Davis Wright Tremaine LLP seeks a junior to midlevel associate to join its robust energy practice in San Francisco (preferred), Seattle or Portland.

The associate will support a nationally recognized energy practice advising:

• Developers and operators of generation, storage, transmission, and other energy infrastructure
• Data center clients with complex energy and interconnection needs
• Community choice aggregators, power marketers, demand response providers, large energy consumers, trade associations, core transport agents, energy service providers, and other energy market participants
• Electric and natural gas utilities
• The role will involve a mix of regulatory, project development, and energy transactional matters, including work related to large energy infrastructure projects and rapidly growing data center demand

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on a broad range of Western state (and occasionally other state and federal) energy regulatory and policy matters
• Support developers and independent power producers, energy market participants and utilities, in regulatory proceedings and compliance matters
• Support matters involving:
• Electric transmission and grid infrastructure
• Ratemaking
• Change of control proceedings
• Interconnection and large-load issues, including data centers
• Natural gas infrastructure and related regulatory frameworks
• Climate and environmental attributes of power supply
• Assist with regulatory and diligence aspects of energy infrastructure transactions
• Conduct legal research, draft regulatory filings and client memoranda, and support agency interactions
• Collaborate across practices on infrastructure development, regulatory strategy, and energy-transition matters

Qualifications

• JD from an accredited law school
• Admission to practice in California or another relevant U.S. jurisdiction
• 2-3 years of relevant experience in energy regulatory, project development, or energy infrastructure matters
• Strong legal research, writing, and analytical skills
• Large law firm, government agency, or energy industry experience preferred
• Experience with electric and/or natural gas regulatory or infrastructure matters
• Familiarity with interconnection, grid infrastructure, or energy project development
• Familiarity with hydropower licensing or other energy infrastructure permitting is beneficial but not required
• Interest in working at the intersection of regulation, climate, infrastructure investment, and emerging energy demands (including data centers)

Why DWT

• High-demand energy practice with national reach
• Direct client exposure and meaningful responsibility
• Opportunity to grow with expanding data center and energy infrastructure work
• Collegial, team-oriented environment with strong mentorship

Join Us!

If you’re ready to take your career to the next level and be part of a firm where your contributions are recognized and valued, please submit your cover letter addressed to Beka Anardi, Lawyer Talent Acquisition Manager; resume; copy of law school transcript; and a writing sample.

We are accepting third party submissions.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP embraces diversity, equity and inclusion. It brings out the best of what each individual has to offer and inspires us to build strong and lasting connections with each other, our clients, and our communities.

We are committed to creating and cultivating a diverse workforce and inclusive environment where every employee has the right to work in surroundings that are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is our policy to hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical condition), race, color, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, religious creed, age, marital status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, medical condition, military condition, military or veteran status or any other basis prohibited by applicable local, state, or federal laws.

Davis Wright Tremaine provides reasonable accommodations for those who need them to complete the application or recruiting process and for employees who need reasonable accommodations to perform the essential functions of their positions due to a disability or for religious reasons. If you need to request accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please email humanresources@dwt.com.

Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The annualized salary range for this position is $215,000 to $290,000. Actual pay will be adjusted based on the candidate’s education, training, experience, and other job-related factors permitted by law. 

Core Benefits: Full-time employees may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package, including medical insurance (with an optional Health Savings Account), dental insurance, vision care, life insurance, and disability.

Paid Time Off (PTO): Full-time employees receive sick leave benefits in accordance with the appropriate state Sick & Safe Leave Policy. Attorneys generally take approximately three weeks of vacation annually, though the exact amount may vary depending on client and firm needs. The firm also provides 11 paid holidays each year.

Additional Programs: Employees may participate in 401(k) retirement planning, Healthcare and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Available voluntary benefits include accident, life, disability, long-term care, and pet insurance. Commuter and transit programs are also available. Full-time employees may also be eligible for an annual discretionary bonus.

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