Hybrid Director, Senior Legal Counsel

at Fanatics, Inc.

• Job title: Director, Senior Legal Counsel
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Professional Certificate
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Manchester, United Kingdom

About the role

• Director, Senior Legal Counsel providing legal support across global operations for Fanatics Commerce. Involves drafting contracts, overseeing attorneys, and advising on transactional matters in the sports merchandise industry.

Responsibilities

• Advise on complex global legal issues across a wide range of matters including commercial transactions, business operations, manufacturing, e-commerce, rights acquisition and licensing.
• Serve as a trusted business partner to leaders across the organisation, including engaging in creative problem-solving, proactive issue-spotting and business-focused risk assessment.
• Provide transactional legal advice to various departments across the organisation, including engagement in proactive issue-spotting and risk assessment.
• Partner closely with the business development and business affairs teams to structure, draft, negotiate and execute a variety of complex strategic transactions with sports teams, leagues, associations and athletes, for rights acquisition, product licensing and operation of e-commerce and physical retail.
• Provide general advice with respect to key areas affecting the business and operations, including data protection, privacy and intellectual property matters.
• Interpret and advise with respect to rights and obligations under Fanatics' agreements.
• Ensure the business is aware of, and in compliance with, all relevant laws, rules and regulations across many countries.
• Review, analyse, draft and negotiate a wide range of complex commercial transactions including licensing, sublicensing, co-branding, personal services, MSAs, manufacturing, distribution and vendor agreements.
• Manage international disputes, investigations, and regulatory matters, including through supervision of outside counsel.
• Create and provide cross-functional legal training to employees.
• Develop policies, protocols, best practices and templates.

Requirements

• Qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales.
• 10+ years of post-qualification experience working on a wide range of sophisticated commercial transactions, including rights acquisition, intellectual property licensing, digital technology, e-commerce, and/or brand partnerships.
• Willingness to always be a hands-on lawyer, dealing with all of the company’s needs, from the largest to the smallest matters.
• Broad commercial and strategic background working on international transactions.
• Strong business acumen and savvy, good common sense and sound judgment.
• Ability to execute under pressure and under time constraints in a fast-paced environment.
• Creative thinker who can initiate and develop alternative approaches to complex issues.
• Self-starter with strong work ethic and ability to work independently and take ownership of business-critical transactions.
• Strong academic background and law firm training.
• Experience in the global sports industry and/or a background in licensing and retail, including e-commerce, are strongly preferred.
• In-house experience is strongly preferred.

Benefits

• Culture: Join a team where you're surrounded by top-tier talent, driven by a shared passion to relentlessly enhance the fan experience. With a focus on collaboration, support, and continuous development, you’ll be empowered to help shape our culture that celebrates both individual and team successes.
• Rewards: Competitive salary, performance-based bonus.
• The chance to work with some of the world’s most exciting sports brands
• Career development, mentoring, and training opportunities
• A dynamic, supportive, and collaborative office environment