Lead Counsel, Commercial (Energy - Infrastructure)

The role

This role supports the business on legal matters relating to energy and power infrastructure for OpenAI's data center portfolio. The person will advise on complex legal and regulatory issues and manage transactions to secure power for infrastructure ambitions.

What you will do

• Own legal strategy and risk management for global energy procurement and power infrastructure transactions.
• Draft, negotiate, and advise on complex power purchase agreements, energy supply and hedging arrangements, and utility service contracts.
• Structure and negotiate interconnection, transmission, and utility infrastructure arrangements.
• Advise leadership on legal and regulatory considerations for energy and data center strategy.
• Support strategic partnerships involving renewable generation, energy storage, and on-site power solutions.
• Develop legal and regulatory frameworks for energy procurement and project development.
• Partner with finance and operations teams to align contract terms with business and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with policy and regulatory colleagues on energy transactions and grid access.
• Build scalable, efficient contracting processes.
• Guide outside counsel and coordinate with real estate, construction, tax, and regulatory counsel.

Required qualifications

• 10+ years of legal experience, with substantial focus on complex commercial energy transactions.
• JD and license or qualification to practice in CA.
• Relevant experience in-house, at a law firm, or a combination of both, advising energy companies, utilities, developers, major power customers, or infrastructure investors.
• Demonstrated experience independently leading complex energy transactions, including power purchase, utility service, or interconnection agreements.
• Familiarity with U.S. electricity markets, utility tariffs, and regulatory frameworks including FERC, state utility commissions, and regional grid operators.
• Strong commercial judgment and financial fluency in energy pricing, volume commitments, credit support, and allocation of risk.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with autonomy and sound judgment in highly technical and fast-moving environments.
• Exceptional communication skills.

Nice to have

• Experience advising on cross-border energy deals and international energy regulatory frameworks
• Prior experience with data center power procurement, generation or storage development, energy project finance, joint ventures, or on-site and behind-the-meter energy projects

About the company

OpenAI is an AI research and deployment company dedicated to ensuring that general-purpose artificial intelligence benefits all of humanity. The Legal team tackles innovative and fundamental legal issues in AI.