Corporate Counsel

New York - New York Business Affairs - Business Affairs & Legal Salaried
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Company Overview
 
Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform to ignite and harness the passions of fans and maximize the presence and reach for hundreds of partners globally. Optimizing these long-standing partnerships, a database of more than 80 million global consumers and a trusted, recognizable brand name, Fanatics is expanding beyond its position as a global leader for licensed sports merchandise to now becoming a next-gen digital sports platform, featuring an array of offerings for fans across the sports ecosystem.
 
The Fanatics family of companies currently includes Fanatics Commerce, a vertically-integrated licensed merchandise business that has changed the way fans purchase their favorite team apparel, jerseys, headwear and hardgoods through a tech-infused approach to making and quickly distributing fan gear in today’s 24/7 mobile-first economy; Candy Digital, a digital collectibles company that is partnering with prominent sports properties, including MLB and MLBPA, to build an official NFT ecosystem; Fanatics Collectibles, through Topps as a cornerstone of the business, building a new model for the collectibles and trading cards hobby with top leagues and players association partners; and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, a mobile betting, gaming and retail sportsbook platform. Fanatics’ partners include all major professional sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, MLS, PGA) and hundreds of collegiate and professional teams, which include several of the biggest global soccer clubs.
 
As a market leader with more than 9,000 employees, and hundreds of partners, suppliers, and vendors worldwide, we take responsibility for driving toward more ethical and sustainable practices. We are committed to building an inclusive Fanatics community, reflecting and representing society at every level of the business, including our employees, vendors, partners and fans. Fanatics is also dedicated to making a positive impact in the communities where we all live, work, and play through strategic philanthropic initiatives.
 
At Fanatics, we’re a diverse, passionate group of employees aiming to ignite pride and passion in the fans we outfit, celebrate and support.  We recognize that diversity helps drive and foster innovation, and through our IDEA program (inclusion, diversity, equality and advocacy) at Fanatics we provide employees with tools and resources to feel connected and engaged in who they are and what they do to support the ultimate fan experience.
 
www.fanaticsinc.com

Role Overview
Fanatics is seeking an experienced corporate/transactional attorney to join our Legal Department as Corporate Counsel.  This role will serve as a strategic partner to the company’s executives, providing critical legal support with respect to global rights acquisition, licensing and partnerships throughout the sports industry.  This position will be responsible for negotiating transactions with professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, athletes, retailers, entertainment properties and other key partners across Fanatics’ various business units. 
 
Location:  New York, NY (Hybrid)
Responsibilities:
  • Draft, negotiate and close complex strategic transactions for global sports rights acquisition, product licensing and operation of official physical retail, in close partnership with Business Development and Business Affairs executives.  
  • Provide legal advice to internal clients across the organization, including engaging in creative problem-solving, proactive issue-spotting and business-focused risk assessment.
  • Develop and maintain strong, detailed knowledge of extensive historical contractual relationships with key rights-holders. 
  • Review, analyze, interpret and advise on highly matrixed contractual rights and obligations.
  • Collaborate with operational departments and subject matter experts across the company, including Licensing, Business Management, Finance, Tax, M&A, Privacy and IP.

    • Experience Requirements:
  • Minimum of 5 years of legal experience gained in relevant organizations or industries, through a combination of working in a major law firm and a large in-house legal department.
  • Extensive experience leading a wide range of sophisticated commercial transactions, including rights acquisition, intellectual property licensing, strategic partnerships, e-commerce, manufacturing and retail merchandising. 
  • Significant sports rights licensing experience is particularly desirable for this role. 
  • Proven track record of closing a very high volume of complex transactions under significant time constraints in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial business environment. 
  • Creative problem-solver who will initiate and develop alternative approaches to complex issues.
  • Self-starter with strong work ethic and ability to take ownership of business-critical transactions.
  • Possess a strong sense of integrity.
  • JD and bar admission in at least one US jurisdiction, preferably New York.


    • The salary range for this position is $180,000 - $210,000, which represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation. When determining base pay, as part of a final compensation package, we consider several factors such as location, experience, qualifications, and training. 

    Things We Care About

    ·         Your career growth, your ideas, your work-life balance, and your well-being.
    ·         Diversity and Inclusion
    ·         Our Company Culture and Values
    ·         Providing outstanding Company Perks and Benefits

    Ensure your Fanatics job offer is legitimate and don’t fall victim to fraud.  Fanatics never seeks payment from job applicants. Feel free to ask your recruiter for a phone call or other type of communication for interview, and ensure your communication is coming from a Fanatics or Fanatics Brand email address.  For added security, where possible, apply through our company website at www.fanaticsinc.com/careers

    Tryouts are open at Fanatics! Our team is passionate, talented, unified, and charged with creating the fan experience of tomorrow. The ball is in your court now.

    Fanatics is committed to responsible planning and purchasing (RPP) practices, working with its business partners across its global and multi-layered supply chain, to ensure that planning, sourcing, and purchasing decisions, along with other supporting processes, do not impede or conflict with the fulfillment of Fanatics’ fair labor practices.

    NOTICE TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS/APPLICANTS: In connection with your application, we collect information that identifies, reasonably relates to or describes you (“Personal Information”). The categories of Personal Information that we collect include your name, government issued identification number(s), email address, mailing address, other contact information, emergency contact information, employment history, educational history, criminal record, and demographic information.  We collect and use those categories of Personal Information about you for human resources and other business management purposes, including identifying and evaluating you as a candidate for potential or future employment or future contract positions, recordkeeping in relation to recruiting and hiring, conducting criminal background checks as permitted by law, conducting analytics, and ensuring compliance with applicable legal requirements and Company policies.