Colorado Rapids Head of Legal

Kroenke Sports & Entertainment•Commerce City, CO

10h•$170,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As our in-house Head of Legal, you are the Rapids’ primary legal advisor and a trusted business partner to executive leadership. Operating as a sole practitioner within the club, you provide end-to-end legal support across sporting, commercial, operational, and corporate functions, balancing risk management with the practical realities of a fast-moving professional sports environment. You are equally comfortable advising on player and technical matters, league (US Soccer and FIFA) governance and compliance, commercial agreements, and day-to-day operational issues. You serve as the legal connective tissue between the Rapids, Major League Soccer, and Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, ensuring alignment with league rules and applicable laws, while maintaining the Rapids’ independent operational needs and culture.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate (JD) from an accredited law school.
Admitted to and in good standing with a U.S. State Bar.
5+ years of relevant experience in corporate transactional law.
Advanced negotiating and writing skills, with a strong ability to draft and review legal documents, analyze complex issues, and provide practical, business-oriented solutions.
Proven track record in managing complex legal matters, including litigation, transactions, and compliance.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with contract management systems.
Strong problem-solving abilities and the capacity to manage multiple tasks and subject matters efficiently.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present information clearly and effectively.

Nice To Haves

Experience in sports law and youth sports preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary legal advisor to the Rapids’ executive leadership and department heads across sporting and commercial initiatives.
Provide practical, risk-based legal advice that enables decision-making while protecting the club’s legal, financial, and reputational interests.
Act as the central point of coordination between the Rapids and KSE Legal on escalated, cross-entity, or enterprise-wide matters.
Support sporting operations with contracts relating to players, technical staff, consultants, performance providers, scouting services, and football operations vendors.
Draft, negotiate, and administer a wide range of agreements, including sponsorships, media and content deals, intellectual property licenses, merchandising agreements, venue-related contracts, independent contractor agreements, consulting agreements, and vendor/service provider contracts.
Implement and manage contract lifecycle processes, including templates, approval workflows, renewal tracking, and internal record-keeping.
Review marketing, promotional, and fan-facing materials for legal compliance, rights clearances, and risk exposure.
Advise on and ensure compliance with MLS Rules and Regulations, including roster mechanisms, employment structures, player agreements, and league policies.
Support league reporting, submissions, and audits in coordination with MLS and KSE.
Monitor changes to league rules, federation requirements, and relevant laws, proactively advising leadership on impacts and implementation.
Participate in league legal working groups, training sessions, and conference calls as required.
Manage and advise on intellectual property matters, including trademarks, copyrights, content licensing, music rights, image rights, and brand usage.
Support enforcement of club IP rights and proper third-party use of Rapids and MLS marks.
Coordinate with marketing and digital teams to ensure compliant and strategic use of IP across platforms.
Assist in the development, review, and enforcement of internal policies and procedures across all departments.
Support company risk management initiatives.
Identify opportunities to improve legal processes, document standards, training, and internal education.
Act as the club’s internal lead on immigration-related matters for players, technical staff, and international hires.
Liaise with outside immigration counsel to ensure timely and compliant visa and work authorization processes.
Advise sporting leadership on immigration timelines and risk considerations impacting roster planning.
Manage disputes, claims, and pre-litigation matters involving the club.
Oversee and coordinate outside counsel as necessary, including budgeting, strategy alignment, and matter management.
Support responses to league, regulatory, or third-party claims.
Supervisor of Rapids Director of Safeguarding.
Support special projects and strategic initiatives as directed by the Rapids President, Rapids CBO, and KSE General Counsel.
Provide legal support for matchday operations, special events, and commercial activations as needed.