Senior Corporate Counsel

Job Description

Puget Sound Energy is Washington State's largest and most established energy company.  We serve over a million electric customers and over three quarter million natural gas customers.  As PSE works to transform our business to meet increased energy demand and decarbonize our power supply in compliance with Washington State's Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) while safely delivering reliable and resilient energy to our customers, we are looking for someone that shares the same passion to help us reach our de-carbonization goals.  

This role plays a critical role that supports and oversees various litigation and regulatory matters.  The senior corporate council provides legal assessments, interpretations, recommendations and representation on corporate policies and issues in compliance with federal, state, county and municipal statutes, regulations and other legal authorities.  This role is critical to our success as it represents PSE in formal regulatory hearings, workshops, written submissions, filings and regulatory and agency meetings, including at the Washington State Utility and Transportation Commission (WUTC) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).  To support these activities, this role works closely with subject matter experts, drafts briefs and provides legal analyses, interpretations and recommendations in compliance with policies and laws. Provides counsel and legal advice on the interpretation of statutes, regulations, legal opinions and obligations, including with respect to regulatory policy and rate proceedings.  Prepares and reviews various legal documents.  This role also selects, oversees, and directs outside legal counsel as appropriate.  

Job Responsibilities

• Manage complex legal matters, including litigation and regulatory matters on behalf of the company and oversee outside counsel as needed.
• Represent the company in formal and informal state regulatory or administrative proceedings before WUTC, including discovery matters.
• Work with senior management and subject matter experts on litigation and regulatory matters, support project teams and management on legal and regulatory issues and related strategy.
• Provide legal assessments, interpretations, recommendations and representation on state regulatory issues, as well as corporate policies and issues in compliance with federal, state, county and municipal statutes and other laws and regulations, including PSE’s tariffs.
• Analyze and issue spot pertinent legal and regulatory information.
• Evaluate and monitor draft legislation and rules. 
• Prepare various forms of legal documents including pleadings, data requests, data request responses, testimony, regulatory documents, reports and presentations.
• Provide legal support for policy and regulatory strategy, including regional energy issues.
• Deliver high quality work product on a timely basis to the company’s business units and clients across the company.
   

Minimum Qualifications

• Juris Doctorate degree and 3 years of legal experience in a law firm or corporate legal department.
• Strong initiative plus excellent management, communication, teamwork, delegation, and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated capacity to build relationships internally and externally; ability to establish rapport with business clients across the organization.
• Highly effective in written and verbal communication.
• Excellent advocacy and organization skills.

Desired Qualifications

• Complex litigation experience.
• Experience directly advising clients and ability to provide high level of client service.
• Strong ability to negotiate with stakeholders on policy and strategic issues.
• Understanding of utility or other regulated industry and applicable laws and regulations, including administrative law.
• Experience with transmission and energy contracts a plus.
   

Additional Information