Counsel

The Counsel in ESPN’s Legal Department will assist the Deputy Chief Counsel, Assistant Chief Counsel and other attorneys in fulfilling the legal affairs and requirements of the corporation. Areas of focus can include, but are not limited to, programming acquisitions, production agreements, marketing and promotion, digital (including social) media and platforms, and distribution, as well as legal work related to various aspects of direct-to-consumer offerings. This role can be located in either New York, NY or Bristol, CT.  

Responsibilities:

• Maintains current knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws and of industry legal standards and norms; analyzes how these might impact ESPN.
• Drafts contracts and other legal documents, recommends approval/modification of contracts proposed by outside parties, and negotiates with outside parties.  Assists with/supports comparable tasks in other areas outside of core expertise/primary responsibility.
• Possesses and maintains (including through Department designated continuing legal education) knowledge in specialized legal areas, specifically in connection with (1) content (including audiovisual programming, licensing and production); (2) intellectual property (copyright, trademark, rights of publicity); (3) marketing and promotion; and/or (4) digital (including social) media and platforms.
• Keeps internal clients fully informed of relevant legal issues and implications of their current operations and proposed actions, and advises them accordingly of risks and legal consequences of alternative actions.
• Reviews and edits significant policies, letters, work orders and other documents from applicable client departments to ensure that potential legal implications are appropriately addressed.
• Manages outside counsel in their representation of ESPN on litigation and other legal matters.
• May directly supervise, on a non-exclusive basis, one or more Paralegal and Legal Assistant colleagues.
• As requested by the Deputy Chief Counsel and/or Chief Counsel, participates in relevant professional associations, seminars, and conferences.
• Operates within the context of defined corporate strategies. 
• Conceives and recommends and, with appropriate approvals, implements enhancements and improvements to established processes and workflows.
• Translates corporate strategy into mid- and long-term goals and the analysis and evaluation of trends in ESPN’s legal positioning and compliance into recommended corporate actions.
• Performs such other duties or functions as the Chief Counsel, Deputy Chief Counsel, Assistant Chief Counsel or an attorney reporting to any of them may delegate to them.
• Conceives and recommends strategies and initiatives to minimize the legal risks of current operations and proposed actions.

Required Qualifications:

• At least 2 years of contract law experience, including extensive drafting, in either a transactional or litigation capacity.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Familiarity with content agreement negotiating (including, by way of example only, audiovisual programming, licensing and production agreements) and intellectual property law (copyright, trademark, rights of publicity)
• Familiarity with the entertainment, broadcast/cable, Internet, mobile, other digital (including social) media and/or sports businesses
• Familiarity with audiovisual production legal work, including licensing of audiovisual content and data components
• Familiarity with marketing matters
• Experience supervising paralegal/legal support staff

Required Education

• JD or equivalent
• Strong academic credentials
• Admission to Connecticut State Bar or New York State Bar in good standing or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel.

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The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $148,900 to $192,600 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.