Director of Legal Services

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 reports directly to the Vice President, Associate General Counsel, Liberty Utilities and is responsible for providing and managing necessary legal services relating to our electric, gas and water operating companies, particularly in Missouri. This position will work daily with leadership, regulatory teams and other business group leaders for our utility operating companies and reporting within our Legal Department.

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 Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, 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.
• Other duties as assigned from time to time.

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 Missouri.
• 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.