Senior Counsel - Risk Management and Environmental

The Senior Counsel will be responsible for overseeing and managing the Risk Services department,  providing support in regulatory matters, managing litigation matters involving the Company, providing transactional legal support for the Company on a wide variety of commercial agreements and contracts, and providing legal advice and counsel to the Company on matters related to environmental compliance and litigation, regulatory matters, real estate matters, and natural resources matters.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• Graduate of an American Bar Association accredited law school with at least an L.L.B. or J.D. degree and strong academic credentials.
• Licensed to practice law in Mississippi.

Experience:

• Minimum: 5 years of experience practicing law in a law firm or in-house.
• Desired: Experience practicing law in a law firm or in-house in one or more applicable areas of expertise, such as Regulatory (federal and/or state), Environmental, Corporate/Commercial, and/or Litigation.

Knowledge & Skills: 

• Proven record of providing strategic legal advice and counsel to clients.
• Solid working knowledge of relevant utility statues, regulations, and guidance documents related to the business.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects with competing deadlines. 
• Strong focus on inclusion, innovative thinking, and providing excellent customer service.
• High ethical standards and behaviors.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills 
• Extensive analytical and problem-solving skills. 
• Able to work autonomously on complex projects. 

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:   

• Provide day-to-day advice and strategic planning on environmental legal matters. 
• Provide oversight of federal and state environmental litigation matters.
• Provide oversight of transactional and litigation matters. 
• Assist in handling environmental regulatory and compliance matters. 
• Lead cross-functional teams in support of environmental compliance, strategy and litigation matters. 
• Provide accurate and timely legal support focused on the needs of the business while ensuring compliance with all local, state, and federal laws. 
• Effectively establish and maintain relationships with internal business partners and outside legal counsel. 
• Direct and assist outside counsel representing the Company in transactional and litigation matters. 
• Participate on committees developing environmental legal policy and strategy. 
• Assist with management of the legal budget, including oversight and approval of outside counsel spend. 
• Identify opportunities to improve legal processes and operations. 
• Responsible for overseeing and managing the Risk Services team and providing direction regarding developing and implementing guidelines and policies associated with prudent risk management.