Corporate Counsel

About the role

Fanatics is seeking an attorney to assume the role of IP Counsel. Reporting to the Company’s Vice President - Legal Affairs & Brand Protection and housed in Fanatics’ Commerce division (but with responsibilities across the Company’s other verticals), the IP Counsel will serve as a strategic partner who must be able to succeed in handling a multitude of legal matters, including, but not limited to, managing intellectual property portfolios (with a focus on trademarks), trademark clearance, anti-counterfeiting and IP enforcement, IP-related disputes (including litigation), domain name matters, license agreements and other contracts, and general IP guidance and strategic advice. As noted below, to be successful in this role you must be an experienced IP attorney who is a self-starter, not afraid to ask questions, enthusiastic about the intersection of IP and business, and able to multi-task/handle various projects at once while effectively prioritizing. The IP Counsel delivers business and fan impact through BOLD leadership and execution excellence, leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted colleague and creative problem-solver who can take independent ownership over matters and think independently and critically when it comes to various IP-related matters working alongside the VP - Legal Affairs & Brand Protection.
• Collaborate with the VP - Legal Affairs & Brand Protection and the rest of the Commerce Legal Team to provide legal advice to the executives and senior business leaders across the organization, including engagement in proactive issue-spotting, risk assessment and problem-solving.
• Involved with management and strategic guidance related to the company’s global IP portfolio (across multiple verticals), including communications with the applicable business units to arrive at sound portfolio strategy.
• Facilitate trademark clearance searches and provide appropriate legal guidance to applicable business units.
• Effectively collaborate and communicate both internally and externally regarding anti-counterfeiting and other IP enforcement matters.
• Review and evaluate potential enforcement matters and provide sound guidance on merits and strategy.
• Involved with management of various third-party IP-related disputes, including litigation.
• Provide legal support to Fanatics Licensing Management’s College business, including guidance on IP-related legal matters, coordination of brand protection initiatives, and negotiation of license agreements.
• Provide support on IP-related matters pertaining to M&A activity.
• Provide strategic guidance on domain name portfolio and domain name disputes.
• Negotiate and structure trademark license agreements and other contracts.
• Provide sound general IP-related advice across the organization.
• Interpret and advise with respect to rights and obligations under Fanatics' agreements.
• Collaborate with other members of the Commerce Legal Team, including with respect to issues requiring subject matter expertise, and oversee/leverage outside counsel, as needed.
• Apply AI and technology to improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes.
• Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance.
• Demonstrate curiosity and adaptability in adopting new technologies and ways of working.
• Contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school