Sr Counsel - Litigation

Energy Transfer; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Energy Transfer seeks a Sr Counsel - Litigation to lead complex disputes across its midstream asset portfolio. You will guide strategy, budgets, and outside counsel for high‑stakes commercial, environmental and regulatory matters.

You will partner with Operations, Land, EH&S, Engineering, and Leadership to mitigate risk and ensure compliance while maintaining strong stakeholder communications. This role requires 6+ years of experience and in‑house or big firm exposure in energy litigation.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, preferably Texas.
• 6+ years of litigation experience, with trial exposure and direct stakeholder communication.
• Strong background in energy, midstream, oil & gas, or heavy industrial litigation.
• Experience managing complex, high‑value litigation and arbitration matters.
• Familiarity with pipeline safety regulations, environmental statutes, and commercial contracts common in midstream operations.
• Excellent judgment, negotiation skills, and ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, operationally driven environment with competing priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings involving the company, including case assessment, strategy development, budgeting, and oversight of outside counsel.
• Manage a diverse docket including commercial disputes, environmental enforcement, personal injury, property damage, ROW and eminent domain matters, and regulatory challenges.
• Direct discovery strategy, including document preservation and production, e‑discovery, witness preparation and presentation, and expert engagement.
• Evaluate settlement opportunities and negotiate resolutions that protect the company’s financial and operational interests.
• Advise Operations, EH&S, and Engineering on incident response, spill events, pipeline integrity matters, and regulatory investigations.
• Support internal investigations related to operational events, safety issues, or compliance concerns.
• Interface with federal and state agencies post-incident and on enforcement actions, notices of violation, and compliance matters.
• Provide legal guidance on pipeline safety regulations, environmental statutes, and operational risk mitigation.
• Advise Commercial teams on contract interpretation, performance disputes, indemnity issues, and risk allocation.
• Support resolution of disputes involving shippers, suppliers, contractors, and JV partners.
• Draft and negotiate settlement agreements, tolling agreements, and dispute‑related contract amendments.
• Develop and implement litigation management processes, reporting, and metrics for executive leadership.
• Provide training to internal teams on litigation readiness, document retention, privilege preservation and risk mitigation.
• Advise on insurance coverage, claims strategy, and coordination with insurers.

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Job description

Job Description - Sr Counsel - Litigation (2610004030)

We value all of our employees who make our growth and success possible. We are proud to offer industry leading compensation, comprehensive benefits,401(k) match with additional profit sharing,PTO and abundant career opportunities.

Come join our award winning 12,000 strong organization as we fuel the world and each other!

Position Overview

The Senior Counsel, Litigation serves as one of the company’s lead attorneys for litigation and dispute‑related matters across the company’s asset portfolio. This role provides strategic legal guidance to protect the company’s interests in complex commercial disputes, operational incidents, personal injury matters, environmental claims, land and ROW conflicts, and regulatory enforcement actions. The Senior Counsel partners closely with Operations, Commercial, Land, EH&S, Engineering, and Executive Leadership to proactively manage risk, resolve disputes efficiently, and ensure compliance with federal and state laws governing midstream operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of litigation, arbitration, and administrative proceedings involving the company, including case assessment, strategy development, budgeting, and oversight of outside counsel.

Manage a diverse docket including commercial disputes, environmental enforcement, personal injury, property damage, ROW and eminent domain matters, and regulatory challenges.

Direct discovery strategy, including document preservation and production, e‑discovery, witness preparation and presentation, and expert engagement.

• Evaluate settlement opportunities and negotiate resolutions that protect the company’s financial and operational interests.

Operational & Regulatory Support

• Advise Operations, EH&S, and Engineering on incident response, spill events, pipeline integrity matters, and regulatory investigations.
• Support internal investigations related to operational events, safety issues, or compliance concerns.

Interface with federal and state agencies (e.g., PHMSA, FERC, EPA, state environmental agencies) post-incident and also on enforcement actions, notices of violation, and compliance matters.

• Provide legal guidance on pipeline safety regulations, environmental statutes, and operational risk mitigation.
• Advise Commercial teams on contract interpretation, performance disputes, indemnity issues, and risk allocation.
• Support resolution of disputes involving shippers, suppliers, contractors, and JV partners.
• Draft and negotiate settlement agreements, tolling agreements, and dispute‑related contract amendments.
• Develop and implement litigation management processes, reporting, and metrics for executive leadership.

Provide training to internal teams on litigation readiness, document retention, privilege preservation and risk mitigation.

• Advise on insurance coverage, claims strategy, and coordination with insurers.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, preferably at least Texas.
• 6+ years of litigation experience, preferably with trial experience and with demonstrated experience engaging in and communicating directly with stakeholders on high‑profile disputes.
• Strong background in energy, midstream, oil & gas, or heavy industrial litigation.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, high‑value litigation and arbitration matters.
• Familiarity with pipeline safety regulations, environmental statutes, and commercial contracts common in midstream operations.
• Excellent judgment, negotiation skills, and ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, operationally driven environment with competing priorities.

Required experience is commensurate with the selected job level:

• The Associate Counsel level requires a Juris Doctor and 0-3 years of relevant job related experience
• The Counsel level requires a Juris Doctor and 3-6 years of relevant job related experience
• The Sr Counsel level requires a Juris Doctor and 6+ years of relevant job related experience.

Preferred Experience

• Prior in‑house experience in oil and gas cases including (upstream, midstream, and downstream, complex commercial litigation, mediation and arbitration matters, managing all phases.
• Experience with PHMSA, FERC, EPA, and state environmental agencies.
• Experience in complex commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation
• Experience managing outside counsel and litigation budgets.
• Strategic legal thinking with strong business acumen
• Exceptional communication and executive‑level presence
• Crisis management and calm under pressure
• Collaborative, solutions‑oriented approach
• Strong negotiation and conflict‑resolution skills

Competencies

• Strategic legal thinking with strong business acumen
• Exceptional communication and executive‑level presence
• Risk‑based decision‑making
• Crisis management and calm under pressure
• Collaborative, solutions‑oriented approach
• Strong negotiation and conflict‑resolution skills

An equal opportunity employer/disability/vet
Energy Transfer is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against qualified applicants on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, pregnancy, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
The nature and frequency of the above working conditions and requirements may vary depending on individual operational circumstances. Where feasible, the Partnership will make reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job.
DISCLAIMER: The statements listed in this job posting, which are subject to change, are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Primary Location

United States-TX-HOUSTON

Work Locations

Houston TX 1300 Main (100000189) 1300 Main Street Houston 77002

Job

Legal

Schedule

Regular

Full-time

Travel

Yes, 20 % of the Time

Job Posting

Energy Transfer is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against qualified applicants on the basis of any actual or perceived legally protected characteristics under federal, state, or local law. To view a notice describing federal equal opportunity laws . click here

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the EEO Coordinator at 713-989-2247. This number is for reasonable accommodation requests only.