Senior Counsel, Real Estate, Siting, and Land Use

Eversource Energy•Berlin, CT

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Eversource Energy, a Fortune 500 diversified electric, natural gas and water utility company with operations throughout New England, seeks to hire a full-time attorney. Eversource is committed to building a clean energy future for its customers, communities and employees as evidenced by its goal to reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) by 45% by 2035, and to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050, as well as its strong support of renewables. Eversource fosters a collegial, supportive and inclusive work environment in which team members collaborate to provide our customers with safe, reliable and cost-effective service. HYBRID WORK POLICY Eversource supports work-life balance by offering hybrid schedules for certain roles. Eligibility is based on job responsibilities, operational needs, nature of work and team dynamics. Current guidelines require employees to work at least three days in the office, including Tuesdays and Wednesdays, with the third day set by the employee and supervisor based on department needs. These guidelines apply to roles approved for remote work and are subject to change,  based on managerial discretion and work performance. All applicants must be able to work up to five days in the office if needed (for example: emergencies, training, or other business needs) or should the policy change. The position provides legal support to Eversource clients in a broad array of legal matters, including real estate, land use, and transactional matters. Such matters include the acquisition, modification and disposition of real estate rights and negotiation of a wide range of agreements associated with the company’s operations, capital projects, and diverse real estate holdings. The position may be located in Westwood, MA, Berlin, CT or Manchester, NH and is eligible, under Eversource’s current hybrid work policy, for work from home up to two days per week as business circumstances and workload demands permit. However, regardless of where the position is based, the successful candidate may periodically be required to travel to attend in person meetings with internal and external stakeholders and/or attend hearings before federal, state and local regulatory agencies in Connecticut, Massachusetts and/or New Hampshire.

Requirements

Requires knowledge of and experience with real estate, land use, and transactional matters, including experience with title reviews, easements, rights of way, leases, licenses, option agreements and purchase and sale agreements.
Must be self-motivated and able to work closely and collaboratively with in-house legal counsel, internal business clients, company management and, in certain cases, outside counsel.
Must demonstrate excellent written and oral communications skills and legal research abilities.
Requires a Bachelor’s degree and Juris Doctor degree.
Minimum of 5 years of experience in a law firm, government agency, corporate law department or equivalent experience gained through energy/utility-related student internships/externships, clinical programs or coursework.
Registration as house counsel in Connecticut and Massachusetts will be required of the successful candidate.

Nice To Haves

Candidates having prior utility or energy industry experience are strongly preferred.
Experience with data and cyber security issues and emerging AI technology is a plus.
Candidates admitted to practice in Connecticut, Massachusetts or New Hampshire are preferred; however, all candidates admitted to practice in another state and in good standing will be considered.

Responsibilities

Provides legal support to Eversource clients in a broad array of legal matters, including real estate, land use, and transactional matters.
Handles matters including the acquisition, modification and disposition of real estate rights.
Negotiates a wide range of agreements associated with the company’s operations, capital projects, and diverse real estate holdings.
May periodically be required to travel to attend in person meetings with internal and external stakeholders and/or attend hearings before federal, state and local regulatory agencies in Connecticut, Massachusetts and/or New Hampshire.
Responds to emergency situations to meet customers’ needs as part of every employee’s role, which may include an Emergency Restoration assignment outside of normal responsibilities, work hours, and location.