Director of Legal Services (Regulated Utility)

Purpose

Through its operating subsidiaries and affiliates, Liberty Utilities Co. owns and/or operates regulated water, wastewater, natural gas and electric transmission and distribution utilities in thirteen states, one Canadian province, Bermuda and Chile delivering responsive and reliable utility services to over 1,000,000 customers.  Liberty currently operates utilities in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Oklahoma and Texas and New Brunswick, Canada.  This position is for Director of Legal Services, primarily for our regulated utilities in the central U.S.

This position reports directly to the Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Liberty Utilities and is responsible for providing and managing necessary legal services relating to our operating companies in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, which include a vertically integrated electric utility, gas and water utilities.  This position will work daily with leadership, regulatory teams and other business group leaders for those operating companies and leadership in our Legal Department. This position will be part of a Legal Department providing legal services to all of the Liberty operating companies in the United States and Canada, our corporate office in Oakville, Ontario and internationally.

Accountabilities

• Act as in-house subject matter expert on regulatory, business and operational legal issues impacting lines of business in a dynamic and changing industry, particularly within the vertically integrated electric utility industry.   Knowledge of electric, gas and water regulation required. Work closely with the Liberty Leadership Team and the regulatory, operations, accounting, customer service, engineering, and finance, departments for our operating utilities in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.  Also will work closely with the Presidents of our regulated utilities in those states and corporate leadership.
• Handle complex legal issues and provide advice and counsel related to utility regulation, including utility generation, transmission and distribution; state and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission matters; tariff review, litigation, and customer complaints; provide research and writing as to regulatory requirements; assist in the preparation of filings and assist in the drafting and preparation of testimony in regulatory proceedings, including rate cases, while developing close relationships with and representing our regulated utilities before various regulatory commissions in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma and FERC.
• Develop legal and business strategies relating to capital projects, regulatory filings, operational matters and other business decisions.
• Review decisions of courts and regulatory agencies to determine precedent in regulatory and legal matters.
• Draft and review legal opinions, regulatory filings, and rules and regulations, including explaining, supporting and defending Company goals and objectives.
• Provide legal advice on probable legal or other impacts of proposed changes in rules, regulations, and applicable laws.
• Review files, records and briefs and perform research on legal questions.
• Manage outside legal counsel.
• Complete and/or coordinate with other departments relating to accurate and timely reports required for regulatory filings and compliance.
• Represent Liberty operating utilities before state and federal regulatory commissions and other organizations.
• Manage execution of rate cases, including developing case, preparing witnesses before and during proceedings and hearings before the regulatory commissions.
• Support corporate governance functions for affiliates in multiple United States jurisdictions, assist with due diligence relating to mergers and acquisitions, finance transactions and provide advice and assistance to the finance, treasury, customer service, operations, engineering and regulatory teams.
• Provide legal advice and representation in connection with general business matters (commercial transactions, real estate, contracts, pole attachments, labor and employment, litigation, etc.).
• Monitor and manage outside counsel handling litigation proceedings involving Liberty.
• Provide, upon request and contingent on availability of time, assistance to other utilities owned or controlled by Liberty.
• React and respond to external and internal queries and requests relating to various legal issues.  
• Assist in corporate initiatives in creating and implementing governance and corporate policies.

Education and Experience

• Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited law school with at least seven (7) years of experience in utility regulatory law; strong preference for electric utility experience both at the state and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 
• Must be licensed to practice law or eligible to obtain licensure in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri or Oklahoma.
• Prior legal experience in government and/or the regulated utility environment required (including experience handling rate cases and other regulatory matters before regulatory commissions) as well as experience in operational matters preferred.  
• Understanding of key business issues and requirements of regulated utilities and resulting implications for specific legal issues.
• Proficient with computer applications including Microsoft Office Suite and the internet.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Flexible with traveling within the U.S. and Canada required.  
• Valid driver’s license and passport required. 

Working Conditions:

This position may be based in Joplin, MO or other Liberty location in Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas or Oklahoma and will require travel to Joplin, MO and other locations within those states. Remote working location may be acceptable with travel to Liberty offices as needed. Must be able to appear regularly and routinely before regulatory commissions in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma or at FERC.

Competencies

• Ethical and professional. 
• Demonstrated ability to be able to handle complex matters independently or with minimal supervision and obtain results.
• Strategic and long term oriented.
• Strong organizational, research, analytical, multi-tasking and time management skills.
• Communication, negotiation, interpersonal, and collaboration skills with internal and external partners.
• Strong performance, behaviors, and teamwork (successfully participates in cross-functional teams and works effectively as a team member).
• Respected and credible with internal and external audiences. 
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.