Lead Counsel – Commercial & JV

Lead Counsel – Commercial & JV – Total Energies

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About Total Energies
Total Energies is a major energy company that produces and markets fuels, natural gas and low‑carbon electricity. With over 100,000 employees worldwide, the company is committed to delivering safer, more affordable, cleaner and more accessible energy solutions. Active in more than 120 countries, Total Energies aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 or sooner.

Activités
The Lead Counsel sits within the Commercial & JV team, supporting over 300 legal entities. Responsibilities include board meetings, officer and director support, governance, health, safety and environmental legal support, joint ventures, procurement and business advice for all U.S. affiliates. The role interacts with executives and all levels of employees and contractors within the global Total Energies Company, providing legal spend management and cost‑effective services.

• Negotiate, draft and review complex commercial contracts (NDAs, consulting agreements, acquisition agreements, joint ventures, real property agreements, interconnection agreements, ORECs, PPAs, operation & maintenance agreements, and other general agreements).
• Manage day‑to‑day legal requests from the business teams related to commercial transactions.
• Advise senior management on all legal, regulatory, policy and commercial law matters.
• Develop and administer asset legal budgets, including oversight of external counsel and support.
• Provide strategic and legal advice on partnership discussions, community benefit agreements, stakeholder agreements and local content initiatives.
• Advise on regulatory issues and compliance, supporting policy development and monitoring.
• Prepare and deliver updates on legal developments and requirements to various audiences.
• Perform additional duties as reasonably assigned by the supervisor or project manager.
• Develop and draft form and template contracts.
• Travel periodically to project offices and facilities.
• Collaborate with Corporate & Compliance, Projects, HSE & Trade, Disputes & Investigations, and Mergers & Acquisitions teams on all business activities in the U.S.
• Manage outside counsel and vendor budgets, engaging with state and federal regulatory agencies and energy partners.
• Deliver high‑quality legal services within established time and budget, mitigating the company’s legal risk.
• Work collaboratively with other functional legal teams to ensure equitable allocation of work and overtime.
• Build consensus and maintain smooth operation within the Total Energies Companies perimeter.

Education & Certifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an ABA‑accredited law school or international equivalent.
• Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. state.

Experience

• Minimum of 6 years negotiating, drafting and reviewing complex commercial agreements.
• Experience with commercial transactions in power, renewable energy, or oil and gas is highly preferred.
• Experience with regulatory, real‑estate, environmental, and JV governance is strongly preferred.

Required Skills

• Ability to analyze and summarize complex legal topics, develop and verify conclusions.
• Autonomous problem‑solving and strategic decision‑making capability.
• Manage large volumes of legal matters with competing deadlines.
• Comfortable working in cross‑cultural teams with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
• Strong interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• High standards of ethics and integrity.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Total Energies American Services, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious practices, national origin, pregnancy, or any other protected class. Employment decisions are based on merit, competence, performance and business needs. Total Energies embraces diversity and inclusion and seeks to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

International Consideration

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Location
:
Houston, TX

Compensation
: $124,800 – $208,000 (variable)