Counsel Legal & Business Affairs
Sphere Entertainment Co. (NYSE: SPHR) is a premier live entertainment and media company. The Company includes Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium powered by cutting-edge technologies to redefine the future of entertainment. The first Sphere venue in Las Vegas opened in September 2023. In addition, the Company includes MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks, MSG Network and MSG Sportsnet, as well as a direct-to-consumer and authenticated streaming product, MSG+, delivering a wide range of live sports content and other programming. More information is available at sphereentertainmentco.com.
Who are we hiring?
The Counsel will provide key support as part of the legal teams responsible for Real Estate, Development and Construction, Labor and Venues, providing the opportunity to work in two dynamic divisions of the MSGE Legal Department.
For Labor, the duties will be to represent the Company in the negotiation, interpretation, and enforcement of the various collective bargaining agreements that the Company maintains with Unions which represent a wide range of employees working at MSG Arena, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon and Chicago Theatres, Sphere and the MSG Networks.
The duties for Real Estate and Venue Operations will be to provide legal representation and counsel for MSG Entertainment and Sphere Entertainment (and each of their respective business units) in connection with real estate, venue operations, as well the construction and development of the Sphere in Las Vegas and potential future venues around the world. This position works with the commercial team managing and contributing to the companies’ real estate portfolio, venue operations and global Sphere construction and development activities.
What will you do?
- Conduct arbitrations involving discipline and discharge of Union-represented employees.
- Assist in the preparation of and assume both first and second chair responsibility for Union negotiations.
- Provide day to day advice to clients at the venues as well as People Practices on issues involving the collective bargaining agreements and the union-represented employees who work under them.
- Participate in formulating company strategy and many of the legal aspects of negotiating major development and construction transactions for Spheres and other future projects in the US and abroad.
- Manage and resolve a broad range of legal issues related to the operations, construction and development of domestic and international venues, including the existing Sphere in Las Vegas, NV.
- Draft, review and/or negotiate all aspects of a high volume of Requests for Proposal/Qualifications, bid documentation and contracts between MSGE, Sphere and counterparties, including selling property owners, architects/engineers, general contractors, construction managers, individual trade contractors, professional consultants and other professional services providers.
- Advise business units on legal compliance by MSGE, Sphere and relevant counterparties with project-specific contracts, leases, easements and third-party rights agreements in connection with real estate, operations, construction and development activity.
- Ensure compliance with local, state and federal law and insurance coverage by MSGE and Sphere’s licensed construction subsidiary.
- Assist legal and other colleagues with construction, zoning, real estate and risk management/insurance aspects of MSGE real estate portfolio and Sphere’s exploration of potential new Spheres, other venue development or management opportunities.
- Liaise closely with and advise members of the Company’s Venues, Risk Management, Health & Safety, Security, Government Affairs, Communications, Tax and Finance teams as needed.
What do you need to succeed?
- Law degree and admission to practice law
- 4+ years of experience in the practice of law
- Labor Relations experience required, including handling arbitrations involving discipline and discharge.
- Significant “business affairs” experience in addition to purely legal skills.
- Ability to communicate issues/render advice to non-lawyers
- Experience efficiently managing outside counsel on sophisticated, complex transactions, strategically balancing in-house/outside counsel mix and effectively forecasting and controlling legal spend
- Advanced contract drafting and negotiation skills and the ability to develop creative solutions.
- Exceptional written and verbal business communication skills
- Self-starter and team player
- Commitment to quality work product and organizational ethics, integrity, and compliance
Special Requirements
- May require domestic business travel as needed in support of business transactions
- This role will be based in the NYC or Las Vegas office.
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At MSG, we recognize the importance of upskilling employees’ talents and strengths so they can drive their careers forward. We are proud to offer a robust set of tools and resources to help employees understand their interests and purpose, harness their talents and obtain the skills they need to reach the next step in their careers. Growth and longevity for our employees are top priorities here.
We value diversity and are looking for extraordinary employees of all backgrounds! MSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health choices, national origin, citizenship, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law mandates, MSG complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in all locations and will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required.