Law Department Search

Finding A New Position As A Mature Lawyer

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:19:40 -0600

Conducting a legal job search when you’re 50 or older poses some additional challenges. Hiring managers often pass on résumés of senior-level attorneys, assuming they expect a large paycheck, or that they won’t fit into the organizational structure of the legal department.

Here are some tips on marketing yourself:

Prepare for a longer process. It takes an average of 22 weeks for someone over 55 to find a new position, compared with a much shorter time for attorneys at the lower end of the career experience spectrum. And the higher up on the career ladder you are, the fewer openings you’ll find. Setting your expectations realistically will help maintain a positive outlook.
Packaging. What is your niche? Having a specialty makes it much easier to get your foot in the door. The majority of job openings seek a particular skill set that the legal department needs. Ironically, once on board, in-house counsel tend to handle a wide variety of matters.
The Right Recruiters. Once you’ve identified your specialty, it’s wise to target recruiters who focus on that area. They’re likely to have a higher profile and stronger relationships in the industry.
Networking. Expanding your business and social circles increases the odds of hearing about new openings and getting referrals. Sites such as LinkedIn.com and Plaxo really work!
TECHNOLOGY. This is crucial. To combat age bias, you must be knowledgeable about all the basics (Outlook, Excel, Word at a minimum). Better yet, get up to speed on instant messaging and blackberries.
First impressions count. Everything on the outside conveys a message. A contemporary style can erase the impression that you’re stuck in a different generation.

Tax Counsel - Houston

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 16:09:27 -0600

Global energy company seeks a 5+ year international tax attorney to support regional upstream projects. The role is responsible for ensuring the businesses supported are in full compliance with all tax laws and regulations in each country of operation in the region, while also optimizing the company's tax position.

The tax counsel will be the single point of accountability for providing tax advice to the businesses supported. This will include ensuring the company's tax team and external advisors are engaged and informed of projects within the tax counsel's responsibility. The tax counsel will routinely interact with the relevant commercial and function contacts to ensure that the tax team is aware of operations in the region and proper tax support is being provided.

The company offers an outstanding benefits package and work environment, along with a collaborative legal team.

The tax counsel will ensure compliance with the tax laws in each of the countries where the businesses supported operate, including review and support of outsource compliance functions.

Qualifications include: A tax background to support international operations (minimum of five years of relevant experience).

Demonstrated communication skills, including the ability to summarize complex, cross-jurisdictional issues in a concise, articulate manner, both written and oral. Spanish or Portuguese capabilities a plus.

Senior Corporate Counsel - Midstream Transactions

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:29:42 -0600

Growing Texas division of a large international company seeks a midstream transactions attorney with experience in natural gas transactions and operations. The company offers competitive compensation, flexible work schedules, a collaborative work environment, and an opportunity to join a dynamic and rapidly growing sector of the energy industry.

Responsibilities include:

Provide overall legal advice and assistance on project development and facility operations matters, which may include real estate matters, permitting (state and federal), vendor service contracts, construction contracts and related matters, and working with outside counsel on same.
Provide legal assessments, interpretations, recommendations and representation on project development matters, including related policy matters. Manage and assist in due diligence on project acquisitions and divestitures.
Provide overall legal advice and assistance on gas storage commercial transactional matters, which may include development and negotiation of storage agreements, interpretation and drafting of storage tariffs (FERC) and other interaction with the FERC in respect of the Company’s current and future gas storage activities.
Provide assistance with compliance and training programs, and draft legal advisories, documents and contracts, including transactional documents and board papers.

Qualifications

5+ years experience working on the development of energy resources, with a particular focus on real property, oil, gas and energy and permitting or engineering, construction and procurement.
Ability to draft and negotiate storage agreements and vendor master service agreements, draft permitting applications and manage legal requirements associated natural gas storage and transportation operations.
Experience with form energy agreements (including the EEI, WSPP, ISDA, IADC), customized energy purchase agreements, physical and financial trading, natural gas storage, transportation, scheduling, and credit enhancement/ margin agreements, letters of intent and term sheets for project development/acquisition.
Experience with general business law and natural gas / electricity energy transactions.
Experience with FERC rules, regulations and policy in respect of natural gas storage matters (including both Section 311 and Section 7(c) authorizations).

