Director & Associate General Counsel - Regulatory

Summary

Spire is hiring a Director & Associate General Counsel for its Regulatory practice; this position will work out of the Downtown St. Louis location.  This Director is primarily responsible for providing legal representation of Spire Missouri Inc. in regulatory matters before the Missouri Public Service Commission.  This position may also oversee legal regulatory matters for Spire Mississippi Inc. before the Mississippi public service commissions.  This position is additionally responsible for providing, when requested, representation of the gas utilities before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, including interstate pipeline rate and certificate cases, and associated appellate litigation in the federal courts of appeals.    

Duties and Responsibilities

• This position will be responsible for representing Spire Missouri in regulatory matters including general rate cases, ISRS filings, purchased gas adjustments, financing authority, accounting authority, certificates of convenience & necessity, complaint cases, Staff investigations and workshops. Successful candidates are expected to own these cases and prosecute them independently, with the assistance of the Regulatory and Legal teams.
• Managing or providing direct legal representation of Spire gas utility entities, when requested, before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, including providing legal advice and counsel to the management of Spire’s gas utilities regarding FERC matters, including representing Spire entities at the FERC, directly, or through outside counsel, in matters involving the gas utilities’ interstate pipeline suppliers, including preparation and/or review of interventions in and protests of pipeline rate, tariff and certificate matters, managing the development and implementation of litigation and settlement strategy and tactics, supervising witness and expert testimony preparation; representing Spire entities or supervising the representation of Spire entities at evidentiary hearings, settlement conferences and technical conferences; preparing/supervising preparation of post-hearing briefs; preparing/filing rehearing requests and appeals of FERC orders; preparing/supervising preparation of appellate briefs and oral arguments on appeal. 
• Providing legal advice and counsel, as needed, to the management of Spire Mississippi regarding state regulatory matters, including: legal representation of Spire’s gas utilities before the Mississippi Public Service Commission; supervising, when necessary, outside counsel for state commission proceedings; managing the development and implementation of litigation strategy and tactics; preparing or reviewing preparation of pleadings, protests, comments and other filings; researching statutory and case law as necessary, supervising witness and expert testimony preparation; developing settlement strategy and negotiating settlements when appropriate; representing Spire entities or supervising the representation of Spire entities at evidentiary hearings and settlement conferences; preparing or supervising the preparation of post-hearing briefs; and preparing or supervising preparation of appellate briefs and oral arguments on appeal. 
• Develop, supervise, consult, direct and/or perform legal services in other aspects of the corporation’s legal needs.  
• Provide quality legal advice and counsel in a timely manner to business unit leadership and general counsel, and to senior management and all departments as requested
• Regular attendance is considered an essential job function
• Keep abreast of federal and state regulatory policies affecting the gas and energy industry
• Participation, as time permits, in trade association committee and bar association activities related to FERC and state public utility commission regulation
• Perform research and continue legal education to stay current with statutes, case law and regulatory policies governing the energy industry.  
• Other duties as assigned.
   

Essential Characteristics and Competencies

• Ability to analyze the value of positions taken in administrative proceedings
• Ability to negotiate favorable settlements for the companies
• Ability to select appropriate expert witnesses
• Ability to prepare witnesses for deposition or hearing in an administrative setting
• Ability to analyze legal questions and produce legal documents, including trial and appellate briefs
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
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• Ability to establish effective interpersonal business relationships with business partners, counter-parties, commission staff personnel and co-workers
• Ability to cooperate and foster an atmosphere of cooperation and team work
• Strong leadership skills
• Ability to think strategically, with strong business ac