VP, Business and Legal Affairs

Who We Are:

WWE® is an integrated media organization and the recognized global leader in sports entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family-friendly entertainment on its television programming, premium live events, digital media, and publishing platforms. WWE’s TV-PG programming can be seen in more than 1 billion households worldwide in more than 20 languages through world-class distribution partners including NBCUniversal, The CW and Netflix. In the United States, NBCUniversal’s streaming service, Peacock, is the exclusive home to all premium live events, a variety of original programming and a massive video-on-demand library. Netflix is the exclusive home for WWE programming around the world, other than select international markets. WWE is part of TKO Group Holdings (NYSE: TKO). Additional information on WWE can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO) is a premium sports and entertainment company. TKO owns iconic properties including UFC, the world’s premier mixed martial arts organization; WWE, the global leader in sports entertainment; and PBR, the world’s premier bull riding organization. Together, these properties reach 210 countries and territories and organize more than 500 live events year-round, attracting more than three million fans. TKO also services and partners with major sports rights holders through IMG, an industry-leading global sports marketing agency; and On Location, a global leader in premium experiential hospitality.

Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs

The Role and What You’ll Do:

About the Role

WWE is seeking a skilled and proactive Corporate Counsel to join our Business & Legal Affairs team and report into the WWE - Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and TKO - Head of Intellectual Property. The ideal candidate will have approximately 10 years of legal experience, focused on drafting and negotiating corporate agreements, as well as intellectual property enforcement and protection. This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of law, business strategy, and entertainment.

Key Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of contracts for all business needs relating to sports and entertainment, including agreements relating to independent contractors, talent, marketing, media, multimedia, content, licenses, performance, services, non-disclosure agreements, and other complex commercial agreements generally utilized in the sports and entertainment industry, including consumer products license agreements, vendor agreements, service-level agreements, font license agreements, partnership contracts, releases and waivers, appearance agreements, independent contractor agreements, and NDAs.

• Draft, advise, and review a broad range of contracts for all business needs relating to sports and entertainment, including agreements relating to independent contractors, talent, marketing, media, multimedia, content, licenses, performance, services, non-disclosure agreements, and other complex commercial agreements generally utilized in the sports and entertainment industry

• Advise internal stakeholders on legal risks and mitigation strategies in contract terms.

• Monitor and enforce the company’s intellectual property portfolio (trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets), including drafting and sending cease-and-desist letters, managing takedowns, filing UDRP actions, managing third party enforcement vendors and supporting litigation if necessary.

• Collaborate with external counsel and IP offices globally on enforcement.  Work closely with internal business units on a wide variety of intellectual property related matters.

• Conduct IP clearance searches and analysis for character names, corporate logos, and apparel slogans.

• Support the development and refinement of contract templates.

• Stay current on relevant legal developments, including changes in IP law and technology affecting brand owners’ ability to monitor and enforce proactively.

• Work closely, collaboratively and enthusiastically with other members of the Business & Legal Affairs team of WWE, WWE affiliates, as well as corresponding business clients.

• Provide comprehensive legal advice and counsel to internal business units and company leadership and executives.

• Provide real-time analysis and advice on business and legal issues, including questions of contract interpretation and enforcement.

• Participate in special projects and other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law