Senior Counsel - Entertainment

Authentic Brands Group•New York, NY

7d•$165,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Authentic Brands Group (Authentic) is a leading sports, media, entertainment and lifestyle platform that acquires and invests in iconic intellectual property to create long-term value. As a digital-first, asset-light platform, Authentic operates at the intersection of culture, commerce, and technology, bringing brands to life through storytelling, premium content, and live experiences. With a vast network of licensing partners and an expansive distribution system, Authentic's brands generate over $38 billion in annual worldwide retail sales. The company fosters an inclusive workplace where diversity of thought and expertise drive competitive advantage, with global teams built by ambitious individuals who contribute unique perspectives and push creative boundaries. Headquartered in New York City, Authentic has offices in major cities including Los Angeles, Miami, Toronto, Mexico City, London, and Shanghai.

Requirements

J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school, and a valid license to practice law in New York State.
8+ years of relevant legal experience, including meaningful experience supporting intellectual property licensing, consumer products, entertainment, or related commercial transactions in-house and/or at a nationally recognized law firm.
Proven ability to effectively execute on assigned priorities and initiatives instructions concerning both specific assignments and general policies.
Demonstrated track record of ownership and accountability for projects, duties, and tasks.
Demonstrated ability to manage up, including proactively seeking clarification and alignment on projects and duties, and proactively communicating priorities, risks, and progress with stakeholders and leadership.
Experience leveraging legal technology, including AI-assisted legal research and drafting tools (e.g., Harvey, Claude, or similar platforms), and contract lifecycle management (CLM) platforms and approval workflow tools.
Proficiency with: MS Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
English fluency is a must; proficiency and/or fluency in additional languages is a plus.
A passion for the intersection of entertainment, business, and the law.
Prior experience with character licensing, entertainment IP, or children's brand licensing strongly preferred.
Strong commercial judgment with the ability to balance legal risk against business objectives.

Nice To Haves

Experience with children's brands, family entertainment IP, or consumer products targeting minors.
Proficiency in one or more additional languages beyond English.

Responsibilities

Drafting, reviewing and negotiating agreements relating to intellectual property and consumer products licensing (with an emphasis on trademarks and copyrights), endorsements, character appearances, sponsorships, and location-based events.
Work also includes permission and clearance agreements, term sheets, agreements/rules for sweepstakes / contests, legal letters and settlement agreements.
Develop contract templates, playbooks, and internal guidance to improve efficiency and consistency.
Identify legal and commercial risks while developing practical, business-oriented solutions.
Partner with cross-functional teams on new business initiatives, strategic partnerships, and product launches.
Serve as a trusted legal advisor to senior business stakeholders throughout the lifecycle of licensing and commercial initiatives.
Providing advice and counsel regarding trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property.
Coordinating directly and efficiently with colleagues from Authentic's business development, brand management, and marketing teams.
Enabling the business to timely achieve its targets, while respecting the Company's principles and applicable laws, and assisting in embedding these principles into the Company's processes and decisions.
Implementing and overseeing corporate policies, procedures, and programs.
Partner with internal and external counsel with ongoing general matters for the Legal Department, as required in the day-to-day functioning of the Company and the Legal Department.
Supporting brand protection and anti-counterfeiting efforts, including coordinating cease-and-desist activity, and working with the Intellectual Property Department on monitoring and enforcement programs.
Advising on children's advertising and privacy compliance, including COPPA, FTC guidelines, and CARU advertising standards, as applicable to our kids-focused brands and its licensees.
Assisting with royalty audits, including reviewing audit rights provisions, coordinating with Finance on licensee audits, and interpreting royalty reports and statements.
Managing the lifecycle of existing licensing agreements, including renewals, terminations, defaults, and cure notices.