Senior Legal Counsel Commercial Legal

Department: Legal & Compliance
Location: Miami

About the role

The Senior Counsel will be an active member of the Commercial Legal Team, working in a “team first” approach to support the delivery of legal services relating to FIFA’s global operations.

• Reporting to the Commercial Legal team leads
• Assist in supporting on legal matters relating to FIFA’s Innovation and Technology operations
• Provide legal support in the following areas:
  • FIFA’s direct to consumer media offerings (including distribution and syndication and advertising sales)
  • Hardware and software procurement
  • The collection of match data
  • Ensuring appropriate ownership, protection and exploitation of FIFA-proprietary technology developments and collaborations
  • Website and other consumer-facing T&Cs in the digital environment
  • FIFA’s data and artificial intelligence initiatives
  • FIFA’s innovation portfolios (including VR/XR and AI related matters)
• General commercial legal support to FIFA’s strategic and corporate development activities
• Support as point of contact for legal matters for FIFA’s Football, Technology and Innovation Department
• Providing strategic liaison with FIFA’s Data Protection department to ensure seamless integration into FIFA digital products
• Providing detailed knowledge of FIFA’s rights and obligations in connection with its digital and technology programmes, including the implementation and protection thereof; including the provision of legal and contractual input on FIFA’s existing commercial commitments and future commercial possibilities
• Providing commercial transactional support and guidance regarding the interpretation of relevant commercial agreements, including the assessment of relevant business and strategic risks, and commercial regulatory matters
• Developing and maintaining suitable template agreements
• Support in the delivery of ad hoc advice on issues relating to technology related activities

Requirements

We seek talented people with an entrepreneurial spirit and a global mindset. This role would suit someone with great organisational and communication skills who is a dedicated team player, excels in professionalism, and has excellent legal skills.

• Ability to participate and be part of a high-performing team, fostering collaboration, driving results, and ensuring the successful achievement of organizational goals
• First class written and spoken English language skills, consistent with drafting and negotiating complex, high value and nuanced English language agreements
• Ability to provide and communicate effectively practical and solutions-based legal advice
• Excellent understanding of the digital and technology industry landscapes
• Excellent negotiation, drafting, problem solving and analytical skills
• Structured, reliable, well-organised with a strong eye for detail
• Proactive, with a strong sense of personal responsibility and an ability to work autonomously on a wide variety of projects
• Resilient with an ability to competently handle a large workload amid rapidly shifting priorities
• Open-minded team player with an affinity for working within a variety of cultures and excellent communication skills
• High degree of professionalism and confident demeanour
• Ability to be a good ambassador for FIFA in all manner of external facing situations, including during contractual negotiations, external workshops and during FIFA competition-related assignments
• Ability to create, develop and maintain strong and reliable relationships with FIFA senior management as well as external legal and commercial counterparts
• Willingness to operate outside of comfort zone
• Takes initiative to reflect on how to improve and develop working styles and methods to assist the organisation and internal clients

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from a top-tier accredited law school
• Active bar membership is required
• Minimum of 7 years expertise "on the job" in the industry in an in-house legal department or a top-tier law firm focusing on relevant matters
• Native level English (or equivalent), consistent with requirement to draft and negotiate complex and nuanced English language agreements and advice
• Proficiency in any other FIFA language (French/Spanish) is an asset but not necessary
• Proficient in Word / PowerPoint / Excel
• Comfortable with international travel
• Readiness for stand-by duties and special projects

Benefits

The biggest benefit of a career at FIFA is the privilege to work for the beautiful game and create something that matters. Alongside that privilege, we also offer some extra perks and benefits:

• Health insurance: Generous medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage
• Continuous learning: Variety of training and education to encourage internal mobility
• Retirement: Generous 401(k) employer contributions
• Vacation: Generous vacation allowance to maintain a healthy work/life balance