Real Estate Attorney - Legal & Corp Secretary - Akron FirstEnergy Headquarters

FirstEnergy at a Glance

We are a forward-thinking electric utility powered by a diverse team of employees committed to making customers' lives brighter, the environment better and our communities stronger.   FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions, and a regulated generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 3,500 megawatts.

About the Opportunity

This is an open position with FirstEnergy Service Company, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. The Legal department provides exceptional counsel that assures legal compliance and enables FirstEnergy to optimize business outcomes in all legal, regulatory, and commercial contexts. The Legal department is involved in every major activity and initiative involving all entities of FirstEnergy Corp.

The real estate attorney will provide general real estate law counseling to FirstEnergy business units and utility subsidiaries-both transmission and distribution. This attorney will represent company affiliates in all real estate transactions, tax proceedings involving those real estate holdings and all real estate-related disputes. The individual will have responsibility for his or her independent case load before state and federal administrative agencies, and in state and federal courts.

The position reports to the Supervising Counsel

This position is ON-SITE, and can be within the FE service territory in Akron, OH., Reading, PA., Greensburg, PA or Holmdel NJ., W VA, and MD will also be considered. 

Responsibilities include

• Handling legal matters in the areas of real estate law including but not limited to:
  • Right-of-way, easements, license agreements, leases, consent agreements, deeds, and purchase agreements;
  • Determining existing property rights;
  • Enforcing existing property rights; 
  • Resolving National Electrical Safety Code violations; and
  • Condemnation and eminent domain.
• Responding to and resolving demands or complaints from property owners or their legal counsel related to FirstEnergy property rights.
• Representing the company in negotiations or mediations with opposing counsel.
• Reviewing and providing counsel on legislation relating to FirstEnergy property interests.
• Advising internal clients on new legal trends and identifying areas to reduce risk.
• Interacting with railroad operators, federal, state and local governments including regulatory agencies, relating to real estate issues.
• Providing counsel and support to FirstEnergy's real estate team.
• Collaborating with Engineering, Project Management, Environmental, Portfolio Management, External Affairs, and other internal stakeholders.
• Engaging in frequent client contact and handling multiple ongoing matters simultaneously.

Qualifications include

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited university required
• Minimum 3 years professional work experience required; law firm experience preferred
• Bar admission to one or more of the following states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia 
• Experience in real estate law and property law required; experience in tax law preferred
• Utility experience preferred
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with people at all levels and with varying backgrounds
• Ability to work well under pressure
• Ability to maintain high degree of confidentiality
• Demonstrated proficiency in legal research 
• Ability to work with limited supervision
• Strong team player
• Problem solver, seeking creative solutions
• Strong work ethic and demonstrated ability to understand new areas

Benefits, Compensation & Workforce Diversity

At FirstEnergy, employees are key to our success. We depend on their talents to meet the challenges of our changing business environment. We are committed to rewarding individual and team efforts through our total rewards philosophy which includes competitive pay plus incentive compensation, a company-sponsored pension plan, 401(k) savings plan with matching employer contribution, a choice of medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and life insurance programs, as well as skills development training with tuition reimbursement. Please visit our website at www.firstenergycorp.com to learn more about all of our employee rewards programs. FirstEnergy proudly supports workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability. No recruiters or agencies without a previously signed contract. Unable to sponsor or transfer H-1B visas at this time.

Safety

Safety is a core value for FirstEnergy and is essential to all of our business activities. We ensure employees have the tools, information, and processes to perform their duties in a manner that assures safety for themselves, their co-workers, our customers and the public. Our goals are to provide a safe work environment, to maintain an accident-free, injury-free workplace, and to promote and maintain public safety. To meet these goals, we dedicate ourselves to achieving world-class safety standards.

FirstEnergy Human Resources Team