Job Description

Specific Responsibilities

The Managing Attorney for Apache Corporation will be a member of Apache’s Legal team at the company’s Houston office. This position plays a vital role in advancing the Company’s strategic priorities by serving as a trusted legal advisor and business partner to Company leadership. In this role, the Managing Attorney provides strategic legal counsel, deep subject matter expertise, and practical guidance across a broad range of corporate governance, transactional, litigation, regulatory, and other complex legal matters. Working in close partnership with the business and functional leaders, the Managing Attorney helps identify the Company’s most significant legal and business risks, develops practical strategies to address those risks, and drives solutions that support Apache’s business objectives while protecting the Company’s interests.

The Managing Attorney must exercise sound judgment, think strategically, and provide thoughtful, solution-oriented counsel on matters that are critical to the Company's success. Managing Attorneys are expected to foster collaboration, accountability, and professional growth while ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality legal services across the organization. 

This role will be primarily responsible for the following:

Litigation: oversee the assertion/filing of a legal claim or defending against one on behalf of the Company (including investigating and prosecuting cases and claims).

Assume carriage and responsibility for litigation matters assigned to him or her by the Assistant General Counsel. Garners the trust of senior management and the ability to articulate and justify litigation recommendations to the same.
Develop and execute litigation strategy for complex commercial, environmental, employment, personal injury, regulatory, securities, and other high-stakes litigation matters. 
Manage all phases of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, dispositive motions, trial, appeal, arbitration, and mediation. 
Evaluate legal, financial, operational, and reputational risks associated with disputes and recommend appropriate courses of action to the General Counsel. 
Direct settlement strategy and negotiate resolutions consistent with business objectives. 
Oversee the preservation of evidence and litigation hold processes applicable to his or her litigation docket.
Establish effective and cost-effective litigation strategies while managing the litigation teams and budgets assisting with litigation docket.
Provide practical, risk-based legal advice that balances legal exposure with commercial objectives.
Mentor junior attorneys and legal professionals.
Assist with SEC disclosures regarding litigation contingencies. 
Prepare briefing materials for executive decision-making.
Keeps the General Counsel informed of material developments, ensuring there are no surprises.

Qualifications & Experience

The successful candidate will have the following qualifications and experience:

12+ years of experience
Hold a juris doctor degree from a top law school, with a class ranking in the top 25%
Demonstrates the ability to effectively manage projects (i.e., maintaining a big picture perspective, while managing the details and sticking to a timeline).
Analyzes any situation from all points of view by taking in large amounts of information at a time, organizing it, and understanding it quickly and correctly.
Demonstrates and develops negotiation talent.

Competencies

The successful candidate will lead by example through successfully demonstrating the following:

Core Competencies

Communication: Writes, speaks, and presents information effectively and persuasively across communication setting;
Results: Pursues work with energy, drive, and results orientation to positively impact Apache’s business success;
Collaboration: Works in partnership with others and encourages different perspectives, while building and maintaining trust; and
Culture: Willingness and ability to align one’s behavior with the needs, priorities, and goals of Apache.

Leadership Competencies

Servant Leadership: Inspires and enables performance excellence through feedback, empathy, development and empowerment;
Strategic Mindset: Applies business acumen to see the big picture, understand business issues, and exhibit financial stewardship;
Change Leadership: Inspires change by challenging the status quo, generating support, and executing improvement projects to achieve business outcomes; and
Leading Effective Teams: Enables performance excellence through effective structure, delegation, and motivation.