Senior Midstream Counsel - Houston

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 08:25:04 -0600

Houston energy company seeks an experienced energy transactional and operations attorney with experience in midstream transactions and operations. This attorney will provide legal support for the operations and business development activities of the company’s midstream business units, which are comprised of natural gas liquids (NGLs) storage, liquids products pipelines, NGL and olefins fractionation facilities and natural gas gathering and processing.

Responsibilities include:

Drafting, reviewing and negotiating support for contracts related to business development activities including: confidentiality agreements, asset and real property purchase and sale agreements, right of way acquisition documents and construction agreements for pipelines and liquids infrastructure facilities
Advising client departments regarding day to day operational issues arising under existing commercial agreements and business arrangements and in connection with prosecution of major capital projects
Advising client departments regarding compliance with applicable governmental regulations, including permit applications and general and specific compliance issues with respect to the Texas Railroad Commission, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, the Federal Energy Regulatory Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Qualifications:

5 - 15 years of experience in the energy industry
Working knowledge of the natural gas liquids and/or petroleum products businesses. Experience in the petroleum products or NGL pipeline businesses is a substantial plus
Solid drafting and contract experience. Industry-specific experience in the midstream or other fixed asset-based energy business segments is preferred.

Vice President and Assistant General Counsel - Houston

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:16:09 -0600

Global energy company seeks an executive-level attorney with strong energy project development experience for the role of Vice President and Assistant General Counsel. This position reports to the Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary of the parent company and also to the President & CEO of one of its divisions.

The Vice President and Assistant General Counsel is responsible for providing legal counsel to the parent company and its subsidiaries in connection with complex energy-related transactional, project development, asset management and finance matters, with emphasis on wind, biomass and other renewable energy sources. The position will also be responsible for assisting the company on compliance issues, including local, state and federal regulatory requirements and overall compliance with national, state and/or local laws and regulations in North America.

Specific responsibilities include:

- Developing and executing comprehensive legal strategies and solutions to lawfully facilitate the parent company's and its subsidiaries' commercial objectives while mitigating any associated legal risks

- Providing legal advice and support to the renewable energy business unit, in connection with complex energy-related project development, asset management and finance agreements, and ensuring compliance with national, state and/or local laws and regulations in North America

- Advising on North American national, state and local regulations and requirements, with an emphasis on renewable energy

- Assisting with managing litigation, administrative proceedings and policy matters with an emphasis on matters involving the renewable energy unit

- Providing support to the parent company legal function generally in matters not involving renewable energy, including gas, power and LNG matters

In addition to a great work environment with a strong leadership team, the company offers an attractive compensation package that includes both short and long-term incentives, as well as an annual perquisite allowance.

Associate General Counsel - Houston

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:12:21 -0600

Global company headquartered in Houston seeks an executive-level attorney for the role of Associate General Counsel - Commercial. This officer-level position reports to the Senior Vice President and General Counsel and leads a team of three attorneys.

The Associate General Counsel heads the Commercial Section of the Law Department, which is responsible for day-to-day legal advice on business matters for the company's various operating divisions, functional departments and international operations. The AGC functions as a quasi-general counsel for one or more operating divisions with direct responsibility for assisting the applicable division executives and staff. In that capacity, the AGC manages all aspects of that division's legal needs, excluding IP, labor & employment, tax, environmental and litigation, all of which are handled by other attorneys at the company.

The Commercial Section has primary responsibility for providing legal support for issues related to commercial contracts, supplier relationships, distribution/rep relations & termination, FTC regulations, IT licenses and agreements, real estate, secured transactions, UCC, etc.

Ideal experience would include a strong finance or accounting background and familiarity with corporate compliance, including customs, export control, anti-boycott and other international trade issues, FCPA, and government contracting.

This position will be a key part of the management of the law department and will drive certain law department initiatives, including the establishment of law department policies and developing corporate-wide compliance assurance.

