At Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation, we deliver excitement. Our mission is to be the heartbeat of our community by creating connections, building champions, and winning, together. If you’d like to join a team that’s people-first, diverse, innovative, and energized about delivering extraordinary fan experiences to our guests, then we’d love to sign you to a player's contract!

THE POSITION

The General Counsel will serve as the chief legal advisor for the Calgary Sports and Entertainment Corporation (“CSEC”), overseeing all legal matters related to the organization’s operations and business activities. This role requires a strategic legal professional with expertise in privacy and data protection, sponsorships and ticketing agreements, human resources (HR) compliance, corporate governance, intellectual property management, vendor and supply chain agreements, ownership transactions, new arena development projects, charitable foundation legal oversight, and league governance. Additionally, the General Counsel will serve as Corporate Secretary, ensuring the organization adheres to its governance responsibilities and providing support to the Board of Directors. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the General Counsel will play a critical role in protecting the organization’s legal interests while fostering a proactive and solutions-oriented culture.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Privacy and Data Protection:

Ensure compliance with all applicable privacy laws and regulations.
Develop and maintain policies and practices to safeguard fan, employee, and customer data.
Provide guidance on data-sharing agreements, cybersecurity issues, and incident response protocols.

Sponsorships, Ticketing, Advertising and Broadcast Agreements:

Draft, review, and negotiate sponsorship agreements, naming rights deals, and licensing contracts.
Manage legal aspects of ticketing operations, including compliance with ticket sale regulations and terms of use.
Provide guidance on marketing and advertising initiatives to ensure legal and brand alignment.
Management of Broadcast agreements.
Management of customer service legal issues.
Familiarity with AGLC rules and regulations.

Vendor and Supply Chain Agreements Management:

Oversee vendor contracts, procurement agreements, and supply chain management to ensure compliance and mitigate risks.
Negotiate and draft agreements with service providers, contractors, and third-party vendors supporting operations and arena management.
Advise on performance issues, terminations, and dispute resolution involving vendors and suppliers.

Intellectual Property Management:

Oversee the protection and enforcement of the team’s intellectual property assets, including trademarks, copyrights, and licensing agreements.
Advise on the development, usage, and commercialization of team logos, branding, and other creative assets.
Monitor and address intellectual property infringement.

Charitable Foundation Legal Oversight:

Provide legal guidance to the team’s affiliated charitable foundations, ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations.
Oversee contracts, donations, grant-making policies, and governance frameworks for the foundations.
Advise on risk management, tax compliance, and reporting obligations for charitable activities.
Support the foundations’ community engagement and philanthropic initiatives.

Human Resources (HR) Compliance:

Advise on employment law matters, including contracts, workplace policies, and labor relations.
Ensure compliance with workplace safety standards, anti-discrimination laws, and other HR-related legal requirements.
Oversee investigations related to workplace disputes or misconduct and litigation files.

League and Governance Matters:

Act as the primary liaison with the NHL, WHL, NLL, CFL, AHL on league-related legal issues and governance matters.
Provide legal counsel on compliance with NHL, WHL, NLL, CFL, AHL rules, and collective bargaining agreements.
Represent the team in disciplinary matters as needed.

Ownership Transactions and Arena Development:

Provide legal counsel on ownership transitions, equity sales, and partnership agreements.
Manage due diligence, negotiation, and documentation for transactions involving team ownership.
Lead legal aspects of new arena development, including land option acquisition, construction agreements, financing arrangements, and regulatory compliance.
Support negotiations with government entities, contractors, and community stakeholders to ensure successful project delivery.

Corporate Secretary Responsibilities:

Serve as Corporate Secretary to the Board of Directors, supporting board meetings, agendas, and minutes.
Ensure compliance with corporate governance standards and regulatory filings.
Maintain and safeguard corporate records, including charters, bylaws, and resolutions.
Advise the Board and executive team on governance best practices and fiduciary responsibilities.

General Legal Oversight:

Manage and mitigate risks across all areas of the organization.
Oversee corporate governance, including board matters, entity formation, and compliance filings.
Supervise litigation and disputes, working with external counsel when required.
Provide support for real estate and facility-related legal matters, including venue agreements and event operations.

Leadership and Collaboration:

Partner with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Operations, HR, and IT, to align legal strategies with business objectives.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the executive team and board of directors.
Lead and manage the legal department, including external counsel.

THE INDIVIDUAL

The ideal individual will have the following background:

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with the Alberta bar.
Minimum of 10-15 years of legal experience, with a mix of in-house and law firm experience preferred.
Expertise in privacy and data protection, corporate governance, commercial contracts, intellectual property law, employment law, ownership transactions, and real estate development.
Familiarity with professional sports leagues, particularly NHL rules and governance, is a strong asset.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Attributes:

Experience serving as Corporate Secretary or working closely with a Board of Directors.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex legal projects from inception to completion.
Passion for sports and an understanding of the unique legal and business challenges in the industry.
Experience in intellectual property, technology contracts, and/or real estate law is a plus

This position will remain open until suitable candidate is found.

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary