cheniere Energy•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Principal Counsel will provide day-to-day legal support and advice to the Company’s commodity traders, marketers, schedulers, and others located in the Houston office. This role involves providing regulatory advice on all matters impacting the Company’s marketing and trading operations, as well as related regulatory advice with respect to the Company’s financial trading activities. The Principal Counsel will manage inquiries and data requests received from regulators (e.g., FERC, CFTC, DOE, etc.). Key responsibilities include negotiating marketing/trading agreements (including NAESBs, ISDAs, EEIs, bespoke long-term agreements, asset management agreements, etc.), including related credit support documents (annexes and master netting agreements), and negotiating and managing interstate/intrastate transportation and storage agreements and related issues (e.g., precedent agreements, OBAs, Interconnect Agreements, capacity releases, etc.). The role also includes participating in other day-to-day legal and business projects as necessary. The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Requirements

Experience working with commodity marketing/trading operations
Working knowledge of the operational aspects of the natural gas upstream, midstream, downstream, LNG business, including transactions involving interstate and intrastate pipelines
Knowledge of the Natural Gas Act, the Natural Gas Policy Act, the Energy Policy Act, the Commodity Exchange Act, the Dodd-Frank Act, and FERC, CFTC and DOE regulations pertaining to the Trading Group
Experience in drafting and negotiating a variety of customized and industry standard agreements related to the purchase and sale of energy commodities and derivatives, pipeline transportation and storage, and other agreements related to the marketing and trading of natural gas
Working knowledge of the commodity marketing/trading business, with a focus on the regulatory aspects
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to effectively interact with various levels within the Company
Ability to think critically, solve problems independently and exercise excellent judgment and common sense
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills are required
Highly organized and detail-oriented
Ability to work independently and as a team member, while managing a diverse and demanding workload
Strong business acumen coupled with exceptional analytical skills
Ability to effectively work with and manage outside Senior Counsel/Counsel
Impeccable ethics and integrity
Bachelor’s degree and JD degree
Qualified to practice law in Texas or another state in the USA
Twelve (12) or more relevant years of experience within the commodities marketing/trading practice at either a top law firm or an in-house legal department of a major energy company with sophisticated trading operations

Nice To Haves

Familiarity with intrastate and interstate pipeline regulations from an infrastructure/pipeline perspective
Awareness of the ERCOT power markets

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day legal support and advice to the Company’s commodity traders, marketers, schedulers, and others located in the Houston office
Provide regulatory advice on all matters impacting the Company’s marketing and trading operations
Provide related regulatory advice with respect to the Company’s financial trading activities
Manage inquiries and data requests received from regulators (e.g., FERC, CFTC, DOE, etc.)
Negotiate marketing/trading agreements (including NAESBs, ISDAs, EEIs, bespoke long-term agreements, asset management agreements, etc.), including related credit support documents (annexes and master netting agreements)
Negotiate and manage interstate/intrastate transportation and storage agreements and related issues (e.g., precedent agreements, OBAs, Interconnect Agreements, capacity releases, etc.)
Participate in other day-to-day legal and business projects as necessary