Associate Counsel, Media

WORK OPTION: 4 days/week in New York, NY office

The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace.  To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA’s own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

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 support the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League and their respective teams with respect to various media-related transactions, projects and analyses, reporting to the Vice President, Assistant General Counsel – Media.  

Major Responsibilities:

• Negotiate, structure and draft agreements relating to the distribution of live games and other content across platforms and formats, with a focus on national and local media rights agreements.
• Analyze and summarize provisions of existing agreements and advise the media client group as issues arise.
• Liaise with team counsel with respect to contract compliance.
• Perform special projects and other assignments as requested by the Legal Department’s media team.

Required Education/Professional Experience:

• Admission to practice in the State of New York
• JD Required
• At least 3 years of experience at a law firm and/or corporate legal department, including experience in structuring, negotiating, drafting and advising on complex agreements
• Experience in corporate legal department in media or entertainment industry, or other experience with media-related agreements, preferred

Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes:

• Exceptional written and oral business communication skills 
• Strong contract drafting and negotiating skills
• Strong analytical ability and related issue-spotting and problem-solving skills
• Strong project-management skills
• Ability to make timely, nuanced and targeted recommendations for business decisions based on reasoned legal analysis and the strategic objectives of the organization
• Ability to balance and prioritize multiple projects and engage with multiple stakeholders in a challenging and fast-paced environment 
• High level of commitment to quality work product and organizational ethics and integrity

Salary Range: $200,000 - $225,000 

Job Posting Title: Senior Director 

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.