Senior Counsel
Lightsource bp is a global leader in the development and management of solar energy projects. We are a 50:50 joint venture with bp with a mission to help drive the world’s transition to low carbon energy.
With solar set to increase tenfold in the next 20 years, we are well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. By joining the Lightsource bp team, you will ‘be the change’ on the world’s energy transition to a more sustainable future.
We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit as we continue to push the boundaries of an ever-changing energy landscape. By choosing a career with us, you can expect a challenging and fulfilling role surrounded by people who are passionate and have brilliant ideas about sustainable technology, innovation and making the world a better place.
What You’ll do
Summary
The legal team, with lawyers in London, Spain, Italy, US, Brazil and Australia, specializes in corporate, construction, energy, finance, commercial and property law in the renewable energy sector, providing support across all the units of the business and all jurisdictions.
The legal team in the U.S. currently consists of 12 individuals, and nearly half of the legal team works remotely, with frequent opportunities to travel.
This senior role provides an exciting opportunity for a lawyer within a dynamic and changing business in a growth industry.
Duties and Responsibilities
Power Marketing & Business Development
With solar set to increase tenfold in the next 20 years, we are well-positioned to capitalize on this growth. By joining the Lightsource bp team, you will ‘be the change’ on the world’s energy transition to a more sustainable future.
We pride ourselves on our entrepreneurial spirit as we continue to push the boundaries of an ever-changing energy landscape. By choosing a career with us, you can expect a challenging and fulfilling role surrounded by people who are passionate and have brilliant ideas about sustainable technology, innovation and making the world a better place.
What You’ll do
Summary
The legal team, with lawyers in London, Spain, Italy, US, Brazil and Australia, specializes in corporate, construction, energy, finance, commercial and property law in the renewable energy sector, providing support across all the units of the business and all jurisdictions.
The legal team in the U.S. currently consists of 12 individuals, and nearly half of the legal team works remotely, with frequent opportunities to travel.
This senior role provides an exciting opportunity for a lawyer within a dynamic and changing business in a growth industry.
Duties and Responsibilities
Power Marketing & Business Development
- Provide excellent legal services to the LSbp US business development and power marketing teams;
- Draft and negotiate (a) power purchase agreements (physical and virtual), hedging agreements, and other types of offtake agreements, (b) build-transfer agreements (including both asset and share transfer agreements), and (c) agreements for RECs, energy management services agreements and other agreements related to power marketing, in each case for utility-scale solar photovoltaic generating facilities and/or energy storage systems;
- Advise regarding tariff filings and other legal matters related to capacity, reactive power and other environmental attributes
- Draft and negotiate M&A agreements, including (a) membership interest and/or asset purchase agreements for the acquisition of solar projects from third party developers, and (b) disposition agreements for the sale or partial sell-down of LSbp US solar projects;
- Assist the teams in all aspects of the foregoing, including working with commercial leads to facilitate internal stakeholder input in connection with, among other things, project risks and due diligence findings in the M&A process and appropriately addressing in the applicable agreements;
- During the financing and construction process, assist the business development and power marketing teams with items related to the foregoing agreements, including force majeure notices, estoppels, consents to collateral assignment, energy management services agreements and reactive power filings;
- Provide general assistance to the LSbp US regulatory team, including with respect to EWG, MBR, QF, Texas PUCT, and other filings required for operating solar plants;
- Assist with development of processes, template agreements and work flows for the efficient drafting, negotiation and administration of the applicable agreements and overall deal management;
- Negotiate non-disclosure agreements and master services and consulting agreements with third party consultants and service providers to support the business development and power marketing teams;
- Liaise with all internal business teams including the Development, Business Development, Construction, Structured Finance, Corporate Finance, Operations and Asset Management teams and counsel the business partners on a wide range of legal topics, including undertaking training on legal concepts where necessary; and
- Ensure compliance with internal compliance framework and corporate approvals policies.
- to manage external legal resources, paralegals and contract management team (from time to time); and
- to become involved in other areas of law where business needs arise.
Knowledge
- Transactional attorney with significant experience closing offtake and M&A transactions in the renewable energy sector.
- Extensive experience in drafting and negotiating relevant agreements and ancillary documents.
- Strong business acumen with ability to assess legal risk and offer commercial / practical and strategic considerations.
- Strong technical drafting skills and extensive experience in respect of the documents and types of work covered in the ‘Duties and responsibilities’ section of this job description.
- Ability to work, and deliver acceptable commercial and legal results, under strict deadlines.
- Collaborative, team player that is comfortable operating in lead and supporting roles, as necessary
- LSbp places great value on equal employment opportunities. We are dedicated to quality, equality, and valuing diversity, and we welcome applications that reflect the diversity of the communities within which we work.
- Qualified licensed attorney with at least 5+ years post-qualification experience in the US.
- Excellent academic background and experience from a top tier firm or similar in-house role.
Personal qualities
- Ability to work independently, deal confidently and build strong relations with senior business colleagues.
- Willingness to receive and accept feedback and improve.
- Flexible attitude and the ability to multitask.
- Strong time management / prioritization skills.
- Excellent written, verbal communication and English skills.
- Helpful, hardworking approach and a team player.
- Detailed oriented and able to work independently to manage and close transactions.
Why you’ll want to work for us
Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow – a place where your ideas and opinions matter.
Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.
Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.
Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension, and other local benefits.
Be inspired: Join an agile, international team working across 15 countries to power the future and positively impact people, communities, ecosystems and biodiversity across the world.
Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low-carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.
We offer
Our company is a place where you can be yourself and grow – a place where your ideas and opinions matter.
Be you: We pride ourselves on being an inclusive community, where every individual is valued and treated with respect.
Be responsible: Our culture is driven by our core values. From operating safely to ensuring our solar projects are responsible and promote biodiversity.
Be recognized: Alongside a competitive salary, we offer a variety of benefits including annual bonus, retention bank, health insurance, pension, and other local benefits.
Be inspired: Join an agile, international team working across 15 countries to power the future and positively impact people, communities, ecosystems and biodiversity across the world.
Our core values: Lightsource bp truly cares about creating a sustainable future through safe, responsible and meaningful low-carbon energy projects. Our core values of Safety, Integrity, Respect, Sustainability and Drive are the guiding principles for everything we do.
We offer
- US team members are entitled to medical benefits, life insurance, dental benefits, vision benefits and short- and long-term disability benefits.
- Lightsource bp offers US team members immediate eligibility for a 401(k) plan, with a 3% nonelective employer contribution.
- Our team members are eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, calculated based on corporate, team and individual objectives. Team members in the US may receive an additional 50% of their annual bonus in a “retention bank” as well, available for withdrawal after three years of bonus awards have accrued.
- Lightsource bp currently observes the following 11 holidays in the US: New Years Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- US team members accrue 20 days of vacation and 15 days of sick leave annually. All team members are also eligible for COVID-19 leave.
- Team members in the US enjoy a hybrid work environment.
- US team members receive a monthly personal phone bill reimbursement of up to $100 and a monthly commuter benefit of up to $150. Team members also receive one-time wellness and remote work allowances.