Senior Counsel - Renewable Energy

WM•Houston, TX

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sr Legal Counsel – Renewable Energy Transactions position will primarily support the commercial activity of the Company’s renewable energy group. As one of the fastest growing groups within the Company, this role focuses on transactional work supporting complex commercial transactions, energy commodity trading and marketing activities, as well as regulatory compliance support. We are seeking a candidate with strong transactional experience, preferably with prior experience supporting marketing/trading activity at an energy company or in the energy transactions practice group of a large or mid-sized law firm. Such candidate would have a working knowledge of the operational aspects of the natural gas business, including interstate and intrastate pipelines, as well as the power/electricity business and commodity trading. In addition, specific experience and expertise in the renewables industry, as well as relevant regulatory experience (EPA, FERC, CFTC, DOE, State PUC’s and ISO/RTOs), is a plus. Familiarity and engagement with a commercial focus within environmental commodity markets (such as RNG, RINs, LCFS credits, and RECs) is also desirable. The ideal candidate will be self-motivated to lead deals independently to completion and will often handle several transactions at any one time. The individual should be open to being a strong and proactive business partner to an active, growing and fast-paced group within the Company. The Sr Legal Counsel will report directly to the Assistant General Counsel – Recycling & Sustainability. This position is based in Houston, Texas.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate and 8 (eight) or more years of previous experience.
Large or mid-sized law firm experience in an energy transactions focused group and/or in-house experience at an energy company.
Natural Gas – experience with gas purchase/sale agreements, NAESBs, transportation agreements, and offtake contracts
Power – experience with power purchase agreements, renewable energy credits, wholesale power markets, interconnection agreements, and utility contracts
Energy Trading – experience with ISDAs and related contracts, as well as exchange-traded derivatives
State Bar Licensure, Texas preferred.
Ability to distill complex regulatory and commercial concepts for non-legal stakeholders; strong negotiation skills for high-value, time-sensitive transactions; comfort working in fast-paced, entrepreneurial business environments.

Nice To Haves

Specific experience and expertise in the renewables industry.
Relevant regulatory experience (EPA, FERC, CFTC, DOE, State PUC’s and ISO/RTOs).
Familiarity and engagement with a commercial focus within environmental commodity markets (such as RNG, RINs, LCFS credits, and RECs).
Regulatory (EPA, FERC, CFTC, ISO/RTOs, State PUCs) – experience with regulatory filings, compliance programs, or enforcement matters
Experience working with electric and gas utilities and their tariffs
Experience with power plant assets and their role within ISOs/RTOs
Environmental Commodities – experience with RIN markets, LCFS credits, carbon markets, or emissions trading programs

Responsibilities

Provide day-to-day legal support and advice to the Company’s commodity traders, marketers, schedulers, and others located in the Houston, Texas office.
Draft and negotiate a variety of customized and industry-standard agreements related to the purchase and sale of energy commodities. Such agreements may include power purchase agreements, gas offtake contracts (including NAESBs), marketing agreements for renewable credits or environmental attributes (including LEAP Agreements), energy management agreements, broker agreements, non-disclosure agreements, among others.
Draft and negotiate agreements relating to the marketing and trading of commodities (including NAESBs, ISDAs, EEIs, bespoke long-term agreements, asset management agreements, etc.), as well as 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.).
Provide proactive legal and practical business advice to internal clients.
Engage, collaborate, and build strategic business relationships with numerous departments and functions within the Company to work efficiently and effectively while providing a high-level of service to business partners.