Logo of Huzzle

Home

Matches

Explore

Manage

General Counsel, UFC

image

Ultimate Fighting Championship

23d ago

  • Job
    Full-time
    Expert Level
  • Legal
  • Las Vegas

AI generated summary

  • You must have a JD, 15+ years of legal experience (sports/media preferred), strong negotiation skills, leadership experience, and the ability to manage complex legal issues and teams.
  • You will oversee legal strategy, provide counsel on operations, manage compliance, handle contracts, protect intellectual property, and support event operations and marketing initiatives.

Requirements

  • Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
  • Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, preferably Nevada, California, or New York.
  • Minimum of 15 years of legal experience, with a mix of law firm and in-house experience, preferably in the sports, entertainment, or media industries.
  • Proven track record of managing complex commercial transactions, corporate governance, and regulatory compliance.
  • Strong leadership experience, including managing legal teams and working cross-functionally with executives.
  • Exceptional negotiation, communication, and analytical skills.
  • Ability to provide sound legal advice in high-pressure environments and balance legal risk with business objectives.
  • Experience managing litigation strategy, risk assessment, and regulatory compliance programs.
  • High level of integrity, professionalism, and business acumen.

Responsibilities

  • Develops and executes UFC’s legal strategy in alignment with corporate goals and objectives.
  • Leads the legal team, overseeing attorneys and support staff, and fosters a culture of collaboration and professional growth.
  • Provides proactive legal counsel to the executive team, advising on business strategy, operations, and regulatory issues.
  • Support TKO’s head of transactional and business affairs in drafting and negotiating UFC agreements related to event operations, sponsorships, media rights, athlete performance, compensation, and consumer products and licensing.
  • Assist TKO’s head of corporate legal during due diligence and contract negotiations for UFC-related mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, and other corporate transactions.
  • Ensures compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards, including athletic commission regulations and athlete wagering policies.
  • Develops and enforces UFC’s internal compliance programs, risk management policies, and corporate governance best practices.
  • Monitors changes in legal and regulatory environments, providing strategic guidance on emerging risks and opportunities.
  • Oversees the internal legal team tasked with protection and enforcement of UFC’s intellectual property portfolio, including trademarks, copyrights, and licensing agreements.
  • Collaborates with outside counsel on IP enforcement and brand protection strategies.
  • Advises on digital content licensing, rights management, and content distribution strategies across PPV, television, and digital platforms.
  • Leads UFC’s antipiracy efforts.
  • Partners with the litigation team on litigation strategy, management of pre-litigation disputes and oversight of outside counsel on matters involving court proceedings, arbitrations, and/or regulatory inquiries.
  • Identifies and mitigates potential legal risks related to business operations, including employment and HR matters.
  • Ensures UFC’s contracts, policies, and procedures protect the organization from liability and reputational risk.
  • Provides legal oversight for marketing, sponsorship, consumer products, and licensing agreements.
  • Reviews marketing campaigns, press releases, promotional materials, and investor relations materials for compliance and risk assessment.
  • Supports event operations, review venue agreements, and identify security-related legal considerations for live events.

FAQs

What qualifications are required for the General Counsel position at UFC?

Candidates must have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school, be licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (preferably Nevada, California, or New York), and have a minimum of 15 years of legal experience, ideally with a mix of law firm and in-house experience in the sports, entertainment, or media industries.

What are the primary responsibilities of the General Counsel?

The General Counsel oversees all legal matters for UFC, including developing legal strategy, managing outside counsel, providing legal counsel on corporate transactions, ensuring regulatory compliance, overseeing intellectual property protection, managing litigation, and supporting various business affairs.

Is leadership experience required for this role?

Yes, strong leadership experience is required, including managing legal teams and collaborating cross-functionally with senior executives across the organization.

What skills are essential for the General Counsel position?

Essential skills include exceptional negotiation, communication, and analytical skills, as well as the ability to provide sound legal advice in high-pressure environments while balancing legal risk with business objectives.

Will the General Counsel work with external legal teams?

Yes, the General Counsel will manage outside counsel and collaborate with them on various legal matters, including intellectual property enforcement and litigation strategies.

What industries should candidates have experience in?

Candidates should preferably have experience in the sports, entertainment, or media industries.

What is the significance of compliance in this role?

Compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards is crucial to mitigate risk and ensure the organization operates within legal parameters, particularly regarding athletic commission regulations and athlete wagering policies.

What is the typical work environment for the General Counsel?

The General Counsel will work in a dynamic environment that requires collaboration with various business functions, thereby engaging with different operational areas such as event operations, marketing, and sponsorships.

Where is the UFC headquarters located?

The UFC headquarters is located in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Does TKO Group Holdings provide equal employment opportunities?

Yes, TKO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding non-discrimination in employment.

image

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Entertainment & Media
Industry
201-500
Employees

Mission & Purpose

UFC is a premium global sports brand and the largest pay-per-view event provider in the world. Headquartered in Las Vegas with offices in London, Toronto, Sao Paulo and Singapore, UFC produces more than 40 live events annually that consistently sell out some of the most prestigious arenas around the globe. UFC programming is broadcast in over 156 countries and territories to more than 1.1 billion TV households worldwide in 29 different languages. UFC FIGHT PASS, a digital subscription service, delivers exclusive live events, thousands of fights on-demand and original content to fans around the world.