Counsel, Legal & Business Affairs

Counsel, Legal & Business AffairsLocation: NY-based Type: Full-Time Reports to: VP, Business Development About PushkinPushkin Industries is an award-winning audio network and production company, committed to producing good, smart, fun audio in any format. Founded in 2018, Pushkin makes narrative and investigative series as well as conversational shows. We have launched many new podcasts into Apple's Top 10, including Against the Rules, The Happiness Lab, Cautionary Tales, Deep Cover, and Revisionist History, which is hosted by Pushkin co-founder Malcolm Gladwell. Pushkin also produces audiobooks such as Gladwell's The Bomber Mafia and Talking to Strangers, Wild and Precious: A Celebration of Mary Oliver, Miracle and Wonder: Conversations with Paul Simon, and So Many Steves by Steve Martin and Adam Gopnik. We make highly-produced client work as well, for companies like IBM, GSK, and TED. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute their best work. About the RolePushkin is looking for a talented and business-oriented attorney to serve as our first in-house counsel. You'll report into and work closely with the VP of Business Development, owning the entire contracting lifecycle for Pushkin’s core business – podcasts, audiobooks, talent deals, branded content, work-for-hire, production, and licensing. This role is for someone who can hold commercial goals and risk tolerance in mind simultaneously, who knows when to push back and when to find a creative path forward, and who is ready to roll up their sleeves and dive in. You will negotiate and draft agreements with Pushkin's business goals in mind, think strategically across legal operations to increase efficiencies, and serve as a trusted, business-oriented advisor on complex and time-sensitive production matters. Our team is small and collaborative. This is an ideal role for a mid-career professional who is eager to join a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment and who wants to own a critical part of the pipeline for the deal-making, strategy, and day-to-day of a growing media company. What You'll Do Contract Drafting & NegotiationStructure, draft, review, redline, and negotiate the full range of Pushkin agreements, including content licensing, distribution, audiobook, custom brand partnerships, talent, work-for-hire, IP derivative, and syndication dealsServe as primary legal point of contact for day-to-day contracting work for all standard and recurring deal types Partner with the VP of Business Development to ensure all agreements align with Pushkin's commercial goals and long-term business strategyMaintain a consistent legal framework across all deal types — minimizing term shift, standardizing positions, and streamlining contract structures Strategic Legal OversightAdvise senior leadership on legal risk, contract interpretation, and IP issues, including copyright, trademark, and ownership rights Identify and escalate complex or novel legal issues to outside counselCollaborate cross-functionally with production, marketing, finance, and operations teams to align legal execution with business objectivesSupport the VP of Business Development in evaluating emerging legal and commercial risks across the businessAdvise on corporate and HR matters as needed Legal Operations & InfrastructureOwn and maintain Pushkin's boilerplate and template library across all core deal types, ensuring templates are current, consistent, and fit for purposeOrganize all contracts in the Contract Repository and conduct regular audits/maintenance thereof to ensure Pushkin staff can quickly and easily locate archived agreements.Lead the ongoing buildout and maintenance of the contracts and rights management AirTable databaseMaintain and refine the contract negotiation playbook — standardized positions, nonnegotiables, and fallback language — and keep it updated as deal norms evolveMaintain documented internal legal workflows, approval processes, and contract lifecycle management practicesEvaluate and implement AI legal tools to improve team efficiency and modernize legal operations Production Legal SupportOversee production legal matters across podcast and audiobook productions, including rights clearance, liability review, and compliance on a case-by-case basisDraft and maintain standard production releases, appearance agreements, and related documentsSupport showrunners and producers on an as-needed basis with contractor agreements, talent negotiations, and production-related legal questionsOversee SAG-AFTRA compliance for audiobook productions, including budget contributions and renegotiation of SAG agreements as needed What We're Looking For Required:JD from an accredited law school and active membership in the New York State Bar, in good standing4+ years of relevant legal experienceDemonstrated experience independently drafting, negotiating, and closing a broad range of commercial agreementsComfort operating as the only lawyer on staff in a lean, fast-moving environment — you're willing to roll up your sleeves and do the work yourselfExcellent judgment and a practical, business- oriented approach to legal problem solvingAbility to collaborate effectively across departments and communicate clearly with creative, production, and commercial partnersHighly organized, detail- oriented, and proactive, with the ability to anticipate issues and propose solutions and manage a high volume of matters Excellent written and verbal communication skillsGenuine curiosity about AI tools and how they can modernize legal operations. Nice to Have:Specialization in media, publishing, and/or entertainment lawFamiliarity with SAG-AFTRA agreements and audiobook production complianceExperience building or inheriting legal infrastructure — templates, playbooks, contract repositoriesKnowledge of fair use, music and third-party archival licensing, copyright and intellectual property law, First Amendment law, and personality rights Why Join UsBuild something from the ground up — You'll have real ownership over how the legal function develops, with meaningful influence on how the company contracts and scalesBroad scope, real exposure — this role spans licensing, distribution, audiobooks, branded content, IP derivatives, production legal, and more. It's an opportunity to learn the full breadth of a media and entertainment business in a way that's rarely possible at a larger companyWork creatively across partnerships — Pushkin makes content with some of the most interesting people in media. The deals are as varied and interesting as the showsLean, high-trust team — you'll work directly with the VP of Business Development and senior leadership, with a clear line of sight to the decisions that matterCompetitive compensation: $150,000 - $175,000 + a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, and more Pushkin Industries is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status, or other legally protected characteristics.