Principal Attorney (State Energy Regulation)

Location: MULTIPLE LOCATIONS, MI, US

Company: Consumers Energy

Join the diverse and dynamic team that powers Michigan's largest energy provider and one of the nation's largest gas and electric combination utilities.  Consumers Energy services 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents - caring for our friends and neighbors in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.  We embrace a cleaner and leaner utility vision focused on eliminating energy waste and adding renewable energy from sources such as wind and solar.

Location:

This position may be assigned to any Consumers Energy Service Center located throughout Michigan’s lower peninsula preferred location is One Energy Plaza in Jackson, MI (relocation package is available to those who qualify).

We are looking for:   Principal Attorney (State Energy Regulations)

The Principal Attorney leverages an in-depth knowledge of multiple legal specialties or areas of law to provide advice and recommendations to executives and management on highly complex matters which have or may have a material financial impact on business activities and operations. They are regarded as a CMS Energy and industry expert, as well as a demonstrated leader in their area of expertise due to the combination of advanced legal and business knowledge. The cases and projects assigned to the Principal Attorney require original, creative, and leading legal expertise.  The legal matters handled are of significant importance to the organization and/or are vigorously contested and frequently require consultation with outside counsel and other experts.  The Principal Attorney has the skills, experience, initiative, and demeanor to (i) serve as a leader within the Company and the Legal Department, advising and assisting other attorneys, including attorneys with less experience, as well as Legal Department staff and (ii) organize the work of internal partners on a variety of legal projects (which may involve co-leading projects with other internal subject-matter experts).

The knowledge and skills involved with this position include but are not limited to: 

• Superior verbal and written communication skills
• Ability to handle complex legal work and to analyze and advise on acceptable deviations from the routine in novel circumstances, including the demonstrated ability to form reasonable and defensible legal opinions, advice, and recommendations on issues lacking clear legal answers
• Standard-setter in their practice area and leader of cases or projects of any level of complexity, including the ability to handle multiple critical projects without compromising deadlines or quality of representation
• Knowledge of State and federal laws and regulations in legal specialty
• Ability to analyze and, through appropriate inquiry, develop facts and provide advice on the applicable law
• Ability to advise clients on strategic decisions important to the client.

We encourage you to apply if you have:

• Juris Doctor degree with a minimum of seven (7) years of experience as an attorney with a law firm and/or as in-house counsel preferably with leadership and legal experience in utility, energy, or other related businesses
• Admission to Michigan’s or other acceptable jurisdiction’s state bar is required

In this role, you will:  

• Provides expert legal advice to clients by conducting legal research, interpreting rulings and analyzing difficult and novel legal questions
• Keeps clients informed of developments in the relevant legal practice area, explains legal concepts, develops strategies to mitigate legal risk
• Serves as an expert leader and advisor, and providing legal counsel on a broad range of significant corporate and business matters
• Carries out assignments independently and makes final legal determinations in matters of critical importance to the Company
• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates a wide variety of contracts and other legal documents, ensuring that the organization’s interests are protected
• Drafts legal memoranda, opinions, and pleadings
• Contributes to the development and implementation of policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• Provides guidance to lower-level Attorneys and Paralegals to assist them in accomplishing their work
• Oversees the work of other legal staff to provide support on active cases
• Uses acute understanding of the business and industry to advance and lead the company's strategy, while weighing risks and benefits to advise on business decisions
• Regularly leads complex litigation, transactions, regulatory or legislative projects. Manages outside counsel and legal vendors
• Represents the company externally, in matters such as negotiations, regulatory, or court proceedings, or meetings with customers or other stakeholders
• Other non-essential duties as assigned or may be necessary

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion: 

We, at CMS Energy, value Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. It is part of our DNA. We treat our employees with respect, we treat each other fairly and we value the opinions of others. We are passionate about building and nurturing an environment where everyone feels included. We don’t discriminate. We seek to learn about each other and better understand our unique differences. Our uniqueness makes us authentic. We create safe spaces where everyone can be who they truly are. We invite difficult conversations and uncomfortable topics. We value diverse perspectives; this is what makes us great together. We harbor an inclusive environment where employees feel empowered to share their backgrounds, experiences, and ideas. Our Employee Resource Groups, Women’s Advisory Panel (WAP), Women’s Engineering Network (WEN), Minority Advisory Panel (MAP), Pride Alliance of Consumers Energy (PACE), GENERGY, capable, Interfaith and Veterans Advisory Panel (VAP) are key enablers to living the values of our company culture: Caring, Empowered, Deliberate, Agility, and Ownership.

All qualified applicants will not be discriminated against and will receive consideration for employment without regard to protected veteran status, disability, race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

Why should you join our team?

At Consumers Energy, we offer more than just a place to work. We foster a culture that supports career development, growth, and stability, and we take pride in offering our co-workers excellent benefits and compensation packages. We are deliberately creating an inclusive culture that makes our diverse team of co-workers feel valued, supported, and empowered every day. We're a company made up of thousands of people, all with different stories to share and work to do, but we stand united in our company purpose: world class performance delivering hometown service.

What we offer:

• Competitive compensation packages
• Medical, Dental and Vision
• 401k with company match
• Paid parental leave
• Up to 13 paid Holidays
• Paid time off
• Educational Assistance Program