Reports To: Chief Legal Officer
Location: A1 Office – Orange County Office
Direct Reports: N/A
Salary: $130,000-150,000/year, Exempt
About Athletes First
Athletes First is the premier sports representation and marketing agency, guiding the careers of elite athletes, coaches, executives, and broadcasters. Since 2001, Athletes First has built a reputation for integrity, innovation, and impact across contract negotiations, marketing strategy, endorsement sales, and brand partnerships. The agency also produces world-class live experiences through its events and properties teams and creates dynamic multiplatform content through its in-house media and production capabilities.
Role Overview
We are seeking a Marketing & Media Attorney to join our legal team at our Laguna Hills, CA headquarters. The specific title for this role will be determined at the offer stage. In this role, you'll work closely with our Talent Marketing, Properties, Media Sales, and Broadcasting divisions to draft and negotiate the agreements that power our athletes' and clients' business off the field or court, from endorsements and sponsorships to broadcasting, media and licensing deals. Reporting to our Chief Legal Officer, you'll gain hands-on experience across the full lifecycle of sports and entertainment contracts while contributing to the broader legal function of one of the industry's premier agencies.
Key Responsibilities & Duties
Contracts & Negotiation
- Draft, review, and negotiate endorsement, appearance, licensing, memorabilia, trading card, and other agreements for athletes, coaches, and broadcasters
- Structure and negotiate event operation, sponsorship, talent, and other agreements tied to Athletes First's owned and operated events
- Negotiate media sales, broadcasting, and other related contracts on behalf of talent and company-run podcasts and other properties
- Partner directly with the Talent Marketing, Properties, Media Sales, and Broadcasting teams to align contract terms with business goals
Legal Support
- Assist Chief Legal Officer on internal legal matters, including policy questions, risk assessments, and other legal matters within and outside of marketing and media as they arise
- Support external legal matters, such as sourcing recommendations for, and coordinating with, outside counsel as needed
- Assist with dispute resolution on behalf of Athletes First or its clients
- Research legal and regulatory issues relevant to sports, media, and marketing agreements
Contract Operations
- Maintain and manage the contract submission and intake database
- Keep the contract tracking system current, ensuring statuses, deadlines, and renewals are accurately logged
Qualifications
- J.D. from an accredited law school required
- Member of the California State Bar, or another major state bar preferred
- 3-5 years of experience as a practicing attorney at a law firm or in-house legal dept
- Experience at a top-tier law firm a plus
- Some experience in IP, licensing, sports or entertainment law a plus
- Strong communicator both verbally and in writing, equally comfortable with outside counsel, internal stakeholders, and counterparties
- A hard-working self-starter who can take a project from kickoff to close with minimal oversight
- Sharp attention to detail and strong organizational skills, to manage a large number of concurrently-open negotiations and projects
- Comfortable working some evenings, weekends, and holidays as business needs require
- Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
What We Offer
- Medical, Dental, Vision & Life Insurance
- 401k Retirement Plan
- Cell Phone Reimbursement
- Flexible PTO
- Exposure to the highest levels of professional sports and a front-row seat working alongside elite athletes, coaches, front office executives, broadcasters and other talent
Athletes First is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.
Skills Required
- J.D. from an accredited law school
- Member of the California State Bar or another major state bar
- 3-5 years of experience as a practicing attorney at a law firm or in-house legal department
- Experience at a top-tier law firm
- Some experience in IP, licensing, sports, or entertainment law
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Hard-working self-starter able to manage projects with minimal oversight
- Sharp attention to detail and strong organizational skills
- Willingness to work some evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
What We Do
Athletes First is a full-service sports representation and marketing agency founded in 2001, guiding the careers of elite athletes, coaches, executives, and broadcasters by focusing on contract negotiations, marketing strategy, and brand partnerships.
