Contractual Attorney Jobs in Reston, VA (NOW HIRING)

§ Title: Strategic Energy Regulatory Counsel | Senior Associate – Infrastructure & Data Centers

§ Practice Area: Energy Utilities Regulation, Hyperscale Data Center Power Structuring, and Administrative Advocacy

§ Location: Washington, D.C. (Onsite/Hybrid)

§ Salary: $390,000 to $435,000 (Including premier health benefits, retirement contributions, and discretionary performance incentives)

§ Schedule: Full-time, Direct-Hire, Minimum 1,850 hours annual billed target

§ The Firm:

Our distinguished client is a prestigious AmLaw 50 global entity, renowned for its dominant footprint in the Energy and Infrastructure sectors. With consistent Tier 1 rankings from Chambers and Partners and The Legal 500, the firm’s D.C. outpost serves as the epicenter for sophisticated regulatory navigation and high-stakes administrative litigation. This powerhouse is celebrated for representing the vanguard of technology and energy, including developers of critical digital infrastructure, multinational utilities, and private equity investors. The firm prides itself on a culture of intellectual rigor and deep-rooted mentorship, providing an ideal environment for elite practitioners to influence the evolving interplay between the power grid and the digital economy.

§ Duties:

The Senior Energy Associate will serve as a primary architect in the legal and regulatory framework governing large-scale energy infrastructure, with a specific focus on the burgeoning data center market. This role demands a high-level synthesis of transactional prowess and regulatory expertise.

Core responsibilities include:

⨖ Orchestrating complex power supply negotiations and infrastructure agreements for hyperscale data centers and renewable energy developers.

⨖ Representing sophisticated stakeholders in administrative litigation and regulatory proceedings before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and various state public utility commissions.

⨖ Providing strategic regulatory guidance for high-value mergers, acquisitions, and project finance transactions within the thermal, nuclear, and renewable sectors.

⨖ Drafting persuasive pleadings, appellate briefs, and policy-oriented advocacy documents for federal and state judicial venues.

⨖ Interfacing with Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) to secure grid connectivity and navigate tariff-related complexities.

⨖ Collaborating with technical experts to develop and present complex evidentiary testimony in administrative hearings.

⨖ Conducting comprehensive regulatory due diligence to identify and mitigate risks inherent in energy infrastructure investments.

§ Qualifications:

Candidates must possess an established track record and the technical expertise required to immediately contribute to a highly sophisticated practice.

⨖ Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an ABA-accredited law school with a distinguished academic record.

⨖ Active Bar Membership in the District of Columbia, or the immediate ability to waive in.

⨖ Six (6) to Eight (8) years of substantive, direct experience in energy regulatory law or utility-scale infrastructure transactions at a peer-ranked global firm.

⨖ Demonstrated technical mastery of navigating FERC regulations and state-level utility commission mandates.

⨖ Superior drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills required for interaction with senior partners, regulatory bodies, and C-suite clients.

§ Skills:

The following qualifications are highly desirable and would significantly enhance an applicant's candidacy:

⨖ Direct experience counseling clients on the specific power requirements and contractual nuances of data center development.

⨖ Familiarity with the regulatory hurdles associated with LNG export terminals or advanced nuclear power generation.

⨖ Proven ability to manage complex, multi-faceted projects independently, including supervising junior associates and managing client deliverables.

⨖ A sophisticated understanding of the evolving interplay between emerging technology infrastructure and legacy power grid constraints.

!Notice¡

*This a job advertisement on behalf of our client and does not reflect the full job description for the role. Any qualified candidates are encouraged to apply. You will need to provide law school transcripts, a writing sample or deal sheets, and a cover letter in order to be considered for this role. This posting does not constitute an offer of employment. and the listed compensation details may vary by state or experience and will be discussed thoroughly during interview phase.