Associate Counsel, Corporate & Finance

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This role will be a full-time, dedicated resource supporting the Legal Department’s corporate and finance responsibilities. This group oversees all legal aspects of: (i) team ownership transactions across the NBA and all affiliate leagues; (ii) league, team and arena finance matters; (iii) arena lease matters; (iv) new ventures, including strategic joint ventures/partnerships and league equity investments; (v) support of league entity governance matters; and (vi) support for Finance, Facilities, Risk Management, Procurement, Accounting, Treasury, and Tax.

Major Responsibilities

• Manage (with appropriate oversight) the processing of ordinary-course minority team ownership transactions across the NBA and all affiliate leagues, such as estate planning transactions, related-party transfers, sub-5% interest sales, etc. This would include document review and processing of ownership applications; issue spotting and negotiation of league documents; and coordination with external advisors, and applicant representatives.
   
• Provide support on more complex and significant ownership transactions, including controlling interest sales, minority interest transfers in excess of 5%, and transactions with private equity funds pursuant to the Private Investment Fund Policy and other institutional investors pursuant to the Institutional Investor Policy.
   
• Manage (with appropriate oversight) the day-to-day functions associated with debt issuances pursuant to the League-wide Credit Facility and/or League Level Credit Facility. This would include review of transaction documents, assisting Finance with creation of presentations and internal/external communications, and other administrative functions.

• Provide support on league review of team-specific financings outside of the League-wide Credit Facility and on arena company borrowings to fund new arena construction or renovation, including assisting Finance with its fair lease analysis of arena financings.
   
• Assist with the review and approval of (i) team arena leases and amendments thereto and (ii) design and construction of new arena projects and substantial renovations.

• Draft communications to the NBA Board of Governors and its subcommittees related to league and team matters, and prepare materials for the Board/committees in advance of meetings.  Similar support services to be performed for affiliate leagues on a case-by-case basis.
   
• Provide support on all key league initiatives that involve equity and/or debt, including the formation of joint ventures, strategic acquisitions or minority equity investments. This may include the formation of additional country- or continent-specific vehicles, reorganization of certain aspects of our corporate entity structure, creation of affiliate leagues (including the pending formation of a European basketball league), acquisition of strategically important businesses, or equity investments in league partners for cash or VIK through NBA Investments, the Preferred Vendor Program, or other league-level initiatives.

• Provide support to the NBA Launchpad program with respect to the negotiation of terms and documentation regarding equity components of the program and follow-on investments made as a result thereof.
   
• Assist with all matters related to league entity governance, including advising internal clients on corporate governance matters; formation of new league entities; drafting governing documents and amendments to existing governing documents of league entities; and keeping meeting minutes and records.
   
• Primary responsibility for providing corporate legal support to Finance & Treasury, Facilities, Risk Management, Procurement, Accounting and Tax, including drafting and negotiating vendor agreements, engagement letters, NDAs and similar instruments; preparing or reviewing external communications; and providing general legal support to these departments.

Required Education/Professional Experience

• Juris Doctor degree and bar admission
• Lawyer should be 2-5 years out of law school with experience in transactional matters, including corporate finance, M&A (public and private) and/or capital markets

Required Skills/Knowledge Attributes

• Excellent written and oral presentation skills, including ability to communicate effectively with senior executives and third parties.
• Exceptional problem solving and issue-spotting skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and time management capabilities.

We Consider Applicants For All Positions On The Basis Of Merit, Qualifications And Business Needs, And Without Regard To Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Gender Identity, Age, Disability, Alienage Or Citizenship Status, Ancestry, Marital Status, Creed, Genetic Predisposition Or Carrier Status, Sexual Orientation, 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.

Salary Range:

$210,000-$240,000

Job Posting Title:

Employees currently are eligible to receive an annual discretionary performance bonus, awarded at the sole discretion of the Company and subject to any terms and conditions set by the Company. Employees and/or eligible dependents may be eligible to participate in the following Company-sponsored employee benefit programs: medical; dental; vision; life/AD&D insurance; short- and long-term disability; fertility and family-forming assistance; wellbeing allowance; educational assistance; mental health coaching/therapy; tax advantaged accounts such as HSA and healthcare/dependent care FSAs; a 401(k) retirement plan; and time off benefits that include vacation, sick time, and personal days.

We Consider Applicants For All Positions On The Basis Of Merit, Qualifications And Business Needs, And Without Regard To Race, Color, National Origin, Religion, Sex, Gender Identity, Age, Disability, Alienage Or Citizenship Status, Ancestry, Marital Status, Creed, Genetic Predisposition Or Carrier Status, Sexual Orientation, 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 214 countries and territories in 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents. NBA rosters at the start of the 2024-25 season featured a record-tying 125 international players from a record-tying 43 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 more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms. NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.