What are the responsibilities and job description for the Associate Counsel position at WWE?
Role Summary:
WWE is seeking an Associate Counsel to support all business and legal aspects of Talent Relations and Talent Development. This role will be responsible for providing legal counsel on matters related to Talent Relations and Talent Development and include drafting and negotiating a wide range of talent agreements, including appearance agreements, endorsement agreements, services agreements and related commercial contracts. The ideal candidate has significant transactional experience in sports and entertainment and excels in a fast-paced, high-profile environment.
Responsibilities:
- Provide day-to-day legal support for Talent Relations and Talent Development, including reviewing deal points, drafting and negotiating agreements, and assisting in managing legal risks.
- Draft, revise, and review a broad range of contracts for all business needs relating to sports and entertainment, including agreements relating to independent contractors, talent, security, medical personnel, marketing, media, multimedia, content, licenses, performance, services, and other complex commercial agreements generally utilized in the sports and entertainment industry.
- Ensure compliance with state athletic commission licensure and regulatory requirements for all WWE Talent, including coordination with state athletic commissions and other applicable governing bodies.
- Provide clear and concise legal advice to executives, staff, and business departments on a broad range of legal matters.
- Lead negotiations and manage cross-functional legal matters with independence.
- Oversee contract lifecycle management systems and workflows related to developing talent.
- Work closely with and maintain positive working relationships with internal stakeholders, external partners, talent agency representatives, managers, and other third-party advisors to negotiate deal terms and resolve legal issues.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
- Licensed to practice in Connecticut or the ability to register in-house.
- 4-7 years of in-house legal experience as a licensed attorney at an entertainment, media, professional sports, or talent representation organization.
- Knowledge of or willingness to watch current and historical WWE programming.
- Familiarity with WWE’s brand, talent structure, and media ecosystem.
- Proven experience in contract drafting and negotiating with a strong foundation in sports and entertainment.
- Ability to manage high-volume matters with competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment with accuracy and efficiency. Willingness to work outside traditional work hours for urgent matters.