Compensation:

The company is offering an outstanding compensation package for this role that includes cash and equity.

Required Experience:

• 15+ years of experience, including prior law department management experience

• Strong commercial transactions and international experience

• Strong finance or accounting background

• Proven ability to work as part of a cross-functional team in overall project management, including the ability to work within established corporate risk tolerance levels.

Working With Legal Recruiters

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Fri, 09 May 2008 07:50:15 -0600

As you gain experience in your legal career, you’re likely to be contacted by a legal recruiter at some point. Here are tips on building and managing strong relationships with them:

Know what you want. Offer yourself as a candidate only if you’re serious about making a change. Headhunters don’t like “tire-kickers.” Legal recruiters are engaged by their clients to find qualified and motivated candidates.

Be available. Once you’ve agreed to submit your resume for a particular position, make yourself available for interviews. Although it’s time-consuming, being too difficult to schedule potentially sends a message to a prospective employer that you’re not interested in the position.

Is everyone on board? Be sure to discuss career moves with family members who would be impacted by a change, or whose voices count in your decision-making process. Don’t get to the offer stage before you discuss relocating with your spouse.

Disclosure. If you have submitted your resume to other firms or companies, and by all means, if you are currently interviewing for a different position than the one for which you’ve been contacted, disclose this information up front. No one likes surprises, especially the firm or company that’s about to make you an offer.

Stay in touch. Check in with legal recruiters about once every two weeks to stay on the radar screen, and especially if you have a status change.

Tax Counsel - Houston

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:36:57 -0600

Large Houston company seeks a 4-8 year tax attorney to join its legal department. This company offers a fantastic tax team and work environment, along with competitive compensation packages and outstanding benefits.

This role is responsible for the company’s domestic and international taxes, and will counsel business segments to ensure compliance and optimize the company’s tax position. Assignments will evolve over time for staff development and to manage workloads on the regional team in Houston. This position is based in Houston and will require some U.S. and international business travel.

Requirements:

• Expertise in US and international taxation

• L.L.M. or CPA a plus

• Excellent research and analytical skills

• Strong leadership skills and the ability to interact effectively with senior tax management and external professionals

Effects of Associate Raises on In-House Salaries

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 06:23:20 -0600

In a recent survey on the effects of associate salary increases conducted by Altman Weil Inc., companies are feeling the ripple effects. In addition to restrictions on the extent to which junior associates can work on files, these increases are having an impact on corporate law department recruiting and hiring.

Attracting and landing qualified candidates is getting harder. In the past, non-executive level lawyers usually took a decrease in salary of approximately 20% when moving from a law firm to a corporate legal department. That percentage has jumped to about 30% - 35% now, which has caused some associates to think twice about leaving.

Corporate human resources departments are also feeling the pressure. As outside counsel rates climb, many GCs are bringing more work in-house, as Law.com reports (see, “General Counsel Keep Close Watch on Associate Pay Hikes,” July 12, 2007). And more work in-house means legal hiring managers are leaning on HR to make budget adjustments in order to attract top lawyers. Hiring a new lawyer at a higher base salary than those at comparable experience levels often necessitates across-the-board adjustments. So, the ultimate beneficiaries of associate raises may end up being the lawyers who are already practicing in corporate departments.

Senior Corporate Counsel, Project Development - Houston

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:21:57 -0600

Large energy company seeks 8+ year attorney with strong project development experience. The company offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, significant opportunities for career growth, and a fantastic legal team.

This role will focus on the development and construction of domestic power projects including: engineering, procurement and construction, site purchase, leasing, easements, permitting, power purchase agreements, fuel supply, responding to RFPs, O&M agreements and issues, transportation, interconnection, insurance/risk management issues, issues arising during and after construction, familiarity with credit/debt agreements and compliance, joint venture/ownership/management issues, equity/asset divestitures, acquisitions, and outside counsel management.

Requirements include:

8+ years of experience in either private practice or within a corporate legal department
Experience as lead counsel on projects and willingness to assist on associated projects
Energy industry experience would be ideal.

