Manager Legal Counsel - Sports Marketing

Purpose & Overall Relevance for the Organization:

As a Legal Counsel specializing in Sports Marketing, Brand Marketing, Licensing, Business Affairs and Sustainability, you will be the bridge between legal intricacies and commercial success. Your legal expertise, combined with a keen business sense and passion for sports, will empower you to provide strategic guidance to our teams. You'll leverage your interpersonal skills to build strong relationships, contribute proactively, and drive results. You will work closely with stakeholders across various departments (including football, tennis, track & field and brand marketing) to provide timely and pragmatic legal advice while driving the achievement of our business objectives. This role requires a candidate who possesses a solid foundation in legal principles, a strategic mindset, a keen ability to balance legal risks with business goals, and, above all, a real passion for sport.

Key responsibilities:

·Commercial and Strategic Legal Support: Partner closely with the Sports Marketing, Brand Marketing, Licensing, Business Affairs, and Sustainability teams to provide pragmatic legal advice that supports strategic business objectives. Balance legal considerations with commercial goals, ensuring a seamless integration of legal expertise within our business initiatives.

·Sports Marketing: Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts and agreements, including sponsorship -and endorsements agreements across a variety of category areas, including Football, Basketball, Tennis, Track and Field, Outdoor and Training. Advise local market legal teams and sports marketing teams on best practices with respect to legal sports marketing topics.

·Brand Marketing, Product Claims, Production Clearance and Sustainability: Support Brand Marketing, Product Claims, Production Clearance and Sustainability matters as and when required, providing sharp and meaningful advice to relevant stakeholders.

·Licensing: Support Licensing-In and Licensing-Out matters as and when required, leveraging legal expertise and commercial acumen to support adidas’ Licensing programme.

·International Focus: Manage legal matters with an international scope, considering cultural nuances and the wider global impact of the role.

·Efficient Processes: Champion the use of legal technology and efficient processes to streamline workflows, enabling quicker decision-making and enhancing overall productivity.

·Continuous Improvement: Strive for excellence and be proactive in identifying opportunities for improvement within legal documentation, templates, processes and strategies.

·Team Contribution: Regardless of experience level, actively contribute to the success of our legal team by sharing insights, participating in projects, and embracing a growth mindset.

Key relationships:

·Global Brand & Sports Marketing | Legal & Business Affairs department.

·Global + Local Sports Marketing departments.

·Global Communications / Digital Marketing / Global PR.

·Global Intellectual Property / Finance & Controlling / Tax.

·External partners, e.g. agents, senior representatives of governing bodies, federations, clubs and athletes.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

·Commercial Mindset: Proven ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice that supports strategic objectives in a global context.

·Efficiency Advocate: Adept at leveraging legal technology and process improvement to optimize workflows and decision-making.

·Passion for Sports Genuine: Enthusiasm for sports, coupled with an understanding of the industry's legal dynamics.

·Interpersonal Excellence: Outstanding interpersonal skills to build strong relationships, establish credibility, and facilitate collaboration.

·Adaptability: Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and dynamic business environments.

·Problem-Solving Skills: Proven ability to analyse complex issues, think creatively, and provide actionable solutions.

·Team Player: Collaborative mindset, actively contributing to the collective success of the legal team.

Requisite Education and Experience / Minimum Qualifications:

·Legal Expertise: Bachelor's degree in Law and admission to a recognized bar association. A minimum of 3-5 years of relevant legal experience, preferably with a focus on sports law, marketing law, intellectual property, and sustainability within a leading international law firm or within sports industry.

·Language Skills: Proficiency in English (German, French and/or Spanish languages are a plus).