Description
OpenAI's Legal team plays a crucial role in advancing the company's mission by tackling innovative and fundamental legal issues in AI.
We're seeking an experienced energy lawyer to support the business on legal matters relating to the energy and power infrastructure supporting OpenAI's fast-growing data center portfolio.
In this role, you will:
- Own legal strategy and risk management for OpenAI's global energy procurement and power infrastructure transactions.
- Draft, negotiate, and advise on complex power purchase agreements, energy supply and hedging arrangements, and utility service and special contracts.
- Structure and negotiate interconnection, transmission, and utility infrastructure arrangements.
- Advise leadership and business leaders on legal and regulatory considerations.
- Support strategic partnerships involving renewable and other carbon-free generation, energy storage, and on-site or behind-the-meter power solutions for AI infrastructure.
- Develop legal and regulatory frameworks for energy procurement, project development, and collaboration with utilities, independent power producers, and energy developers.
- Partner with finance and operations teams to align contract terms with business and compliance requirements.
- Collaborate with policy and regulatory colleagues on issues impacting energy transactions.
- Build scalable, efficient contracting processes.
- Guide outside counsel and coordinate with real estate, construction, tax, and regulatory counsel on energy transactions and project development.
You might thrive in this role if you:
- Have 10+ years of legal experience, with substantial focus on complex commercial energy transactions.
- Are licensed to practice in California.
- Have relevant experience in-house, at a law firm, or a combination of both.
- Demonstrated experience independently leading complex energy transactions.
- Familiarity with U.S. electricity markets, utility tariffs, and regulatory frameworks.
- Strong commercial judgment and financial fluency in energy pricing, volume commitments, credit support, and allocation of development and operating risk.
- Exceptional communication skills.
- Experience advising on cross-border energy deals and international energy regulatory frameworks is a plus.