Assistant General Counsel

Bison Oil & Gas IV, LLC; Denver (CO); On-site; USD 172,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Plan

HSA/FSA programs

Dental Plan

401k with company match

Long-term disability & life insurance

Job summary

Bison Oil & Gas IV, LLC is seeking an Assistant General Counsel to provide business-focused legal counsel across the company’s upstream and midstream oil and gas operations. The role partners with land, operations, and corporate teams on commercial agreements, transactions, litigation management, regulatory matters, risk, and day-to-day legal needs.

The ideal candidate will have broad oil and gas experience, exceptional drafting precision, and the ability to manage multiple matters with

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school and active bar admission.
• 6–8 years of relevant legal experience in oil and gas, with both transactional and litigation exposure.
• Experience drafting and negotiating oil, gas, and commercial agreements.

Responsibilities

• Provide business-focused legal counsel across upstream and midstream oil and gas operations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements and related documents with meticulous attention to detail.
• Serve as the final check on legal documents to identify errors and latent risks before execution.
• Advise on asset development, production, gathering, transportation, and commercial arrangements.
• Support acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions including due diligence and closing.
• Advise on leases, joint operating agreements, surface use agreements, easements, and rights‑of‑way.
• Provide regulatory guidance and monitor developments impacting oil and gas operations.
• Identify and manage legal and business risks and propose practical solutions for operational objectives.
• Assist with corporate governance, entity management, and general corporate matters.
• Manage disputes and collaborate with outside counsel when needed.
• Develop relationships with internal stakeholders, regulators, and external partners.

Skills

Oil & Gas knowledge

Business & legal judgment

Drafting & review precision

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Active U.S. state bar

Job description

Bison Oil & Gas is a Denver-based upstream oil and gas exploration and production company committed to pursuing value through responsible oil and gas development that ensures maximum benefits to both shareholders and stakeholders by operating intelligently, ethically, responsibly, and on the cutting edge of technology.

Bison Oil & Gas IV operates in the DJ Basin of Colorado and Wyoming. Bison has operated in the DJ since 2015 and currently operates over 315,000 net acres, 700 wells, and ~50,000 BOE of production per day. Bison is a leading modern operator that strives to operate with the least possible impact on the environment and our surrounding communities. Bison is the largest private operator in the DJ Basin.

Why this role matters to our organization:

This role is a key legal partner to the business, helping the organization navigate commercial and operational matters, manage risk, and support strategic initiatives across our oil and gas operations.

What it takes to be successful in this role:

The ideal candidate brings broad oil and gas experience, strong legal and commercial judgment, and a practical, solutions-oriented mindset. Success requires the ability to manage multiple transactional and litigation matters, balance competing priorities, and provide clear, pragmatic guidance to stakeholders across the organization. Above all, this role demands exceptional precision. The right candidate reads every word, catches every detail and reviews their work as critically as opposing counsel.

Summary

The Assistant General Counsel provides business-focused legal counsel and support across the organization’s oil and gas operations. This role partners closely with land, operations and corporate teams on upstream and midstream commercial agreements, transactions, litigation management, regulatory matters, risk management, and other day-to-day legal needs.

Job Responsibilities & Essential Functions

• Provide legal counsel and strategic guidance on a broad range of matters affecting the company’s oil and gas operations.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including purchase agreements, land contracts, midstream agreements, master service agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other operational contracts with meticulous attention to detail.
• Serve as the final check on legal documents, identifying errors, ambiguities, and latent risks before they reach counterparties, regulators, or leadership.
• Advise business teams on matters related to upstream and midstream operations, including asset development, production, gathering, transportation, and commercial arrangements.
• Support acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions, including due diligence, negotiation, documentation, and closing activities.
• Advise on oil and gas agreements, including leases, joint operating agreements, surface use agreements, easements, rights-of-way, and related contractual matters.
• Provide guidance regarding regulatory compliance and other legal requirements applicable to oil and gas operations.
• Identify and assess legal and business risks and develop practical solutions that support operational and commercial objectives.
• Assist with corporate governance, entity management, and other general corporate legal matters as needed.
• Manage disputes, claims, and litigation matters in partnership with outside counsel, when appropriate.
• Monitor relevant legal and regulatory developments and advise leadership on potential business impacts.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders, outside counsel, regulators, and other external partners.
• Perform other legal duties and support strategic initiatives as assigned.

