Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs

MLB Network seeks a Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs with strong knowledge and understanding of legal and business issues related to media/production, strong negotiation and drafting skills and a solid understanding of business issues. The Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs, should be a business-minded and technology-focused attorney supporting media production operations while handling technology, SaaS, and digital infrastructure transactions across the organization. The ideal candidate has strong experience in media/production environments and substantial expertise in SaaS, cloud, software development, and technology licensing agreements. This individual will partner cross-functionally to translate business objectives into practical legal solutions, manage risk, and ensure efficient deal execution in a fast-paced media production and technology environment.

Responsibilities:

• Draft, review and negotiate a wide variety of technology and commercial agreements, including: SaaS agreements, cloud services agreements, software development and licensing agreements, master services agreements, statements of work, technology integration, data processing and information security agreements
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide variety of business operation and content production related agreements and other documents, including, services agreements in support of business operations, studio and remote production operations, transmission-related agreements, event-related agreements, content acquisition, licensing, distribution, certain talent/services agreements and work-for-hire/independent contractor agreements.
• Advise on data privacy, cybersecurity, AI/automation tools, IP ownership, open-source use and risk allocation in technology transactions.
• Partner with production technology, engineering, IT, product, procurement and finance teams to support studio and remote production operations.
• Develop and maintain contract templates and playbooks to streamline technology and other contracting processes.
• Oversee relevant contract management processes, including tracking, summarizing, and compliance monitoring.
• Support standards and practices related to technology, operations, distribution and marketing.
• Advise on regulatory, intellectual property, data privacy and media law developments.
• Assist in incident reporting, risk mitigation strategies and internal investigations as needed.
• Provide day-to-day legal counseling across departments including engineering/operations, IT, finance and executive leadership.
• Support corporate governance, dispute management, and broader company-wide legal initiatives.
• Assist with counseling various departments on transactional, business and legal matters.
• Collaborate with internal teams on time-sensitive projects and translate business objectives into agreements.
• Develop and revise contract templates as necessary.
• Support senior attorneys/Company, as needed.
• Other such duties as required.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Active bar membership in good standing.
• 4–7+ years of relevant experience at a reputable law firm and/or in-house legal department.
• Strong experience drafting and negotiating SaaS, cloud, and technology agreements.
• Experience in media, entertainment, sports media and/or production environments.
• Extensive knowledge of contract law, intellectual property and general corporate law.
• Solid understanding of data protection, cybersecurity and information security principles.
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation, analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple time-sensitive projects in a fast-paced production environment.
• Strong business judgment and ability to provide pragmatic, solution-oriented advice.
• Experience working cross-functionally with technical and non-legal stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel; experience with contract lifecycle management systems a plus.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including nights and weekends, as schedules require.
• Experience supporting live broadcast or remote production operations.
• Demonstrated ability to implement process improvements and drive operational efficiency.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels.
• High integrity, strong work ethic and comfort operating in high-pressure, live production environments.
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods of time.
• Possess the manual dexterity needed to effectively create required work product.
• Possess the visual acuity needed to effectively create required work product.
• Possess the auditory acuity needed to effectively create required work product.
• Must possess excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Prompt and regular attendance at an assigned work location.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree and JD are required.

Position Reports to:

• SVP, Head of Business Growth & Legal

Pay Range: $155,000 - $190,000

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 Network considers relevant to the hiring decision. In addition to your salary, MLB Network believes in providing a competitive benefits package for its employees. 

Top MLB Network Perks & Benefits:

• Exceptional Medical/Dental/Vision Coverage 
• Company Contributed 401K Plan 
• Paid Time Off and Holidays 
• Discretionary bonus eligibility
• Family Leave Benefits
• Commuter Benefits
• Discounts at MLB Store | MLBShop.com
• Disability Benefits (short term and long term)
• Life and Accidental Death Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
• Training & Development Programs
• Tuition Reimbursement

Why MLB Network?

MLB Network is the ultimate television destination for baseball fans, with studios located in Secaucus, N.J., just minutes from New York City. Featuring live regular season game telecasts, original programming, highlights, insights and analysis from the best in the business, MLB Network produces baseball content for delivery to multiple media platforms. Cutting-edge technology is used to create MLB Network's Emmy Award-winning programming via roles in live studio and remote production, operations, engineering, media management, creative services, social media and others.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process, please email us at MLBNHR@mlb.com. Requests received for non-disability related issues, such as following up on an application, will not receive a response.

Are you ready to Step Up to the Plate? Apply below!