Senior Counsel - Labor Law
Energy Transfer, recognized by Forbes as one of America's best large employers, is dedicated to responsibly and safely delivering America’s energy. We are driven to inspire our employees to create superior value for our customers, our investors, a sustainable future and giving back to the community where we have long-standing commitments to causes including MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, The Salvation Army, The American Red Cross, Ronald McDonald House and many more.
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!
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Provide strategic and practical legal counsel on all aspects of traditional labor law across the Energy Transfer family of partnerships in the United States and internationally.
Handle unfair labor practice charges and proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and comparable state and international labor authorities.
Represent management in union campaigns, representation matters, NLRB elections, card-check and neutrality agreements, and corporate campaigns.
Serve as lead or advising counsel in collective bargaining negotiations, including developing negotiation strategies, preparing proposals, analyzing economic terms, and advising on bargaining obligations.
Investigate and address union grievances and draft grievance responses, settlement agreements, and related correspondence.
Manage outside counsel in labor arbitrations and litigation, including case strategy, witness preparation, briefing, and budgeting.
Advise management during union work stoppages, strikes, picketing, and other labor disruptions, including seeking injunctive relief when appropriate.
Provide labor law support for M&A transactions, including due diligence, successorship analysis, CBA transfers, works council consultations, and post-closing integration.
Design and deliver labor relations and union-related training for managers and HR professionals, including CBA administration, union awareness, and investigations.
Conduct legal research and draft memoranda, guidance, policies, and training materials related to labor relations.
Collaborate cross-functionally with HR and senior leadership of other departments to provide clear, concise, proactive, timely, and business-focused legal advice.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Required Education
Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with any state bar.
Experience
Minimum of seven (6) years of progressively responsible experience in traditional labor law, gained in a law firm and/or in-house environment.
Significant hands-on experience with collective bargaining negotiations, unfair labor practice litigation, union campaigns and representation matters, labor arbitrations and grievance proceedings.
Demonstrated experience advising management on labor relations strategy in complex, unionized environments.
Multi-state experience required; international labor law exposure strongly preferred.
Experience supporting field operations and working directly with business leaders.
Prior oil & gas, energy, industrial, or similarly regulated industry experience preferred but not required.
Other Qualifications
§ Unquestionable integrity and ability to maintain the strictest level of confidentiality.
§ Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to distill legal issues for executives and management.
§ Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with clients, coworkers, and colleagues.
§ Proven ability to work independently as well as collaboratively with clients and as part of a cross-functional team.
§ The ability to adapt in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and manage and prioritize multiple issues and projects while being highly responsive.
§ Excellent judgment in knowing how to proactively issue spot, escalate issues, and propose solutions.
Strong negotiation skills with the ability to serve as first-chair negotiator or lead advisor.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess financial data and economic terms of collective bargaining agreements.
Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally up to 30% of the time.
Software Knowledge
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Experience with legal research platforms (e.g., Westlaw).
Familiarity with matter management, document management, and e-billing systems preferred.
Physical Requirements
Ability to sit for extended periods of time while working at a computer.
Ability to attend meetings, negotiations, arbitrations, hearings, and training sessions, including travel to field locations.
Ability to occasionally lift or carry materials weighing up to 25 pounds (e.g., files, laptop, presentation materials).
Ability to travel by air or ground as required.
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.