Counsel - ESPN

Maintains current knowledge of applicable laws

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

Drafts contracts and other legal documents, recommends approval/modification of contracts proposed by outside parties, and negotiates with outside parties.

Supports other areas

Affords support to comparable tasks in other areas outside of core expertise/primary responsibility.

Specialized legal knowledge

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.

Internal client communication

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.

Document review and editing

Reviews and edits significant policies, letters, work orders and other documents from applicable client departments to ensure that potential legal implications are appropriately addressed.

Outside counsel management

Manages outside counsel in their representation of ESPN on litigation and other legal matters.

Supervision

May directly supervise, on a non-exclusive basis, one or more Paralegal and Legal Assistant colleagues.

Professional development

As requested by the Deputy Chief Counsel and/or Chief Counsel, participates in relevant professional associations, seminars, and conferences.

Strategy implementation

Operates within the context of defined corporate strategies. Conceives and recommends and, with appropriate approvals, implements enhancements and improvements to established processes and workflows.

Legal risk minimization

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.

Other duties

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.

Strategic thinking

Conceives and recommends strategies and initiatives to minimize the legal risks of current operations and proposed actions.

Qualifications and Skills

• At least 2 years of contract law experience, including extensive drafting, in either a transactional or litigation capacity.
• 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.
• Admission to Connecticut State Bar or New York State Bar in good standing or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel.

Hiring Range

The hiring range for this position in Bristol, CT is $144,300 to $186,600 per year and in New York, NY is $151,200 to $195,500 per year.