Senior Tax Counsel - Houston

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 14:09:57 -0600

Large Houston company seeks an 8+ year tax attorney to join its top-caliber legal team. The company offers competitive compensation and outstanding benefits, along with significant growth opportunities.

This role has primary responsibility for the company's domestic employment and expatriate taxes, and will counsel all business segments in the Americas and ensure that the company is in compliance with all employment tax payment and reporting obligations. This position will supervise a team of three and will have responsibility for providing advice and guidance on fringe benefits, expense reimbursement programs and the sourcing of compensation. The position has responsibility to ensure corporate and individual compliance with U.S., regional and global tax rules and regulations with respect to the taxation of expatriate employees and employment tax issues. The position is based in Houston and will require some U.S. and international business travel.

Requirements:

Expertise in U.S. and international taxation of expatriate employees
Extensive knowledge of U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 911 and the foreign tax credit provisions of U.S. tax
Knowledge of U.S. income tax treaties and social security totalization agreements
8+ years of broad employment and expatriate tax experience required
LL.M. or CPA a plus
Excellent research and analysis skills
Strong leadership skills and the ability to interact effectively with senior tax management and external professionals

Commercial Counsel - Houston

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 18:47:33 -0600

Large company in Houston seeks three, 4+ year transactions attorneys to join its legal department. The company offers significant growth opportunities on both the legal and business sides, as well as an excellent compensation and benefits package.

The roles support two of the company's largest business units and involve counseling management and employees regarding general domestic and international transactional matters, negotiating and drafting sales and other commercial contracts, and providing support on other strategic projects.

Other responsibilities include:

Developing legal training programs and systems to streamline the delivery of routine legal services
Advising managers, executives and other clients regarding general commercial issues
Drafting and negotiating contracts
Developing and implementing legal and compliance training programs for assigned business areas

Ideal experience includes:

Private practice experience in corporate law and exposure to routine as well as large transactions
Experience advising management-level clients on complex commercial matters and prudent legal practices
Familiarity with certain compliance issues, including FCPA, antitrust and international trade
Exposure to general business issues relating to international operations and general exposure to corporate governance practices

Energy Trading Counsel - Houston

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 16:07:31 -0600

Houston company seeks a 2+ year energy trading lawyer to join an outstanding legal team. The company offers excellent benefits, an attractive compensation package, and significant internal growth opportunities.

Responsibilities include:

Negotiating energy commodity contracts including power, natural gas, coal, emissions and fuel oil, including but not limited to EEI, ISDA, NAESB, PPAs, RFPs, confirmations, origination transactions, complex energy transactions and other agreements necessary to support the generation unit.
Providing support to other departmental attorneys, as well as contract attorneys, and will provide opinions and guidance to the commercial group.

Requirements:

2-7 years experience in a corporate legal department and/or law firm with a heavy emphasis on drafting and negotiating contracts
General understanding of the laws and regulations applicable to energy trading markets
Experience in a merchant energy company or energy trading company, or experience in energy, corporate and/or commercial transactions is ideal.
Working knowledge of financial, market and credit risk issues and extensive experience with all relevant documentation is also ideal.

Regulatory Counsel - Dallas

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 14:03:09 -0600

Dallas energy company seeks a 4+ year attorney with experience in energy regulatory matters. The company offers a vibrant work environment, significant opportunities for career growth, and an outstanding legal team. The compensation package is attractive and the benefits are excellent.

Responsibilities include providing legal counsel, risk analysis and support to the company on a variety of legal matters, with a heavy emphasis on supporting regulatory compliance, as well as other commercial activities.

Requirements include prior energy regulatory experience and a working knowledge of PUC regulations.

Hiring Top Candidates

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 06:17:38 -0600

Top attorney candidates often have multiple job offers to choose from, especially in a tight legal job market. How do you maximize your chances of recruiting these lawyers to join your legal team?

1. Quick Contact. Let a candidate know you’re interested quickly. If several days go by following the submission of the resume, candidates assume there’s no interest and move on.

2. Scheduling. After you’ve decided that a candidate is interview-worthy, scheduling an interview quickly demonstrates your interest level.

