Description:
MLB seeks a Senior Counsel, Media Distribution with substantial experience navigating the legal and business issues surrounding media rights, content distribution and emerging engagement platforms, with significant focus on structuring, drafting and negotiating MVPD and virtual MVPD distribution agreements and content rights agreements. This Senior Counsel will play a critical role within the vertical of the MLB Legal team supporting the entirety of the industry's national, international and local media business, and will work under the joint direction of the MLB Network Business & Legal Affairs team, as required.Responsibilities:
- Structure, draft and negotiate domestic and international affiliate distribution agreements with MVPDs, virtual MVPDs, streaming platforms and emerging engagement platforms in support of the needs of various MLB entities, including MLB, MLB Media and MLB Network
- Structure, draft and negotiate wide variety of other agreements and other legal documents, including services agreements in support of content distribution and studio/remote production operations (e.g., uplink/origination, crewer, truck, equipment rental and/or purchase agreements, etc.), software and other technology-related agreements, transmission and engineering-related agreements, event-related agreements, license agreements (e.g., footage, films, and music related agreements), and such other agreements as required
- Provide interpretation, counsel and strategic guidance to internal stakeholders with respect to all current agreements, policies and governing documents
- Track, interpret and advise on existing terms and conditions of executed distribution agreements as one of the industry's primary legal sources of knowledge, guidance and interpretation related to content distribution agreements across all platforms and partners
- Partner closely with business, programming, distribution and finance departments to ensure consistent understanding and application of distribution terms
- Develop, revise and maintain standardized positions, templates and playbooks for distribution agreements to ensure consistency and efficiency
- Maintain expertise in evolving industry trends, regulations and business models impacting media rights, distribution and engagement platforms
- Stay apprised of regulatory, data privacy, intellectual property and other federal, state and local developments relevant to the media business
- Effectively manage and coordinate outside counsel, as necessary
Qualifications & Skills:
- Minimum of eight years of practice in a media, sports or entertainment transactional environment, in an in-house legal department and/or law firm, is required
- Strong command of contracts, intellectual property and general corporate law
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
- Advanced drafting negotiating and problem-solving skills
- Must be able to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, interacting regularly with all layers inside and outside an organization, and balance multiple demands while engaging with multiple stakeholders efficiently and seamlessly
- Outstanding organizational skills and project management competence with proven ability to recommend and implement process improvements and efficiencies
- Tact, diplomacy and superior people skills required to build and maintain internal and external relationships
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively. Ideal candidates will have an interest and aptitude to take on leadership roles
- Top academic credentials and references, with active NY State bar membership in good standing
As a candidate for this position, your salary and related aspects of compensation will be contingent upon your work experience, education, skills, and any other factors MLB considers relevant to the hiring decision. In addition to your salary, MLB believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package for its employees.
