Director, Associate Counsel

Centric Brands • New York, NY

2d • $160,000 - $180,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Centric Brands is seeking a Director, Associate Counsel to join its Legal team. Reporting directly to the EVP/General Counsel, this role is responsible for licensing and other contracts, intellectual property matters, and mergers and acquisitions, with a focus on fashion, apparel, accessories, and luxury goods. The position advises internal business units with practical legal guidance that supports growth, promotes compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, and protects company assets and reputation. It also partners with other Legal team members and external counsel on commercial, corporate, compliance, and strategic legal matters.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of the New York Bar, or eligible for in-house registration.
• Two to four years of relevant legal experience, either as an M&A or IP associate.
• Strong experience in contracts, intellectual property, licensing, and/or M&A.
• Excellent drafting and communication skills, with attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, creative environment.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Business-minded approach, with the ability to think strategically and provide practical legal solutions to internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in fashion, apparel, luxury goods, or consumer products is strongly preferred.
• Experience in a major law firm and/or in-house legal department is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Structure, draft, and negotiate domestic and international brand licensing agreements, joint ventures, endorsements, and collaborations.
• Ensure compliance with contractual and regulatory obligations across licensing activities and liaise between legal and business teams on licensing transactions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, including vendor agreements, service agreements, partnership deals, distribution contracts, and NDAs.
• Support design, sourcing, marketing, sales, and operations teams with contracts to promote business alignment and mitigate risk.
• Develop and maintain contract templates and playbooks.
• Conduct legal clearances and risk assessments for trademarks, brands, products, marketing materials, and licensing initiatives.
• Develop and execute strategies to protect brand equity, monitor infringement, and manage disputes with external counsel.
• Advise on intellectual property issues related to advertising, product design, packaging, and digital content.
• Provide legal counsel and risk analysis for potential acquisitions, joint ventures, and divestitures.
• Perform legal due diligence and coordinate with internal stakeholders and external advisors.
• Support post-transaction integration, including transition services, governance, and compliance.
• Oversee corporate governance matters and manage entity maintenance and corporate records.
• Provide legal support and practical guidance to internal business units and collaborate with Legal team members and external counsel on commercial, corporate, compliance, and strategic matters.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Matching 401(k).
• Summer Fridays.
• Generous paid time off.
• Merchandise discounts.
• Career development opportunities.
• Volunteerism opportunities through the Centric Cares social impact program.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion workshops, resources, and conversations through the D&I committee.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree