Sr Attorney (Transactions and Employment Practice Group)

Join the diverse and dynamic team that powers Michigan's largest energy provider and one of the nation's largest gas and electric combination utilities.  Consumers Energy services 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents - caring for our friends and neighbors in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.  We embrace a cleaner and leaner utility vision focused on eliminating energy waste and adding renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar.

We are looking for:

We are seeking a highly motivated Senior Attorney for a dynamic role in the Transactions and Employment Practice Group of the Legal Department for Consumers Energy.  The Senior Attorney supports large business transactions, including acquisitions of renewable energy projects and major construction contracts. The Senior Attorney also handles matters related to procurement, consulting, software, IT, and other contracts for Consumers Energy. 

The Senior Attorney provides legal advice and recommendations to executives and management regarding matters of complexity which have or may have a material impact on the business. The Senior Attorney is considered an expert in their legal practice area. The Senior Attorney works independently and with others with a base of regular clients and partners with those clients to meet their legal needs and goals and helps those clients develop strategies important to the business. The incumbent will research legal principles and precedents, draft and execute legal documents, and gather relevant related information using multiple sources and methods, with the matters occasionally requiring consultation with outside counsel and experts. The Senior Attorney has the skills, experience, initiative, and demeanor to serve as a leader within the Company and the Legal Department, advising and assisting other attorneys, including attorneys with less experience.
 

• Practice area expert and leader of matters or projects of moderate to high complexity
• Has demonstrated dependability as an Attorney
• Ability to handle multiple projects, and the ability to meet competing deadlines
• Knowledge of State and federal laws and regulations in legal specialty
• Ability to analyze and, through appropriate inquiry, develop facts and provide advice on the applicable law
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to draft, negotiate, review, and interpret contracts of various subject matters. 

The successful candidate will be expected to work in a hybrid status of reporting to One Energy Plaza in Jackson, MI every Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday with home office flexibility on Wednesday and Friday.

We encourage you to apply if you have: an equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered and reviewed.

• Juris Doctor Degree required
• Admission to Michigan’s or other acceptable jurisdiction state bar required
• 4+ years’ experience as an attorney with a law firm, government agency, and/or as in-house counsel preferably with leadership and legal experience in utility, energy, or other related businesses

In this role, you will:

• Serve as leader and advisor, leading matters or projects and providing legal counsel on a broad range of significant corporate and business concerns as applicable to their practice area. Handle all aspects of work, including, by way of example, project management, drafting and negotiating contracts and agreements, and handling less complex mergers and acquisitions
• Provide support for large business transactions, including acquisitions of renewable energy projects, power purchase agreements, and major construction contracts.
• Provide support for procurement, consulting, software, IT, and other contracts for Consumers Energy.
• Provide legal advice to clients by conducting legal research, keep clients informed of developments in the relevant practice subject areas, explain legal concepts, develop strategies to mitigate legal risk
• Proactively identify, assess, and manage legal risks associated with the company’s business activities. Assist with the development and implementation of policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• Represent the company externally in matters such as negotiations or meetings with customers or other stakeholders
• Conduct training for co-workers on various legal topics and advise/assist less experienced attorneys
• Provide direction to other professional, paraprofessional and support staff in developing solutions to problems presented
• When appropriate, manages outside counsel and legal vendors
• Provide other non-essential duties as assigned or may be necessary