Senior Counsel - Regulated Pipelines

At Williams, we’re powering a cleaner, more connected future, and that starts with you. Here, your work fuels communities, drives innovation, and helps deliver reliable energy the world depends on. Join a Fortune 500 team that invests in your growth, values your contributions, and challenges you to make a lasting impact every day.

The Senior Counsel is responsible for providing legal advice, opinions and support to help work towards our goals in addition to initiating and supervising project case management to ensure their timely and efficient completion. As a specialist, this role will provide advice and recommendations for action to internal leaders regarding sophisticated matters with meaningful impact on business activities and operations. The ability to use good judgment, collaborate with others and develop and obtain approvals from senior leaders for situation specific strategies and approaches are keys to success.

Responsibilities/Expectations:

• Identifies and assesses legal issues and risks for assigned area(s) of responsibility; recommends and initiates appropriate courses of action
• Interacts with internal leadership regarding legal strategies, scenario plans, and desired outcomes
• Negotiates contract terms, settlements, mediation and agreements; conducts all post-closing or settlement requirements
• Retains and manages outside counsel to the extent the organization does not have in-house expertise and work justifies retention of an external party
• Leads department and enterprise initiatives
• Researches legislative history and legal issues to ensure up-to-date knowledge and interpretation of laws, regulations, case precedents, court and regulatory orders
• Monitors compliance with federal, state, and local laws and industry regulations; collaborates with appropriate parties for resolution
• Provides training to internal business partners on applicable laws, regulations, procedures, risks and regulatory changes
• Drafts and negotiates contracts and other legal instruments for sophisticated commercial transactions involving natural gas pipelines as well as day-to-day transactional and tariff matters
• Collaborates effectively with fellow attorneys and commercial and regulatory counterparts
• Other duties as assigned

Education/Years of Experience:

• Required: Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school; a minimum of ten (10) years’ relevant legal or energy experience 
• Required: Member of State Bar Association and admitted to practice in the state hired, or eligible to become admitted in the state hired within one (1) year of date of hire, with current CLE compliance 
• Required: Significant experience working on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Natural Gas Act matters, including tariffs, rate cases, and drafting and filing pleadings with the FERC
• Preferred: Juris Doctorate from ABA-accredited law school; a minimum of twelve (12) years’ relevant legal or energy experience 

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Other Requirements:

• Demonstrates excellent organizational/interpersonal skills and safety as the utmost priority
• Proficient knowledge of Microsoft Office and PC skills
• Experience in drafting of agency communications, contracts, motions, briefs, pleadings and opinions
• Experience in legal research and analysis
• Demonstrates objective and detailed analytical and problem solving abilities
• Demonstrates negotiation skills
• Knowledge of substantive law
• Willing to travel up to 20% 

Why Houston?

Big career opportunities in one of the world’s energy capitals, endless food spots and a diverse vibe—all without paying NYC or LA prices. Work hard, live better. Check out Houston.org to learn more.

We invest in our people in ways that actually show up in your day-to-day, not just on paper. Our Total Rewards are built to support how you work, live, and plan for what’s next.

Here’s a look at what that means:

• Strong pay plus an annual incentive program
• Hybrid work for most office roles, plus real flexibility in many field positions
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage with options that fit your life, not the other way around
• 401(k) with company match and an annual company contribution
• Paid time off, including company and floating holidays
• Paid parental leave (up to six weeks per parent), plus fertility and adoption support
• Advanced AI tools and resources to help level up and work smarter
• Clear paths to grow your career, with a strong culture of promoting from within
• Tuition reimbursement and support for continuing education
• HSA and FSA options
• Company-paid life insurance and disability coverage
• Employee stock purchase plan
• Domestic partner benefits
• Employee resource groups, wellness support, paid volunteer time, and company matching for causes you care about

Eligibility and benefits are governed by the terms of the applicable plan or program document which can be amended or terminated at any time.

For more information, please visit Total Rewards | Williams Companies.

Williams is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected under applicable discrimination law.

Education Requirements:

Skill Requirements: