Legal Counsel

WORK OPTION: The NBA currently provides eligible employees the option of working remotely one day per week.

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Position Summary

This attorney role will be based in Tokyo and provide legal, compliance and business affairs support for NBA Asia. The attorney will support the Marketing Partnerships, Merchandising, Events and Basketball Operations departments throughout the Asia region, with a primary focus on the NBA’s Japan business. The attorney will work together with the NBA’s other lawyers based in the New York HQ office and other regional offices.

Major Responsibilities

• Provide timely and actionable legal and business affairs counsel for NBA Asia business teams, serving as the primary attorney supporting the Japan business. • Advise business teams, in particular the Global Partnerships (GP) department, on the development, structuring, execution and commercialization of events across the region, working closely with colleagues in Tax, Risk Management, Events, Basketball Operations, Player Marketing and other departments.

• Draft, review and negotiate contracts across all business lines and, in particular for GP, marketing partnership, merchandising, promoter and various service provider agreements.

• Advise on various regulatory issues and strategic initiatives in the region, and work with outside counsel as needed.

• Implement organizational best practices, controls and policies, and provide regular training for existing and new business staff.

• Manage the due diligence process for prospective business partners and service providers. Required Experience & Knowledge:

• Minimum 10 years combined experience at a top tier law firm and legal department of a multinational corporation.

• Cross-border transactional and compliance-related experience.

• Strong technical skills, including excellent written and oral business communication and strong contract drafting, negotiating and issue-spotting skills.

• Fluency in both English and Japanese.

• Ability to work successfully with people from diverse cultures.

• Ability to work on multiple projects and engage with multiple stakeholders in a challenging and fast-paced environment.

• Ability to make timely, nuanced recommendations for business decisions based on reasoned legal analysis and the strategic objectives of the organization.

• High level of commitment to quality work products and organizational ethics and integrity.

Educational Background Required

• Law degree from a reputable law school and admission to practice law in a US state (preferred), Japan or other relevant jurisdiction.

Salary Range:

N/A

Job Posting Title:

Senior Director

The NBA does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or any other third parties. Any unsolicited resume sent to the NBA will be considered NBA property, and the NBA will not pay a fee should it hire the subject of any unsolicited resume.

The NBA considers applicants for all positions on the basis of merit, qualifications, and business needs, and without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, alienage or citizenship status, ancestry, marital status, genetic predisposition or carrier status, veteran status, familial status, status as a victim of domestic violence, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

The NBA is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace. To safeguard our employees and their families, our visitors, and the broader community from COVID-19, and in consideration of recommendations from health authorities and the NBA’s own advisors, any individual working onsite in our New York and New Jersey offices must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The NBA will discuss accommodations for individuals who cannot be vaccinated due to a medical reason or sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance.

About the NBA
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 40 countries.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.