What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate General Counsel position at HKN Energy?
Company Overview:
Hillwood Energy, a Perot Company, has a long history in the oil & gas industry with assets in the United States and globally. Our current assets include operated and non-operated working interests in Texas, mineral interests across the U.S., and HKN Energy Ltd (www.hknenergy.com ) which operates the Sarsang and Atrush Blocks in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. We are actively pursuing business development opportunities in the U.S. and the Middle-East/North Africa region.
Position Overview:
Hillwood Energy is seeking an experienced Associate General Counsel with a strong background in the domestic oil and gas sector to join our growing team in Dallas or Fort Worth, Texas. Reporting to Hillwood Energy’s General Counsel, this individual will serve as a strategic legal advisor to the executive team, providing counsel and support to Hillwood’s domestic energy operations with a primary focus on oil and gas transactions, contracts, and land-related activities.
The ideal candidate brings strong technical legal expertise, commercial acumen, and a deep understanding of the energy industry, coupled with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments. There may also be opportunities to support international transactions as Hillwood’s energy platform continues to expand.
Responsibilities:
- Provide legal counsel and transactional support for a broad range of domestic oil and gas matters, including upstream, midstream, and related infrastructure projects.
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide array of commercial agreements, including joint operating agreements, purchase and sale agreements, surface use agreements, transportation and marketing contracts, and other key energy-related documents.
- Advise and oversee personnel working on land activities, including title review, lease acquisition, mineral rights, and surface use issues.
- Support M&A transactions, due diligence, and corporate structuring activities, primarily on US upstream acquisitions.
- Monitor and interpret federal, state, and local regulations impacting the company’s energy operations, ensuring adherence to applicable laws and industry standards.
- Manage outside counsel relationships for project responsibilities and oversee related budgets.
- Assist with broader corporate governance and compliance initiatives as needed.
Required Skills and Abilities:
- Extensive knowledge of domestic oil and gas law, including title, leasing, operations, and transactional matters.
- Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills with the ability to balance legal risk against business needs.
- Proven ability to manage complex transactions independently with minimal supervision.
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Clear and persuasive communication abilities, both written and verbal, including the capacity to advise executives on legal strategy and risk.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with attention to detail and follow-through.
- High level of professionalism, integrity, and discretion in handling sensitive matters.
Education and Experience:
- Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited U.S. law school.
- Minimum 10 years of legal experience, with a significant portion dedicated to domestic oil and gas transactions, land, and contract matters.
- Prior in-house counsel experience at an energy or natural resources companies preferred.
- Demonstrated experience advising on complex, high-value transactions and regulatory compliance within the energy sector.
EEO Statement:
Hillwood is committed to providing Equal Opportunity in Employment, to all applicants and employees regardless of, race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, handicap, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.
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