WME Group seeks a talented and highly motivated Legal Counsel to join its Legal and Business Affairs team supporting the Brand Strategy division of WME.
This position is located in New York, NY and reports to the Senior Vice President, Associate General Counsel. The ideal candidate brings strong transactional experience from a top law firm and/or in-house legal department, including commercial transactions, advertising, marketing, sponsorship and digital experience.
Key Areas of Focus:
Entertainment Marketing & Advisory: Partner with senior leaders on entertainment-driven marketing initiatives, including advising on brand integrations, partnerships, and strategic campaigns tied to film, television, and broader media ecosystems.
Properties & Sponsorship: Support executives within the WME Brand Strategy department to execute of deals related to the commercialization of third party rights and sponsorships.
Strategic Partnerships & Retainer-Based Deals: Lead legal support for high-value, long-term commercial relationships, including innovative brand partnerships, product placement, retainer engagements and content-driven collaborations (e.g., campaigns tied to major film releases or IP-driven initiatives).
Position Responsibilities:
Lead the drafting, negotiation, and execution of a wide range of complex commercial agreements, including agency, consulting, master services, talent, influencer, representation, licensing, creative services, sponsorship, vendor, marketing and digital services agreements.
Serve as a primary legal and business affairs partner to business teams, providing strategic, solutions-oriented guidance across high-profile Brand Strategy initiatives.
Advise senior stakeholders with actionable guidance on legal and business risks rincluding intellectual property, FTC and guild compliance considerations.
Independently manage contractual obligations, including interpreting key provisions, ensuring compliance, and advising on exclusivity and conflict considerations.
Partner cross-functionally with business, finance, and compliance teams to support deal structuring and execution for complex, multi-faceted engagements.
Provide timely and practical legal advice on contract interpretation, enforcement, and risk mitigation.
Implementing and refining contract-administration and document-management processes.
Fostering positive long-term relationships with the company’s clients and customers.
Support strategic initiatives and special projects as needed.
Qualifications:
JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
Active membership in the New York State Bar, in good standing, is required.
Minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience, with a strong preference for candidates with experience in entertainment, media, sports, or an agency environment.
Demonstrated experience independently leading complex commercial transactions and advising business stakeholders.
Strong familiarity with advertising, marketing, intellectual property, and digital media legal frameworks.
Proven ability to assess risk, provide clear recommendations, and influence decision-making at multiple levels of the organization.
Ability to manage multiple priorities and operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills, with a strong attention to detail.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical business guidance.
Collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Per local requirements and in the interest of transparency, the rate shown below reflects the prevalent current hiring range for this position. Hiring pay rates are based on a number of factors, including location and may vary depending on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. The company strives to provide locally competitive rewards packages, which include base rate along with, as applicable, short- and long-term incentives, growth and developmental opportunities, and robust benefits, such as health care, retirement, vacation and other paid time off, and additional offerings.
Hiring Rate Minimum:
$112,500 annually (minimum will not fall below the applicable state/local minimum salary thresholds)Hiring Rate Maximum:
$150,000 annuallyWME is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief.Skills Required
- JD from an ABA-accredited law school
- Active membership in the New York State Bar, in good standing
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant legal experience
- Experience in entertainment, media, sports, or an agency environment
- Experience drafting, negotiating, and executing complex commercial agreements (agency, consulting, master services, talent, influencer, licensing, sponsorship, vendor, marketing, digital)
- Strong familiarity with advertising, marketing, intellectual property, and digital media legal frameworks
- Experience advising on FTC and guild compliance considerations
- Proven ability to assess risk, provide clear recommendations, and influence decision-making
- Exceptional drafting, negotiation, and analytical skills with strong attention to detail
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
What We Do
WME Group is a global network of businesses that represent the world's leading talent, intellectual property and brands. It comprises the talent agency WME, global marketing agency 160over90, brand licensing agency IMG Licensing, and nonscripted content business Pantheon Media Group, specializing in talent representation, brand strategy, and event management across sports, entertainment, and fashion globally.
