Director, Legal Affairs

Centric Brands Inc. • New York, NY

55d • Hybrid

About The Position

As Director, Legal Counsel, for Centric Brands, this role will be responsible for contracts, intellectual property, licensing, and mergers & acquisitions with a focus on fashion, apparel, accessories and luxury goods. This individual will be a trusted advisor to internal business units, providing practical legal guidance that supports growth, protects the company's assets, and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in New York State.
• 2-4 years of relevant legal experience, ideally in a law firm or in-house legal department.
• Strong experience in contracts, intellectual property, licensing, and/or M&A strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, creative environment.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Business-minded approach with the ability to think strategically and provide practical legal solutions.
• Manufacturing and integration planning for strategic transactions.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience in fashion, apparel, luxury goods, or consumer products industries is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts including vendor agreements, service agreements, partnership deals, distribution contracts, and NDAs.
• Provide contract support to cross-functional teams such as design, sourcing, marketing, sales, and operations to ensure business alignment and risk mitigation.
• Oversee the management and enforcement of Centric's global IP portfolio, including trademarks and copyrights.
• Develop and execute strategies to protect brand equity, monitor infringement, and manage disputes in collaboration with external counsel.
• Advise on IP issues related to advertising, product design, packaging, and digital content.
• Structure, draft, and negotiate domestic and international brand licensing agreements, joint ventures, endorsements, and collaborations.
• Ensure compliance with contractual and regulatory obligations across all licensing activities.
• Serve as a liaison between legal and business teams to support licensing deals and renewals.
• Provide legal counsel and risk analysis for potential acquisitions, investments, and divestitures.
• Lead legal due diligence efforts and coordinate with internal stakeholders and external advisors.
• Support post-transaction integration efforts, including governance, contract transition, and compliance.

Benefits

• In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401(k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership.
• Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Industry: Apparel Manufacturing
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees