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General Counsel Jobs in Rochester, NY (NOW HIRING)

Iberdrola

Senior Counsel

Rochester, NY · On-site

$137K - $187K/yr

This position will report directly to the Vice President, General Counsel of NYSEG and RG&E and work closely with FERC Senior Counsel covering Independent System Operator New England-related FERC ...

Iberdrola

Senior Counsel

Rochester, NY · On-site

$137K - $187K/yr

This position will report directly to the Vice President, General Counsel of NYSEG and RG&E and work closely with FERC Senior Counsel covering Independent System Operator New England-related FERC ...

O'Connell Electric Company

Associate Counsel

Victor, NY

$85K - $100K/yr

This person will report to the company's Chief Administrative Officer and will work closely with and take direction from the Company's Associate General Counsel. They will collaborate with numerous ...

O'Connell Electric Company

Associate Counsel

Victor, NY · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

This person will report to the company's Chief Administrative Officer and will work closely with and take direction from the Company's Associate General Counsel. They will collaborate with numerous ...

O'Connell Electric Company

Associate Counsel

Victor, NY · On-site

$85K - $100K/yr

This person will report to the company's Chief Administrative Officer and will work closely with and take direction from the Company's Associate General Counsel. They will collaborate with numerous ...

O'Connell Electric Company

Associate Counsel

Victor, NY

$85K - $100K/yr

This person will report to the company's Chief Administrative Officer and will work closely with and take direction from the Company's Associate General Counsel. They will collaborate with numerous ...

L3HHCM20

Director, Trade Compliance

Rochester, NY

This high-impact leadership role reports directly to the VP, General Counsel of CSD, with a functional reporting relationship to the Senior Director of Global Trade Compliance for L3Harris. The ...

Paychex

Corporate Counsel

Rochester, NY · On-site

$127K - $189K/yr

Overview Paychex is looking for an experienced Corporate Counsel (Commercial Transactions) to join its Legal Team. The attorney will be responsible for leading and negotiating a broad range of ...

Paychex

Corporate Counsel

Rochester, NY

$127K - $189K/yr

Overview Paychex is looking for an experienced Corporate Counsel (Commercial Transactions) to join its Legal Team. The attorney will be responsible for leading and negotiating a broad range of ...

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All JobsGeneral Counsel JobsGeneral Counsel Jobs in Rochester, NY

General Counsel information

See Rochester, NY salary details

$57.7K

$149.6K

$263.4K

How much do general counsel jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for general counsel in Rochester, NY is $149,622.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $107,100.00 and $187,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a general counsel?

A general counsel, also known as a chief counsel or a Chief Legal Officer (CLO), acts as the primary legal advisor to the senior leadership board of a business or law firm. Like corporate attorneys, a general counsel is well versed in laws, regulations, and negotiating skills. However, unlike corporate lawyers, these specialists have a broader knowledge base and must be able to identify legal issues in a variety of industries, including engineering, marketing, finance, human resources, and business policy. CEOs depend on a general counsel to give confidential feedback and suggestions on firm cases and internal attorney activity.

What does a general counsel do?

A General Counsel is the chief lawyer of an organization, responsible for overseeing all legal matters. They provide legal advice to the company's executives and management, ensure compliance with laws and regulations, and manage legal risks. General Counsels may also handle contracts, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property, and litigation. Their role is crucial in helping the organization make informed decisions while minimizing legal exposure.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a general counsel?

To thrive as a General Counsel, you need a law degree (J.D.), admission to the state bar, and extensive experience in corporate law, regulatory compliance, and risk management. Familiarity with contract management systems, legal research databases like Westlaw or LexisNexis, and specialized compliance software is often required. Exceptional judgment, leadership, negotiation, and communication skills set outstanding General Counsels apart. These skills are critical for providing sound legal guidance, protecting the organization from risk, and effectively supporting business objectives.

What are some common challenges faced by a general counsel in balancing legal risk and business objectives?

A General Counsel often faces the challenge of providing legal advice that protects the organization while supporting its strategic and operational goals. This means carefully evaluating legal risks and proposing solutions that enable business growth without exposing the company to unnecessary liability. Navigating complex regulatory environments, addressing fast-evolving compliance requirements, and communicating legal considerations in clear, actionable terms to non-legal colleagues are all part of the role. Collaboration with executive leadership is essential to align legal priorities with broader business objectives, often requiring creative problem-solving and negotiation skills.

What is the difference between General Counsel vs Corporate Lawyer?