Core Competencies

• Business & Legal Judgment
• Oil & Gas Industry Knowledge
• Precision in Drafting and Review

Education & Experience (required):

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law and member in good standing of at least one U.S. state bar.
• 6–8 years of relevant legal experience, preferably with a combination of law firm and in-house experience.
• Broad legal experience within the oil and gas industry, with a strong understanding of the commercial and operational aspects of the business.
• Experience drafting and negotiating oil and gas and commercial agreements.
• Exceptional attention to detail, with a demonstrated track record of producing accurate, carefully proofread work product under deadline pressure.
• Demonstrated ability to independently analyze legal issues, assess risk, and provide practical, business-oriented advice.

Education & Experience (preferred):

• Prior in-house experience with an upstream, midstream, or integrated oil and gas company.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, divestitures, and other energy transactions.
• Experience across multiple areas of oil and gas law, including operational, commercial, land, regulatory, and transactional matters.

Other Requirements

• Must be able to pass a pre-employment background screening
• Ability to legally work in the US without sponsorship

Additional Information

Compensation

Our cash compensation amount for this role is targeted at $171,800 - $225,700 annually in this location. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors including candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the amount listed above.

As a member of Bison, you’ll enjoy an impressive benefits package:

• Medical Plan: Bison offers multiple medical plans to choose from.
  • Lowest level plan premiums are covered at 100% for employees and dependents
  • Additional buy-up plan options available with premiums covered at 75% for employees and dependents
• HSA with Bison per pay period contribution.
• FSA across multiple medical plans.
• Dental Plan: Bison covers premiums for dental plans for employees and dependents.
  • Additional buy-up plan option available with premiums covered at 75% for employees and dependents
• Long-term disability, life insurance, and AD&D covered by Bison.
• 401k plan: Bison matches 100% of employee contributions up to the first 4% of compensation.

Location

This position is located in Denver, Colorado. Candidates currently residing in locations outside of daily commuting distance will be considered, however, it is the expectation that the selected individual will be available at the work location. No relocation or travel assistance will be provided by the Company for this position.

This position operates in an office environment. This entails working inside in an office space wherein employee may be provided a public work station (cubicle) or private office. From time to time, the role will require field visits where exposure to extreme weather conditions, fumes, airborne particles, vibrations, dust, electrical charges and other unforeseen exposures may be encountered.

Physical Demands

In the performance of the duties and responsibilities of this job, the employee is required to have visual acuity to operate a motor vehicle and view a computer terminal for prolonged periods of time. While at work sites, the employee will be expected to walk and stand. Individuals might be asked to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, and/or crawl. Individuals might be required to lift, carry, push, or pull up to 50 lbs. in the performance of this position.

Position Type & Working Hours

This is a full-time position. We operate on a 9/80 work schedule.Typical work hours are from 8am-5pm, Monday through Thursday, and 8am-4pm on working Fridays. Employee must be capable and willing to work overtime as required and to participate in occasional meetings, events, seminars, conferences, or other activities outside of typical work hours. Employees responsible for project operations are expected to monitor and, in some cases, respond to emails, calls, or texts outside of business hours.

Travel

Occasional travel to work site locations may be expected. Overnight stays may be required from time to time for training, seminars, field visits, or visits to onsite locations.

Disclaimer

This job posting is not intended to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. The Company reserves the right to change or assign additional duties, responsibilities, and activities at any time with or without notice.

Hiring Practices

Bison is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or other applicable legally protected characteristic. We consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. We are also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact HR at [e-mail]. Final candidates may be required to pass pre-employment screenings including but not limited to background checks and drug screens.