Commercial Legal: Senior Legal Counsel, Content and Media (live rights and music)

THE POSITION

These are your key tasks:

• Drafting, negotiating and advising on a broad range of content and media related projects, notably in connection with
  • FIFA’s live media rights licensing program; and
  • FIFA’s music and entertainment programs.
• The successful candidate will be a key point of contact for all legal matters related to, inter alia, content licensing (both in and out) notably within the sphere of live media rights;
• Overseeing and advising upon all music related matters (including live performances, official songs/soundtracks, sonic identity, recorded music and related clearances).
• Advising on digital / social media related matters in so far as they relate to content.
• Advising on FIFA's rights and obligations in connection with its media rights and music programs, including the implementation and protection thereof.
• Required to advise on the contract management of existing media partnerships and activations by media rights licensees.
• Delivering ad hoc legal advice on issues relating to FIFA's media, broadcast and music related activities.
• Guiding other team members, including review of their work.
• Instructing and liaising with external counsel in connection with local law matters in various jurisdictions.

YOUR PROFILE

We work hard at FIFA.
We are dedicated, ambitious and innovative.

And we respect our values. Always.

For all roles, we seek talented people with an entrepreneurial spirit and a global mindset.

The specific competencies we require for this position are:

• Minimum 6 years of relevant “on the job” experience working in a similar position at a reputable media law firm and/or notable broadcaster, streaming platform and/or content production house.
• Fully qualified to practice law (registered on the roll / admitted to the bar of an appropriate jurisdiction) having completed all necessary academic and practical training.
• First class written and spoken English language skills, consistent with drafting and negotiating complex, high value and nuanced English language agreements.
• Ability to provide and communicate effectively practical and solutions-based legal advice.
• Excellent understanding of the sports broadcast, content licensing, music and related regulatory landscapes.
• Prior experience in both: (i) the sale and/or acquisition of live (sports) media rights; and (ii) music licensing and clearances; is necessary.
• Excellent negotiation, drafting, problem solving and analytical skills.
• Structured, reliable, well-organized with a strong eye for detail.
• Ability to work flexibly across a wide range of media and entertainment related legal practice areas.
• Strong commercial acumen with an ability to transfer legal knowledge into commercially and operationally oriented solutions.
• Proactive with a strong sense of personal responsibility and with an ability to work autonomously on a wide variety of projects.
• Resilient with an ability to competently handle a large workload amid rapidly shifting priorities.
• Open-minded team player with an affinity for working within a variety of cultures and excellent communication skills.
• High degree of professionalism with a confident demeanor.
• Ability to be a good ambassador for FIFA in all manner of external facing situations, including during contractual negotiations, external workshops and during FIFA competition-related assignments.
• Ability to create, develop and maintain strong and reliable relationships with FIFA senior management as well as external legal and commercial counterparts.
• Willingness to operate outside of comfort zone.
• Takes initiative to reflect on how to improve and develop working styles and methods to assist the organization and internal clients.
• Proficiency in any other FIFA language (French/Spanish/German) is an asset but not required.
• Proficient in Word / PowerPoint / Excel.
• Comfortable with occasional international travel.

PERKS & BENEFITS

The biggest benefit of a career at FIFA is the privilege to work for the beautiful game and create something that matters.

Alongside that privilege, we also offer some extra perks and benefits:

Health insurance: We offer generous medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage.

Continuous learning: We care about your development and encourage internal mobility, offering a variety of training and education to help achieve it.

Retirement: We offer generous 401(k) employer contributions.

Vacation: Maintain a healthy work/life balance with a generous vacation allowance.

About FIFA

We are FIFA, the global governing body for football.

Our vision is to make football truly global, diverse and inclusive, for the benefit of the entire world. The last FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 attracted more than 5 billion viewers and the last FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 was the greatest-ever FIFA Women's World Cup that inspired millions of girls and women around the globe. The opportunities for growth are exciting.

We are a modern organisation with over 850 passionate employees who are Living Football every day. Our headquarters are based in Zurich, Switzerland, and we have offices in Miami and Paris, plus eleven regional offices from New Zealand to India, Congo, Panama and Paraguay.