3. Communication. Prior to the interview, send a written job description and a list of the people with whom the candidate is scheduled to meet. Ideally, that list should contain a brief bio for each interviewer to give the candidate valuable information about the people on the team.

4. Feedback. Candidates have taken time off to come to your office for interviews. They want to know how the meeting went and whether they’ll be advancing to the next step. If you’re on the fence about moving forward, just make a call to let them know you’re still in the evaluation process. It’s the thought that counts.

5. Branding. Every communication with a candidate brands your company. Difficulties with scheduling, last-minute interview changes, changes to the job description and delays in feedback following interviews not only risk losing strong candidates to other jobs, but may suggest to outsiders that things are a little crazy or disorganized on the inside. At worst, candidates may get a negative impression of how the company values people.

In-House Counsel - Houston: Energy Trading & Marketing Counsel

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 20:24:13 -0600

Large energy company located in Houston seeks a 5-7 year attorney with experience supporting natural gas marketing and trading operations.

Ideal background includes experience handling NAESB Gas Purchase/Sale Agreements, ISDAs, Guaranties, Letters of Credit, Master Netting Agreements and related commercial transactions.

The company offers an attractive compensation package and significant career growth opportunities.

In-House Counsel - Dallas: Advertising / Marketing Counsel

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 16:58:29 -0600

Large F500 Dallas company seeks an attorney with experience in advertising and marketing law to join its legal department.

The legal team is collaborative and collegial, and places high value on interpersonal and communication skills, flexibility and enthusiasm. The company offers a competitive compensation and relocation package.

Responsibilities include supporting the company’s marketing efforts and providing expertise in connection with sales transactions, contract negotiation and other commercial matters. Substantial experience in reviewing a competitive company’s marketing materials for legal compliance and risk assessment/mitigation is essential. Familiarity with FTC regulations is a plus.

In-House Counsel - Houston: Commercial Transactions

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 11:51:16 -0600

Large Houston energy company seeks a senior-level attorney with strong commercial transactions experience that includes M&A. The company offers competitive compensation packages, a 9/80 work schedule, and career growth opportunities on both the business and the legal side.

Ideal candidates have strong academic credentials and big firm backgrounds.

How to Decide on an In-House Counsel Offer

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 08:12:41 -0600

Not long ago, in-house counsel positions were highly coveted and in far greater demand than supply. With recent consolidation trends, new law firm associate salary raises, and the often large compensation disparities between law firm partners and in-house counsel, deciding whether to accept that in-house offer requires due diligence.

Preliminary Research

Learn as much about the company as you can. Good sources of publicly available materials include Hoover’s, Yahoo Finance, Google Finance, and of course, the company’s website. Search the Internet for company news items from the past year and read the analysts’ reports. Finally, use your own network of personal contacts – do you know any former in-house lawyers from the company, or lawyers who might have worked on an outside counsel basis for this company?

Ask Good Questions

Part of your research involves asking good interview questions (see my post of August 2, 2007 on good interview questions).

Law Department Profiles

How long has the General Counsel been in the role? If approaching retirement, what’s the succession plan? Do you like, respect and want to work for this person?

Get information about members of the legal department. Simply knowing experience levels, titles and practice areas can be useful.

No amount of research, insightful questions and diligence can reveal every potential problem, but you’ll hopefully have a better feel for the department and the company before you take the job.

Senior Construction Counsel - Kansas City

csapire@sapiresearch.com (Courtney Sapire) — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 06:38:10 -0600

Large company located in Kansas City seeks a senior counsel to manage complex commercial construction transactions.

The company is considered an industry leader with a progressive senior leadership team, and has experienced rapid growth from both operations and acquisitions. Current and long-term projects include new construction and existing facility upgrades valued in excess of $100 million. This role involves negotiating and drafting complex engineering and construction agreements, managing projects, implementing project controls, and monitoring contract compliance. Ideal experience includes:

10+ years handling complex commercial transactions
Experience negotiating and drafting large construction transactions and managing long-term projects
Prior experience in the engineering / construction industry

Opportunities for career advancement exist in the legal department as well as on the business side. The company offers an attractive compensation package and outstanding benefits.