Principal Attorney I

Description:

Summary:
The Law Department provides legal advice and counsel to all of NYPA's business and functional areas and seeks to fill the position of Principal Attorney. Reporting to the Assistant General Counsel for the Contracts, Licensing and Environmental group, the ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of experience practicing law with a focus on complex transactional matters. As Principal Attorney, you will primarily support Contracts and Licensing, playing a critical role as a trusted leader and legal advisor to various business units within NYPA on a variety of complex matters. You will support contracting needs as they relate to customer-facing programs, the procurement of services and equipment, and strategic alliances that support other programmatic initiatives of NYPA. You will use your expertise to ensure our compliance with applicable rules and regulations governing NYPA. You will have opportunities to and be expected to coordinate with internal stakeholders and business partners to achieve the best possible results in such transactions, collaborate internally to promote consistency in contract terms, lead and/or support special projects to improve NYPA's transactional processes and goals and adopt the use of technology to achieve efficiencies in a collaborative environment. #LI-CJ1
Responsibilities:

• Work independently on assignments and provide legal advice and counsel on complex matters and transactions for specific business clients
• Provide daily direction, mentorship, coaching and review work product of less senior attorneys on assignments and business unit client interactions
• Supervise and review work product of legal support staff
• Apply independent judgment to provide strategic legal support to accomplish operations goals in a specific area of expertise
• Draft legal opinions and briefs on complex or difficult issues
• Handle grievances, audits, disputes and litigation matters for affecting NYPA and its subsidiaries, including internal investigations and related matters
• Evaluate the impact of recent changes in law, rules and regulations related to NYPA's and its subsidiaries' and existing and planned projects and programs and provide recommendations to General Counsel or senior leadership to overcome resulting adverse effect
• Conduct intricate legal analysis of complex or difficult issues and draft legal opinions and briefs
• Effectively and professionally deliver presentations to employees at all levels of NYPA's and its subsidiaries' organization
• Independently handle cases on behalf of NYPA and/or its subsidiaries in judicial or other administrative forums
• Handle special projects on behalf of the General Counsel or senior leadership
• Collaborate with business unit clients to maintain and implement legal strategies that further NYPA's and its subsidiaries' programmatic and business interests
• Present/communicate legal analysis on issues to senior leadership and their potential impact on NYPA's and its subsidiaries ‘business operations and collaborate with senior leadership to implement recommended actions and/or responses
• Develop and implement effective processes, standard and operational plans or improvements will impact the achievement of result and/or efficiencies in current practice and operations both within the Law Dept as well as NYPA's and its subsidiaries' business units
• Prepare and deliver training materials and presentations on distinct areas of law and their impact to NYPA's and its subsidiaries business-related programs and business activities
• Serve on committees and/or task forces in a legal advisory capacity, providing legal support as needed to achieve the goals of the committee and/or task force and report to Assistant General Counsel as needed
• Work closely with and manage outside counsel to develop case and matter strategies and monitor billing practices. Review and approve invoices.
• Report on major developments to an Assistant General Counsel and/or General Counsel

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-discipline complex matters and technical projects independently and achieve a favorable outcome for NYPA and its subsidiaries
• Ability to resolve complex issues and provide timely responses and guidance to business unit clients on more complex legal issues without the opportunity to conduct legal research
• Ability to develop or maintain trusted working internal and external relationships at various levels at NYPA and its subsidiaries
• Demonstrates mastery level judgment and decision making skills
• Maintain mastery level case management and time management skills
• Possess mastery level of oral and written communication skills
• Be skillful in guiding and giving support to less senior legal staff
• Ability to develop or maintain mastery level knowledge in a subject areas relevant to NYPA
• Must have or have the ability to acquire a deep understanding of laws, rules and regulations related to NYPA and its subsidiaries
• Demonstrated leadership skills

Education, Experience and Certifications:

• Juris Doctor Degree
• Admitted to practice in New York State and Federal court is required
• Minimum 10 years of legal experience
• Experience in one or more of the following areas of law relevant to NYPA, such as energy, litigation, commercial and finance, and employment
• Experience in utility industry preferred

Physical Requirements:
Up to 25% travel primarily within NY State

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