General Counsel

Princeton Legal Search Group has been engaged on an exclusive basis by Xcoal Energy & Resources to lead the search for a General Counsel. Xcoal is a global coal marketing and logistics company with 19 offices around the world. The General Counsel will be based at company headquarters in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The General Counsel is expected to serve as a business partner and trusted advisor to the CEO and senior management of Xcoal on a wide range of strategic, business, operational and tactical issues.

Major Duties and Responsibilities: The successful candidate will be responsible for the following:

• Continuing to implement the overall legal philosophy and business strategy of Xcoal , nationally and internationally, in support of its long-term goals and objectives while promoting high standards of ethical conduct within the organization.
• Providing advice and counsel to the CEO and the management of the Company on material legal and business matters impacting or potentially impacting Xcoal.
• Overseeing contracts drafting and review and logistics documentation in coordination with the applicable departments (purchase and sale agreements, offtake agreements, terminal agreements, charterparties, non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements)
• Drafting and/or review of trade financing documentation.
• Management of litigation, including selection of outside counsel, participation in strategic decisions, and settlement negotiations.
• Selection of and coordination with outside counsel, both in the US and abroad.
• Acting as Chief Compliance Officer, ensuring that Xcoal and its affiliates and subsidiaries are in compliance with applicable laws, regulatory requirements, policies and procedures, both in the US and internationally.
• Acting as Company Secretary, manage organizational governance for Xcoal’s extensive and diverse US and international entity structures.
• Taking a leading role in risk management, emergency planning and business continuity if required.

Key Attributes Include:

• A lawyer who is practical, has a primarily commercial point of view, and the legal background, communication and interpersonal skills required to function successfully in a dynamic business environment. Experience in the resources and/or commodities field is a plus.
• Experience in assessing legal risk in difficult situations, eg. matters with acute time pressure and/or issues with great material consequences for the company.
• Ability to prepare clear, concise, jargon-free and comprehensive written communications.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all employee levels within the Company.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited US law school.
• 15+ years experience in a law firm or as corporate or in-house legal counsel.
• Admission to the Pennsylvania Bar or the ability to secure Pennsylvania Limited In House Corporate Counsel Licensure under Rule 302.
• Willingness to travel as required, both domestically and internationally.