AspectGeneral CounselCorporate Lawyer
CredentialsJD, bar admission, extensive legal experienceJD, bar admission, specialized in corporate law
Work EnvironmentIn-house legal department of a companyLaw firms or corporate legal teams
Employer & IndustryCorporations across industriesLaw firms or corporate legal departments
Primary FocusLegal strategy, risk management, corporate governanceTransactional work, contracts, mergers & acquisitions

While both roles require a JD and legal expertise, the General Counsel serves as the top in-house legal advisor focusing on overall legal strategy and risk management within a company. In contrast, a Corporate Lawyer typically handles transactional work like contracts and deals, often working in law firms or corporate legal teams. The General Counsel has a broader leadership role, whereas the Corporate Lawyer specializes in specific legal transactions.

Is general counsel a prestigious job?

The role of general counsel is considered a prestigious position within organizations, often held by experienced legal professionals with significant responsibility for corporate legal matters. It typically requires a law degree, extensive legal experience, and strong leadership skills, reflecting its high status in the corporate hierarchy.
More about General Counsel jobs

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For General Counsel jobs in Rochester, NY, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Cities near Rochester, NY with the most General Counsel job openings:

General Counsel jobs near you
Infographic showing various General Counsel job openings in Rochester, NY as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $149,622 per year, or $71.9 per hour.

Senior Counsel

Iberdrola

Rochester, NY • On-site

$137K - $187K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 18 days ago

Job description

The base salary range for this position is dependent upon experience and location, ranging from $164,000 - $205,000.

What We Offer:

  • Competitive benefits and growth opportunities

  • Generous performancebased bonuses

  • 12% 401(k) match

  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

  • Tuition reimbursement

  • Professional development and clear careeradvancement pathways

For more information, please visit: Benefits - Avangrid

Job Summary:

This role is responsible for providing legal counsel on Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and New York Independent System Operator matters (NYISO). This individual will effectively support Rochester Gas and Electric Corporation's (RGE) and, its sister company, New York State Electric & Gas Corporation's (NYSEG) transmission operations while working closely with regulatory agencies, internal teams, and external counsel. Additionally, this individual will provide advice on federal energy laws, regulations, and market participation requirements, and support the company's business objectives.

The successful candidate will have strong familiarity and direct experience working with FERC regulations, market rules, tariff requirements, and the operations of NYISO. Duties will include analyzing regulatory developments, drafting, and filing regulatory documents, advocating for the Company's transmission interests, and supporting transactional, litigation, and compliance matters.

This position will report directly to the Vice President, General Counsel of NYSEG and RG&E and work closely with FERC Senior Counsel covering Independent System Operator New England-related FERC matters and the Vice President, General Counsel of Avangrid Networks (NYSEG and RG&E's parent company).

Key Responsibilities:

  • Regulatory Counseling: Advises internal stakeholders and clients on statutes, rules, and regulations enforced by FERC, and interprets NYISO market rules and Open Access Transmission Tariffs.

  • Regulatory Filings: Drafts, reviews, and files applications, interventions, comments, compliance plans, and other documents required by FERC and/or NYISO or needed for the Company to participate in regulatory proceedings of significance to the Company. Tracks and responds to regulatory orders, notices, and requests for information.

  • Market Participation: Provides legal advice to in-house clients regarding market operations, policy changes, and relevant initiatives at NYISO.

  • Risk Management: Identifies and mitigates regulatory and compliance risks related to energy market participation and project development.

  • Works closely with FERC transmission policy and federal government affairs on FERC matters.

Required Qualifications:

  • Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; Bar admission in New York.

  • Minimum of six (6) years' experience practicing energy law, with a focus on federal regulation, FERC, or ISO/RTO operations.

  • Demonstrated knowledge of FERC statutes, regulations, orders, and ISO/RTO tariffs and protocols.

  • Strong research, writing, and advocacy skills; Ability to translate complex regulatory issues into practical advice to a variety of internal client teams.

  • Excels in dynamic work environments and cross-functional teams.

  • Excellent communication and presentation skills.

  • Analytical mindset with attention to detail and organizational acumen.

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

  • Strong ethical values, consistent with AVANGRID's core values.

#LI-On-Site

#LI-JM1

Company:

ROCHESTER GAS & ELEC CORP

Mobility Information

Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country.

At Avangrid we provide fair and equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tool to search for or to apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our People and Organization department at careers@avangrid.com.

Avangrid employees may be assigned a system emergency role and in the event of a system emergency, may be required to work outside of their regular schedule/job duties. This is applicable to employees that will work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate functions. This does not include those that will work for Avangrid Power.

Avangrid employees may also be assigned a NERC Reliability Standards compliance role supporting Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and/or Operations and Planning (O&P) responsibilities. This is applicable to employees that will work in electric transmission, operations, and cyber security business areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate business areas. NERC Reliability Standards compliance roles and responsibilities may include additional access protections, training, audit engagement, and required evidence retention, and will be communicated by the employee's management.

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