Eminent Domain Attorney

Requisition ID: 90251

NextEra Energy Resources is one of America’s largest wholesale electricity generators, harnessing diverse energy sources to power progress. We deliver tailored energy solutions that fuel economic growth, strengthen communities, and help customers achieve their energy goals. Ready to make a lasting impact? Take the next step in your career with us!

Position Specific Description

NextEra Energy is seeking a highly skilled Eminent Domain Attorney to join our legal team, specializing in land acquisition and condemnation matters for critical energy infrastructure projects. This role will lead complex property acquisition strategies for transmission lines, renewable energy facilities, and natural gas infrastructure while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and protecting the company's interests through negotiation or legal action.

Key Responsibilities

Property Rights & Land Acquisition

- Manage eminent domain proceedings for transmission line corridors, substation sites, and renewable energy project footprints

- Negotiate easement and fee simple acquisition agreements with property owners and their representatives

- Conduct legal due diligence on property titles, encumbrances, and existing rights-of-way

- Coordinate with appraisers, surveyors, and environmental consultants to support acquisition strategies

Litigation & Dispute Resolution

- Represent the company in eminent domain proceedings, including pre-condemnation planning, hearings, and appeals across multiple jurisdictions

- Oversee inverse condemnation claims and property damage disputes

- Manage appeals and complex valuation challenges in state and federal courts

- Negotiate settlements and alternative dispute resolution to minimize project delays and costs

Regulatory & Compliance Management

- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws governing eminent domain and utility development

- Monitor legislative developments and regulatory changes affecting land use and condemnation authority

- Coordinate with environmental and permitting teams on National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) compliance

- Support certificate of public convenience and necessity applications

Project Development Support

- Collaborate with development teams during project planning to optimize routing and minimize acquisition costs

- Provide legal guidance on franchise agreements and municipal right-of-way permits

- Support rate case proceedings involving transmission infrastructure investments

- Advise on land use planning and zoning matters affecting energy projects

- Advise internal teams on land acquisition strategies, easement negotiations, and risk mitigation.

Stakeholder Relations

- Build relationships with landowners, community representatives, and local government officials

- Work closely with real estate, permitting, engineering, and government affairs teams to align legal strategies with project timelines

- Coordinate with external local counsel in various jurisdictions

- Support public outreach efforts and community engagement initiatives

- Manage relationships with title companies, appraisers, and other service providers

Technical Expertise

- Deep understanding of eminent domain law across multiple jurisdictions

- Knowledge of utility regulatory frameworks and federal energy regulations

- Experience with transmission line, pipeline, or renewable energy project development

- Understanding of property valuation methodologies and appraisal processes

Core Competencies

- Strong litigation skills with courtroom experience in condemnation matters

- Excellent negotiation abilities with sensitivity to landowner concerns

- Project management skills to coordinate complex multi-property acquisitions

- Superior communication skills for interacting with diverse stakeholder groups

- Analytical thinking to evaluate legal risks and develop strategic solutions

- Ability to manage complex, multi-jurisdictional projects

- Proficiency in legal research tools and GIS mapping systems

Specialized Knowledge Areas

- Interstate transmission project coordination

- Natural gas pipeline right-of-way acquisition

- Solar and wind facility land leasing and acquisition

- Underwater cable and offshore transmission easements

- Native American tribal land negotiations

Travel Requirements

Position requires approximately 25-40% travel to project sites, court proceedings, and client meetings across the company's operating territories.

This role offers the opportunity to play a vital part in developing the energy infrastructure necessary to support America's growing energy future while working with innovative legal strategies in one of the most dynamic areas of energy law.

Job Overview

Employees in this job perform a variety of routine legal assignments and projects of varying (basic to moderate) complexity and deliver timely and quality legal services to clients with close supervision.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

- Conducts legal research, drafts legal documents and assists more experienced attorneys in transactions

- Provides legal advice to business units, and prepares resolutions and forms

- Works to ensure budget compliance and avoids the need for outside counsel

- Ensures disclosure of potentially material legal issues to senior leadership

- Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

- Member in Good Standing of a State Bar

- High School Grad / GED

- Juris Doctorate

- Bachelor's Degree

- Experience:1+ years

Preferred Qualifications

- None

NextEra Energy offers a wide range of benefits to support our employees and their eligible family members. Click here to learn more.

Employee Group: Exempt Employee Type: Full Time Job Category: Legal/Regulatory/External Affairs Organization: NextEra Energy Resources, LLC Relocation Provided: Yes, if applicable

NextEra Energy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, age, national origin, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetics, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by law.

NextEra Energy and provides reasonable accommodation in its application and selection process for qualified individuals, including accommodations related to compliance with conditional job offer requirements, consistent with federal, state, and local laws. Supporting medical or religious documentation will be required where applicable and permitted by applicable law. To request a reasonable accommodation, please send an e-mail to recruiting-coordinator.sharedmailbox@nexteraenergy.com, providing your name, telephone number and the best time for us to reach you. Alternatively, you may call 1-844-694-4748. Please do not use this line to inquire about your application status.

NextEra Energy will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

NextEra Energy does not accept any unsolicited resumes or referrals from any third-party recruiting firms or agencies. Please see our policy for more information.