COMPANY PROFILE
Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation ("DGOC") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Diversified Energy Company PLC, a US-based company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and London Stock Exchange (LSE) under the ticker symbol "DEC". Diversified Gas & Oil Corporation (DGOC) is an established owner and operator of producing conventional and unconventional natural gas & oil wells and midstream pipelines and compression stations concentrated in the Appalachian Basin in the United States. Headquartered in Birmingham, AL, our field operations are located throughout the Appalachian Basin in the states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In 2021, Diversified announced our expansion into our Central Regional Focus Area, which includes producing areas within Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
POSITION SUMMARY & RESPONSIBILITIES
Diversified Energy is seeking a Corporate Counsel with 3-5 years of experience, preferably in the natural gas or broader oil & gas industry, to support its growing legal team. This position is designed for a licensed attorney with a solid foundation in litigation; conflict resolution (pre and post-suit), including landowner dispute resolution; and regulatory compliance.
Key Responsibilities:
• Regulatory & Compliance: Assist with preparing responses to regulatory inquiries, enforcement actions, or notices of violation. Support internal and external audits and investigations into compliance with contractual obligations as well as environmental regulations and safety procedures. Provide legal support on environmental matters related to air emissions, water discharges, waste management, and well plugging.
• Landowner Relations & Dispute Resolution: Evaluate and support the resolution of landowner disputes, surface use conflicts, easement negotiations, and nuisance claims. Draft, review, and interpret surface use agreements, rights-of-way, and access agreements. Serve as a legal liaison with land, operations, and external relations teams to ensure proactive and timely issue resolution. Assist with managing the Companys litigation, including professional liability and general liability claims, class action claims, employment litigation, contractual disputes, internal investigations, and other litigation matters, with an emphasis on budget management.
• Contract Drafting & Legal Support: Assist in drafting and negotiating a variety of operational agreements, including service agreements and right-of-way agreements. Manage document control and support litigation discovery processes as needed.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Assist with preparing materials on environmental compliance and regulatory reporting. Work collaboratively with operations, EH&S, land, and engineering teams on multi-disciplinary legal matters.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school.
Active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
2-3 years of legal experience, with a preference for prior in-house or firm experience in the oil & gas sector.
Ability to organize, integrate, track, and analyze complex information from a number of sources.
Demonstrated experience in facilitating dispute resolution.
Strong legal research, writing, and communication skills.
Preferred:
• Familiarity with issues specific to legacy well management, abandonment, plugging, and associated risk frameworks.
• Prior work with state and federal regulatory agencies such as Pennsylvania DEP or West Virginia DEP as well as state and federal environmental regulatory regimes.
• Knowledge of energy infrastructure M&A and title
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Prolonged periods working at a desk in front of a computer.
Additional Requirements:
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at a time.