Senior Legal Counsel

Hitachi, Ltd.; North Carolina; On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement benefits

Paid leave

Flexible work arrangements

Job summary

Hitachi Energy seeks a Senior Legal Counsel to support North American operations, delivering broad legal advice across commercial, risk, and governance matters. You will draft and negotiate complex agreements, manage disputes and outside counsel, and help ensure compliance with laws, regulations, and corporate policies.

You will work with business leaders and legal colleagues across regions to develop practical legal strategies that protect the company while enabling growth.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Bar admission to NC or another State Bar.
• 8+ years of experience directly related to senior legal counsel responsibilities.
• Strong written and spoken communication and ability to influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal advice across commercial, risk, and governance matters.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements and contracts.
• Manage disputes and outside counsel; support risk reviews and governance initiatives.
• Deliver legal training and ensure regulatory compliance and policy adherence.
• Collaborate with business leaders and legal teams across regions to align legal strategy with business goals.

Skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder influence

Risk assessment

Legal judgment

Global matters

Education

J.D. (ABA accredited)

Bar admission NC or other State Bar

Job description

Job Description

Senior Legal Counsel

The Opportunity

Hitachi Energy is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to support its growing business operations in North America. You will provide legal advice and counsel across a broad range of business, commercial, litigation, risk, and compliance matters. This role includes drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements, participating in risk reviews, managing disputes and outside counsel, and helping ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and corporate governance requirements. You will work closely with business leaders and legal colleagues across multiple regions and business units to develop practical legal strategies that support business growth while protecting the company from significant risks. The position requires independent judgment, collaboration across a matrixed organization, and the ability to provide pragmatic legal guidance in a dynamic and multicultural environment.

How You’ll Make an Impact

• Provide legal advice and counsel to management across a broad range of legal and business matters while managing disputes as needed.
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements and contracts across multiple business units.
• Participate in risk reviews and support risk management activities in accordance with company directives.
• Identify emerging legal issues and develop practical legal strategies and solutions that support business priorities.
• Support corporate governance activities and assist with implementation of the Code of Conduct, integrity initiatives, and other related initiatives.
• Manage and coordinate outside counsel to support efficient and effective legal services.
• Deliver legal training and awareness programs for employees and business stakeholders.
• Monitor applicable laws, regulations, and policies, providing advice to support compliance and protect business interests and reputation.
• Responsible to ensure compliance with applicable external and internal regulations, procedures, and guidelines.

Your Background

• Candidate must already have work authorization that would permit them to work for Hitachi Energy in the United States.
• J.D. from an American Bar Association accredited law school and admission to the North Carolina Bar or another State Bar.
• At least 8 years of experience directly related to the responsibilities of the role.
• Significant experience providing legal advice regarding product liability matters and commercial litigation; experience with global legal matters preferred.
• Sound legal judgment, comprehensive business understanding, and the ability to assess risk and recommend practical solutions.
• Excellent written, interpersonal, and communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders, build professional relationships, and work effectively in a complex, multicultural, matrixed environment.

More About Us

Join Hitachi Energy and contribute to the evolving energy landscape while growing your legal career.

• Opportunities to work on innovative technologies shaping the future of energy.
• Collaborative environment alongside experienced professionals across multiple disciplines and regions.
• Access to learning platforms and career development programs that support continuous growth.
• Attractive health and retirement benefits.
• Paid leave programs and flexible work arrangements where applicable.

Only selected candidates will be contacted.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)-Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

Protected veterans and qualified individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the Hitachi Energy career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by completing a general inquiry form on our website. Please include your contact information and specific details about your required accommodation to support you during the job application process.

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Use of Al and automated tools in recruitment

As part of our recruitment process, Hitachi Energy uses digital and automated tools, including Al-supported solutions, to assist with activities such as application screening, job matching, and interview scheduling. These tools are designed to support our recruiters and do not replace human decision-making. Candidate data is processed in accordance with applicable data protection and employment laws as well as Hitachis Global Data Privacy Notice.