VP, Legal

About Us

Powered by one of the largest global newsrooms in sports media, The Athletic brings sports fans the most comprehensive stories about the teams, sports and athletes they love. The Athletic’s newsroom of 500+ full-time staff delivers in-depth coverage of hundreds of professional and college teams across more than 47 North American markets and all 20 football clubs in the English Premier League, as well as many Championship clubs.

Responsibilities

Serve as a senior legal leader for The Athletic, assessing risk on a broad range of business and legal matters, making executive recommendations and driving matters to resolution, escalating to the General Counsel as appropriate. Provide legal support to The Athletic’s digital product organization, including teams across product, design, data and engineering, on compliance with laws, assessing issues and crafting risk-based solutions that balance legal requirements with business objectives. Act as the primary legal partner for the product development team on AI and generative AI legal issues offering risk mitigation strategies across multiple jurisdictions, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to align technology use with company strategy. Work closely with The Athletic leadership in coordinating and advising on major legal and regulatory matters, handling special projects and initiatives, developing and implementing team operations and budgeting improvements, identifying efficiency opportunities, helping coordinate on compliance activities, policy development, risk assessment processes and training programs. Collaborate with subject matter experts across technical and non-technical teams, New York Times Company lawyers and stakeholders to consolidate multiple legal and business considerations into clear guidance in service of company strategy and product goals. Provide oversight on commercial transactions and directly manage the team that provides commercial legal support and legal operations for The Athletic’s business. Stay informed about legal decisions, statutory changes, and market and industry trends, and, in coordination with the team, advise clients and recommend proactive action when necessary.

Requirements

Undergraduate and J.D. degrees, and a member of good standing of the New York bar or the equivalent. 10+ years of relevant work experience that includes experience with product counseling and the handling of a broad range of intellectual property, technology, data privacy and commercial transactions, with increasing levels of responsibility. Experience advising product and other teams through complex matters, with diverse stakeholders and competing interests. Experience managing a team and achieving results in a high pressure environment. Ability to contribute to discussions of general business issues, to work well with a wide range of clients from senior management to operating personnel, and to work independently as well as to lead a project from conception to completion. Ability to analyze complex legal material and communicate implications in clear and simple language, along with a clear recommendation for an appropriate course of action. Strong organizational skills and ability to balance competing demands. Experience in generative AI and AI counseling and compliance

Preferred Qualifications

Experience acting as a member of a senior leadership team Experience working on a fast-paced in-house legal team Experience advising engineering, design or other technical teams Experience in news, media and/or journalism