Senior Corporate Counsel

Senior Corporate Counsel

The Senior Corporate Counsel is primarily responsible for providing legal advice and counsel and performing legal services supporting the Company's compliance with regulations, management of right-of-way, litigation support, resolution of commercial disputes, project management, acquisition of facilities, development and review of contracts, and representation within the industry.

Duties and responsibilities include:

1. Complying with DOT and OSHA health, safety and environmental requirements and following safety philosophy and procedures developed by the Company including: applicable environmental, health and safety rules, procedures, and accepted safe work practices, the use of appropriate personal protective equipment and safety systems, and the reporting of workplace hazards and injury or illness arising from workplace activities; observing the workplace to identify conditions or behaviors that should be corrected and taking appropriate action.

2. Providing advice to company management and employees on the development of legally permissible strategies to conduct company operations.

3. Evaluating right-of-way requirements, zoning restrictions, and related legal documents; negotiating with right-of-way owners new or renewed right-of-way easements, deeds, permits, and licenses, drafting related documents representing the Company's position; and resolving other aspects of right-of-way encroachment.

4. Negotiating the sale and purchase of company property and preparing documents to support the sale or purchase.

5. Drafting, reviewing, and approving all types of Company contracts, including right-of-way and real estate contracts.

6. Providing legal support and guidance to outside counsel by developing legal strategy options, reviewing motions, exhibits, documents and materials, and conducting investigations and settlement conferences in the defense or prosecution of litigation involving the Company.

7. Monitoring changes in legal and regulatory requirements, conducting research on regulatory requirements and other legal matters; creating memos, reports, policies, and procedures recommending specific Company positions or operational guidelines.

8. Responding to and creating Company policies and procedures for responding to regulatory audits, notices, and orders, and monitoring related transactions to ensure Company compliance.

9. Negotiating and administering right-of-way rental payments. Maintaining right-of-way files and records.

10. Supporting operations and engineering projects, identifying legal solutions to operations and engineering matters and meeting corporate objectives through legal approaches.

11. Prosecuting claims for the Company, negotiating the settlement of claims against the Company, and preparing supporting legal documents and records.

12. Coordinating post-accident investigative activities and emergency claims handling procedures for significant internal, environmental, or third-party events.

13. Filing legal documents with the courts or other regulatory agencies.

14. Representing the Company before governmental agencies and at industry meetings, drafting laws, regulations and industry standards for their consideration and adoption.

15. Providing technical legal guidance and training to other personnel on law, strategy, and technical writing.

16. Drafting and reviewing Company policies and procedures to ensure compliance with laws and corporate objectives and assisting with communicating Company policy and position on legal issues.

17. Leading and/or assisting with special projects as requested by the Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, and performing other duties as required.

Requirements include:

· A bachelor's degree, a law degree such as a Juris Doctorate degree and a license allowing the incumbent to practice law in Oklahoma as well as a minimum of seven (7) years of prior legal experience is required. Specialized experience in energy, corporate, real estate, and environmental law is preferred.

Knowledge, skills and abilities include:

· Ability to actively engage in safe behavior and understand and follow the principles and methods related to pipeline and workplace safety as established by the Company.

· Knowledge of emergency and safety procedures, policies procedures, equipment operating parameters, and all applicable DOT, EPA, FERC, DHS and OSHA requirements.

· Ability to utilize computer hardware and word processing and GIS legal software to research, manage, record, and evaluate Company information.

· Ability to work independently and provide continuous improvement to processes, procedures, and workplace environment.

· Well-developed verbal communication skills are needed to represent the Company before government agencies, industry groups, and landowners. Also required during negotiations with landowners, claimants, and other external parties.

· Well-developed written communication skills are required to draft contracts, and to create policies, procedures, reports, presentations, and a variety of complex legal documents accurately representing the Company's position.

· Effective interpersonal skills are required in representing the Company to governmental agencies and other external parties.

· Frequent internal contacts are required with the leadership team, engineering staff, area supervisors, business development, and the accounting staff to provide legal advice and to gather information to support the Company's position.

· Frequent external contacts are required with outside counsel in support of company litigation, landowners in negotiation of claims or right-of-way, professional service firms in representing the Company's legal position on various issues, and governmental agencies or regulatory bodies in proposing regulations or legislation, and media or public relations firms in representing the Company's position following environmental or other third-party events.

· Well-developed business and financial acumen, and an ability to provide practical and balanced legal advice.

· Ability to effectively work and cooperate with supervisors, co-workers, and vendors.

· Ability to follow corporate policies and the directions of supervisors.

· Ability to refrain from causing or contributing to disruption in the workplace.

Qualifications

Preferred:

Juris Doctorate or better in Law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.