Principal Attorney

Consumers Energy is Michigan’s largest energy provider, providing natural gas and/or electricity to 6.8 million of the state’s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. Consumers Energy knows job number one is to keep the lights on for customers. We are committed to delivering reliable, clean, and affordable energy to our customers 24/7.  

Location

This is a hybrid (virtual/onsite) position with required onsite days on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday assigned to One Energy Plaza located in Jackson, MI.  The selected candidate must be within a commutable distance or willing to relocate (relocation package is available for those that qualify).  

General Summary of Job Responsibilities

The Principal Attorney leverages in-depth knowledge of multiple legal specialties or areas of law to provide advice and recommendations to executives and management on highly complex matters that have, or may have, a material financial impact on business activities and operations. The incumbent is regarded as a CMS Energy and industry expert and is a demonstrated leader in their area of expertise, due to a combination of advanced legal and business knowledge. The cases and projects require original, creative, and leading legal expertise. The legal matters handled are of significant importance to the organization and are often vigorously contested, frequently requiring consultation with outside counsel and other experts. The Principal Attorney utilizes skills, experience, initiative, and demeanor to serve as a leader within the Company and the Legal Department, advising and assisting other attorneys, including those with less experience—as well as Legal Department staff, and organizes the work of internal partners on a variety of legal projects, which may involve co-leading projects with other internal subject-matter experts.

The Principal Attorney will represent and advise the Company on a wide variety of energy regulatory matters, including matters at or involving the Michigan Public Service Commission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Represent the company externally in matters such as negotiations, regulatory or court proceedings, or meetings with customers or other stakeholders.
• Regularly lead complex litigation, transactions, regulatory, or legislative projects. Manage outside counsel and legal vendors.
• Represent and advise the Company on energy regulatory matters, including matters at or involving the Michigan Public Service Commission.
• Analyze and apply expertise regarding energy and utility regulation governing electric and gas utilities in Michigan.
• Use an acute understanding of the business and industry to advance and lead the company's strategy, while weighing risks and benefits to advise on business decisions.
• Provide guidance to lower-level attorneys and paralegals to assist them in accomplishing their work. Oversee the work of other legal staff to provide support on active cases.
• Draft legal memoranda, opinions, and pleadings. Contribute to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Serve as an expert leader and advisor and provide legal counsel on a broad range of significant corporate and business matters. Carry out assignments independently and make final legal determinations in matters of critical importance to the company. Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of contracts and other legal documents, ensuring that the organization's interests are protected.
• Provide expert legal advice to clients by conducting legal research, interpreting rulings, and analyzing difficult and novel legal questions. Keep clients informed of developments in the relevant legal practice area, explain legal concepts, and develop strategies to mitigate legal risk.
• Other duties as assigned or as may be necessary.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Superior verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to handle complex legal work and to analyze and advise on acceptable deviations from routine matters in novel circumstances, including the demonstrated ability to form reasonable and defensible legal opinions, advice, and recommendations on issues lacking precedent.
• Demonstrated dependability, characteristic of a Senior Attorney.
• Ability to handle multiple critical projects without compromising deadlines or quality of representation.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations in the relevant legal specialty.
• Ability to analyze and, through appropriate inquiry, develop facts and provide advice on the applicable law.
• Ability to advise clients on strategic decisions important to the client.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in Michigan energy regulatory matters, including matters at or involving the Michigan Public Service Commission.
• Demonstrated expertise regarding energy and utility regulation governing electric and gas utilities in Michigan.

Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree or an advanced legal degree, with a minimum of seven (7) years of experience as an attorney within a law firm or as in-house counsel. Demonstrated management skills and/or experience in utility, energy, or other related industries are required.

Certification

• Admission to Michigan's or other acceptable jurisdiction's state bar (Required)

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Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: 

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women in Energy (WE), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capABLE, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.