Assistant General Counsel, Media & Events

WORK OPTION: Hybrid

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2023-24 season featured a record 125 international players from 40 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness. 
 

Position Summary:
This position will serve as lead lawyer providing advice and support to the Events and Live Production & Entertainment Departments.  Reporting to the Executive Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, the position will focus on drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements for Events and Live Production & Entertainment clients and providing related legal and strategic advice.

Major Responsibilities:

• Structure, draft and negotiate complex events agreements (including potential equity targets, and new fan events) and a variety of other commercial agreements for the Events department, including vendor, venue, hotel, ticketing, technology licensing, work-for-hire, and promoter agreements.
• Negotiate and draft talent and performance agreements for high profile live entertainment acts (including NBA All-Star events), influencers/creators, speaking engagements, and broadcasters in connection with NBA and affiliate league events.
• Manage SAG-AFTRA matters (including oversight of outside counsel, as appropriate).
• Manage day-to-day legal work and provide legal advice in connection with the forgoing across the organization, including Regional Offices, affiliate leagues, teams, and USA Basketball.  
• Manage compliance with league rules/policies regarding events and use of talent, including coordination with Finance/Tax, Risk Management and Compliance.
• Draft and negotiate NDAs, pre-meeting letters. and similar “pre-contract” engagement with third parties and manage related internal policies/processes.
• Serve as lead lawyer providing advice and support to the Communications Department, including drafting PR regulations and credential and ticket back terms for NBA, affiliate leagues, and USA Basketball.
• Provide primary legal support for other event-related agreements (e.g., air charter agreements for NBA and affiliate leagues) and manage internal approval process, as required, for NBA team events (e.g., NBA team neutral site pre-season games, team participation in NBA Global Games)
• Manage Associate Counsel - Technology and Events and Director, Contract Management - Media & Events, including supervising Associate Counsel/s work in support of IT Department and Media Operations group. 

Required Education/Professional Experience:

• Admission to practice in the State of New York. 
• J.D.
• 10+ years of experience after law school with commercial transactional work, including events and production-related agreements; relevant in-house experience strongly preferred.

Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes:

• Excellent record of academic and professional achievement. 
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements required.
• Outstanding written and oral presentation skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced work environment with competing demands.
• Strong commitment to quality work product and organizational ethics, integrity, and compliance.

Salary Range: $280,000 - $350,000 

Job Posting Title: Vice President 

The NBA does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or any other third parties. Any unsolicited resume sent to the NBA will be considered NBA property, and the NBA will not pay a fee should it hire the subject of any unsolicited resume. 

The NBA considers applicants for all positions on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs, and without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.