Role Overview for Chief Legal Officer with a Public Utilities Company – Charlotte, NC
JRG Partners is proud to partner with a premier, publicly-traded public utilities company based in Charlotte, North Carolina, a recognized leader in providing essential energy services to millions of customers across the region. We are conducting an exclusive search for a visionary and strategic Chief Legal Officer (CLO) to join their executive leadership team.
This is a career-defining opportunity to shape the legal, regulatory, and ethical future of a critical infrastructure provider during a period of significant industry transformation. The successful candidate will navigate the complexities of the energy transition, grid modernization, and evolving environmental standards, providing sage counsel to the CEO, Board of Directors, and the entire senior leadership team.
As the CLO, you will serve as the principal legal advisor for the entire organization, overseeing all aspects of the company’s legal affairs. Your leadership will be pivotal in managing legal risk, ensuring robust corporate governance, and championing the company’s commitment to ethical conduct and compliance. You will lead a talented in-house legal department and manage relationships with outside counsel to support the company’s strategic objectives, from multi-billion dollar capital projects to complex regulatory proceedings.
This role demands a lawyer with exceptional business acumen, a deep understanding of the highly regulated utilities landscape, and the executive presence to operate effectively at the highest levels of a public corporation. You will be more than a legal advisor; you will be a strategic partner, a trusted confidant, and a key driver of the company’s long-term success and sustainability.
Key Responsibilities of Chief Legal Officer with a Public Utilities Company – Charlotte, NC
The Chief Legal Officer will have a broad and impactful portfolio of responsibilities, including but not limited to:
Executive Counsel & Strategic Leadership
Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, providing expert legal counsel and strategic advice to the CEO, Board of Directors, and other senior executives on a wide range of complex legal, business, and policy issues. Proactively identify and mitigate legal risks to protect the company’s interests and enable its strategic growth.
Corporate Governance and Securities Law
Oversee all corporate governance matters, ensuring compliance with NYSE/NASDAQ listing standards, Sarbanes-Oxley, and other applicable regulations. Manage the preparation and filing of all SEC documents, including 10-Ks, 10-Qs, 8-Ks, and proxy statements. Advise the Board on fiduciary duties, corporate governance best practices, and shareholder engagement strategies. Manage the corporate secretarial function, including board minutes and corporate records.
Regulatory Compliance and Strategy
Lead the company’s legal strategy in all federal, state, and local regulatory matters. This includes overseeing rate cases, rulemakings, and other proceedings before state Public Utility Commissions (PUCs) and ensuring compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regulations. Provide expert guidance on environmental law, permitting, and compliance with EPA standards.
Litigation and Risk Management
Develop and implement a comprehensive risk management strategy for the enterprise. Oversee all litigation, claims, and disputes involving the company, including commercial, environmental, employment, and tort litigation. Manage the selection, retention, and performance of outside counsel to ensure cost-effective, high-quality representation.
Commercial Transactions and Major Projects
Provide legal oversight for all significant commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), divestitures, joint ventures, and complex financing arrangements. Lead legal negotiations for major contracts, such as Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) agreements, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and interconnection agreements for large-scale energy projects.
Ethics and Compliance Program Leadership
Champion a culture of integrity and ethical conduct throughout the organization. Oversee and enhance the company’s corporate ethics and compliance program, including policy development, training, internal investigations, and reporting mechanisms.
Labor and Employment Law
Advise Human Resources and senior management on a full range of labor and employment law issues, including employee relations, collective bargaining agreements, executive compensation, and benefits plans.
Intellectual Property and Data Privacy
Oversee the company’s intellectual property portfolio and advise on matters related to data privacy, cybersecurity, and technology transactions, ensuring compliance with evolving laws and regulations.
Departmental Leadership and Management
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing in-house legal team. Foster a collaborative, service-oriented culture within the department. Develop and manage the legal department’s annual budget and operational plans.
Requirements for the Chief Legal Officer with a Public Utilities Company – Charlotte, NC
The ideal candidate will be a distinguished legal executive with a proven track record of success in a complex, regulated industry. Specific qualifications include:
Education
A Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a top-tier, ABA-accredited law school is required.
Bar Admission
Must be a member in good standing of at least one state bar and be eligible for admission to the North Carolina State Bar (either through reciprocity or as in-house counsel).
Experience
A minimum of 15-20 years of progressive legal experience, with a significant portion spent in the public utilities, energy, or a similarly regulated capital-intensive industry. Previous experience as a General Counsel, Deputy General Counsel, or senior legal leader within a publicly-traded company is strongly preferred.
Regulatory Expertise
Deep, substantive experience with state and federal energy regulations is essential. The candidate must have a strong command of the legal frameworks governing electric or gas utilities, including rate-making, environmental compliance, and reliability standards.
Corporate and Securities Law Acumen
Extensive experience with public company reporting, corporate governance, and SEC compliance is required. Experience directly advising a public company Board of Directors is highly desirable.
Leadership and Management Skills
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a legal department, effectively mentor attorneys and staff, and manage significant departmental budgets. Proven success in selecting and managing outside counsel.
Business Acumen
Strong business and financial acumen with the ability to understand the company’s operations and strategic goals, and to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills. The ability to articulate complex legal concepts clearly and persuasively to a variety of audiences, from engineers to board members to regulators. Must possess unquestionable integrity, credibility, and executive presence.
Benefits & Perks Offered
Our client offers a comprehensive and highly competitive executive compensation and benefits package designed to attract and retain top-tier talent. The package includes:
Competitive Executive Compensation
A lucrative package including a competitive base salary, an annual performance-based bonus, and a significant long-term incentive plan (e.g., stock options, restricted stock units).
Comprehensive Health & Wellness
Premium medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for you and your dependents. Access to executive wellness programs, mental health resources, and a generous health savings account (HSA) with company contributions.
Retirement Savings
A robust 401(k) plan with a generous company match and potential for additional profit-sharing contributions.
Generous Paid Time Off
A substantial paid time off (PTO) policy, including vacation, sick leave, and company-paid holidays.
Relocation Assistance
A comprehensive relocation package is available for the successful candidate and their family to move to the vibrant Charlotte, NC area.
Professional Development
Full support for continuing legal education (CLE), professional association memberships, and attendance at industry conferences.
Additional Perks
Executive-level life and disability insurance, financial planning services, and opportunities for community involvement and board service.
How to Apply
This is an exclusive, retained search conducted by JRG Partners. To be considered for this confidential opportunity, please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your qualifications and interest in the role. All inquiries and applications will be handled with the utmost discretion. We invite you to connect with our dedicated legal recruiting practice to learn more about this and other executive-level opportunities. For more information, please visit the JRG Partners’ Executive Legal Search team page. We look forward to reviewing your application.
