Counsel, Media and Distribution

About the role

Major League Baseball is looking for a Counsel, Media & Distribution in the Media & Distribution department to participate in or lead media rights licensing and distribution transactions, advise on advertising and promotional initiatives, and provide strategic counsel on legal risks, policy, and compliance in an evolving media environment.

Responsibilities

• Participate in or lead the structure, negotiation and/or drafting of broadcast, streaming, production, distribution and other complex agreements with various partners, including networks, digital and social media platforms, distributors and supply-side and operations partners, ensuring alignment with MLB’s long-term media strategy and other business development goals as determined by organizational needs.
• Advise on advertising, sponsorship and promotional initiatives derived from media partnerships and league-owned and operated products and platforms, including related insertion technologies and activities across social media platforms, and collaborate with legal subject matter experts and business owners in those and surrounding areas.
• Partner with business leaders and clubs to maximize reach and monetization opportunities across all media platforms and partners and support other emerging business areas.
• Coordinate with members of the MLB Legal team and relevant stakeholders within MLB to align policies and practices with the work of the Media & Distribution legal team.
• Draft, review and advise on adherence to media-related league rules and policies, as well as regulatory and other compliance issues attendant to media rights licensing and distribution across local, national and international markets.
• Provide strategic counsel on legal risks, intellectual property protection, clearances and rights enforcement in an evolving media and emerging business environment and across all traditional and emerging technologies and distribution models.

Qualifications & Skills

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and admission to a state bar (New York preferred)
• Top academic credentials and references
• Minimum of five (5) years as a practicing lawyer, preferably with at least several years’ experience in a well-regarded law firm
• Top tier law firm experience strongly preferred
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements in any or all of licensing, production, distribution or other media-related transactions
• Experience navigating regulatory frameworks applicable to, and intellectual property protection and enforcement of, media rights and other emerging sports business areas
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong ability to build and maintain relationships
• Must work effectively in a fast-paced environment, interacting regularly with senior management
• Must be able to simultaneously accomplish multiple quantitatively and qualitatively challenging tasks
• Passion for sports, entertainment and the evolving media landscape

Pay

Salary range: $190,000 - $205,000 base salary + bonus (contingent upon work experience, education, skills, and any other factors MLB considers relevant to the