Sr Counsel - Litigation
| Estimated Pay info | Based on similar jobs in your market$19 per hour |
|---|---|
| Hours | Full-time, Part-time |
| Location | Houston, Texas |
About this job
Job Description
Energy Transfer, recognized byForbes as oneof America'sbest large employers, is dedicated to responsibly andsafely delivering Americas energy. We are driven to inspire our employees to create superior value for our customers, our investors, asustainable futureandgiving backto the community where we have long-standing commitments to causes includingMD Anderson Childrens Cancer Hospital, TheSalvation Army, The American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House and many more.
\nWe value all of our employees who make our growth and success possible. We are proud to offer industry leading compensation, comprehensive benefits,401(k) match with additional profit sharing,PTO and abundant career opportunities.
\nCome join our award winning 12,000 strong organization as we fuel the world and each other!
\nPosition Overview
\nThe Senior Counsel, Litigation serves as the companys lead attorney for all litigation and disputerelated matters across the companys asset portfolio. This role provides strategic legal guidance to protect the companys interests in complex commercial disputes, operational incidents, environmental claims, land and ROW conflicts, construction matters, and regulatory enforcement actions. The Senior Counsel partners closely with Operations, Commercial, Land, EH&S, Engineering, and Executive Leadership to proactively manage risk, resolve disputes efficiently, and ensure compliance with federal and state laws governing midstream operations.
\nKey Responsibilities
\nLitigation Strategy & Case Management
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- Lead all aspects of litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings involving the company, including case assessment, strategy development, budgeting, and oversight of outside counsel. \n
- Manage a diverse docket including commercial disputes, construction claims, environmental enforcement, personal injury, property damage, ROW and eminent domain matters, and regulatory challenges. \n
- Direct discovery strategy, including document preservation, ediscovery, witness preparation, and expert engagement. \n
- Evaluate settlement opportunities and negotiate resolutions that protect the companys financial and operational interests. \n
Operational & Regulatory Support
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- Advise Operations, EH&S, and Engineering on incident response, spill events, pipeline integrity matters, and regulatory investigations. \n
- Support internal investigations related to operational events, safety issues, or compliance concerns. \n
- Interface with federal and state agencies (e.g., PHMSA, FERC, EPA, state environmental agencies) on enforcement actions, notices of violation, and compliance matters. \n
- Provide legal guidance on pipeline safety regulations, environmental statutes, and operational risk mitigation. \n
Commercial & Contractual Disputes
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- Advise Commercial teams on contract interpretation, performance disputes, indemnity issues, and risk allocation. \n
- Support resolution of disputes involving shippers, suppliers, contractors, and JV partners. \n
- Draft and negotiate settlement agreements, tolling agreements, and disputerelated contract amendments. \n
Risk Management & Governance
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- Develop and implement litigation management processes, reporting, and metrics for executive leadership. \n
- Provide training to internal teams on litigation readiness, document retention, and risk mitigation. \n
- Advise on insurance coverage, claims strategy, and coordination with insurers. \n
Qualifications
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- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, preferably at least Texas. \n
- 6+ years of litigation experience, preferably with a mix of law firm and inhouse roles. \n
- Strong background in energy, midstream, oil & gas, or heavy industrial litigation. \n
- Demonstrated experience managing complex, highvalue litigation and arbitration matters. \n
- Familiarity with pipeline safety regulations, environmental statutes, and commercial contracts common in midstream operations. \n
- Excellent judgment, negotiation skills, and ability to influence senior leaders. \n
- Ability to thrive in a fastpaced, operationally driven environment with competing priorities. \n
Preferred Experience
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- Prior inhouse experience in oil and gas cases including (upstream, midstream, and downstream, complex commercial litigation, mediation and arbitration matters, managing all phases. \n
- Experience with PHMSA, FERC, EPA, and state environmental agencies. \n
- Experience in complex commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation \n
- Experience managing outside counsel and litigation budgets. \n
Competencies
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- Strategic legal thinking with strong business acumen \n
- Exceptional communication and executivelevel presence \n
- Riskbased decisionmaking \n
- Crisis management and calm under pressure \n
- Collaborative, solutionsoriented approach \n
- Strong negotiation and conflictresolution skills \n