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Senior Counsel - Entertainment

New York, New York

Who We Are

Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a leading sports, media, entertainment and lifestyle platform. As the owner of some of the most iconic and beloved intellectual property in the world, Authentic acquires and invests in brands to create long-term value for all of its stakeholders.
 
A digital-first, asset-light platform, Authentic sits at the intersection of culture, commerce and technology. It brings brands to life and cultivates fandom through powerful storytelling, premium content and unforgettable live experiences. Together with nearly 2,000 best-in-class licensing partners across 150 countries and an expansive distribution network, Authentic’s brands drive more than $38 billion in annual systemwide retail sales worldwide.

Why Authentic

You’ll be able to access the resources and scale, while leveraging innovative technology and nimble environment. What we’re saying is, this isn’t your average day job. If you’re hungry to drive ideas into action and own your career, let’s chat. Our team is rapidly innovating to evolve and define the future of our brands. With the help of some of the brightest minds in retail, marketing, licensing, legal and more, we are building the intersection of digital and experiential marketing to help achieve that mission. We reimagine, evolve and transform brands! At Authentic, we foster an inclusive workplace where diversity of thought and expertise drive competitive advantage. Our global teams are built by go-getters who contribute unique perspectives and push the boundaries of creativity and innovation. Headquartered in New York City, Authentic has offices in major metropolitan cities including Los Angeles and Miami, as well as Toronto, Mexico City, London, and Shanghai.

What You'll Do

We are looking for someone to join our team based in our New York City office. As Senior Counsel, you'll focus on entertainment, sports and consumer products licensing for our portfolio of entertainment brands including high profile talent. You'll thrive in our fast-paced environment and articulate positions related to intellectual property licensing in a way that balances business needs with risk mitigation, with an eye on achieving business results. As a member of the legal team, you will draft and negotiate Authentic's key entertainment deals in tandem with Authentic's business development and brand management teams. You'll report directly to the Senior Vice President, Legal - Entertainment, who is based in New York. This role regularly partners with colleagues across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America, Intellectual Property Department and other internal business units (e.g., Marketing/Communications, Finance, Operations, etc.). This position is primarily based in our New York City or Los Angeles office and follows a four-day in-office, one-day remote hybrid schedule.

What You'll Be Working On

  • Drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements relating to intellectual property and consumer products licensing (with an emphasis on trademarks and copyrights), endorsements, character appearances, sponsorships, and location-based events. Work also includes permission and clearance agreements, term sheets, agreements/rules for sweepstakes / contests, legal letters and settlement agreements.
  • Develop contract templates, playbooks, and internal guidance to improve efficiency and consistency.
  • Identify legal and commercial risks while developing practical, business-oriented solutions.
  • Partner with cross-functional teams on new business initiatives, strategic partnerships, and product launches.
  • Serve as a trusted legal advisor to senior business stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of licensing and commercial initiatives.
  • Providing advice and counsel regarding trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property.
  • Coordinating directly and efficiently with colleagues from Authentic's business development, brand management, and marketing teams.
  • Enabling the business to timely achieve its targets, while respecting the Company's principles and applicable laws, and assisting in embedding these principles into the Company's processes and decisions.
  • Implementing and overseeing corporate policies, procedures, and programs.
  • Partner with internal and external counsel with ongoing general matters for the Legal Department, as required in the day-to-day functioning of the Company and the Legal Department.
  • Supporting brand protection and anti-counterfeiting efforts, including coordinating cease-and-desist activity, and working with the Intellectual Property Department on monitoring and enforcement programs.
  • Advising on children's advertising and privacy compliance, including COPPA, FTC guidelines, and CARU advertising standards, as applicable to our kids-focused brands and its licensees.
  • Assisting with royalty audits, including reviewing audit rights provisions, coordinating with Finance on licensee audits, and interpreting royalty reports and statements.
  • Managing the lifecycle of existing licensing agreements, including renewals, terminations, defaults, and cure notices.

Must Haves

  • J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school, and a valid license to practice law in New York State.
  • 8+ years of relevant legal experience, including meaningful experience supporting intellectual property licensing, consumer products, entertainment, or related commercial transactions in-house and/or at a nationally recognized law firm. Proven ability to effectively execute on assigned priorities and initiatives instructions concerning both specific assignments and general policies.
  • Demonstrated track record of ownership and accountability for projects, duties, and tasks.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage up, including proactively seeking clarification and alignment on projects and duties, and proactively communicating priorities, risks, and progress with stakeholders and leadership.
  • Experience leveraging legal technology, including AI-assisted legal research and drafting tools (e.g., Harvey, Claude, or similar platforms), and contract lifecycle management (CLM) platforms and approval workflow tools. Proficiency with: MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
  • English fluency is a must; proficiency and/or fluency in additional languages is a plus.
  • A passion for the intersection of entertainment, business, and the law.
  • Prior experience with character licensing, entertainment IP, or children's brand licensing strongly preferred.
  • Strong commercial judgment with the ability to balance legal risk against business objectives.

Nice to Haves

  • Experience with children's brands, family entertainment IP, or consumer products targeting minors.
  • Proficiency in one or more additional languages beyond English.

 

Primary Location Salary Range: $165,000 - $180,000 

Fraud Alert: Unauthorized Job Offers and Impersonations

We have been made aware of fraudulent job offers and interview requests being sent by individuals falsely claiming to represent Authentic. These scams are often initiated via email, employment websites and social media, and may include fake interview requests, offer letters or attempts to collect personal and financial information.

Please note:

  • All legitimate Authentic job postings can be found only on our official website (authentic.com) or through our verified LinkedIn page (https://www.linkedin.com/company/weareauthentic).
  • Authentic does not conduct interviews over Teams or Zoom without prior email correspondence from a verified @authentic.com email address.
  • We will never ask you for sensitive personal information, payment or banking details as part of the hiring process.

If you believe you've been contacted by someone impersonating an Authentic team member, please report it immediately by emailing peopleandculture@authentic.com.

Authentic is an equal-opportunity employer and we value and embrace the diversity and inclusion of all Team Members. We do not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, national origin, disability, age, marital status, protected veteran status, or other legally protected status.

For individuals with disabilities or religious obligations who would like to request an accommodation, please contact talent@authentic.com

To access Authentic' s Privacy Policy, which contains information regarding data collected from job applicants and how we use it, please click here: https://authentic.com/pages/privacy-policy 

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