Job Abstract

Our teammates are at the core of what we believe in: People, Collaboration, Learning, and Excellence (PeopleCLE). We look to hire individuals who are committed to our purpose of uniting and inspiring our city through the power of team. Our mission is to win the World Series while creating a compelling fan experience. If you believe you possess these important traits, please consider a career with the Cleveland Guardians.

PRIMARY PURPOSE: This position assists in advising all departments and personnel on a wide range of legal issues relating to the Company’s baseball and business operations, including all aspects of contract law and negotiation, new business and baseball endeavors, business organization and governance, employment/labor law, governmental and regulatory compliance, Major League Baseball relationships, legal and business risk assessment, and management of outside counsel representing the organization in ongoing legal matters at the local and league-wide levels.

RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:
Primary:

• Assist in the management of license and contract processes for Club sponsors, vendors, concessionaires, and licensees as it relates to both business and baseball operations. Collaborate with Ticket Sales & Corporate Partnership & Premium Hospitality Departments to implement various ticketing and sponsorship initiatives and assist in the management of all legal aspects of these business relationships, including relationships with season ticket members and ticket re-sellers.
• Assist in the management of Club facilities and operations at Progressive Field, as well as in Goodyear, Arizona, Dominican Republic and Minor League Affiliates. Assist in providing legal oversight of construction processes and initiatives Club facilities.
• Assist Vice President, General Counsel in providing legal guidance and oversight with respect to non-baseball events (e.g., concerts, showcases, company outings) held at Progressive Field.
• Continue, develop and enhance the management of legal relationships with Major League Baseball.
• Assist Vice President, General Counsel, MLB and outside counsel to manage and enforce Club’s intellectual property rights and collaborate with key baseball operations and business operations leadership on all aspects of intellectual property (trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, patents, etc.)
• Assist Baseball Operations personnel in preparation for negotiations with representatives of salary arbitration eligible players. As necessary, assist Baseball Operations personnel and the Vice President, General Counsel, with the preparation of salary arbitration case materials and presentation strategy.
• Maintain knowledge and understanding of all applicable regulations, legal trends, current practices, new developments, and applicable laws related to professional baseball. Survey the professional sports industry for legal best practices and provide gap analysis.
• Collaborate with Vice President, General Counsel to establish, codify, implement, and regularly update various internal legal frameworks and processes, including with respect to contract intake; appropriate contracting approvals; document management; document retention and storage; etc.
• Work closely with the Vice President, General Counsel and collaborate with appropriate internal leaders on internal reports and investigations and respond appropriately to reports of policy and procedure violations.
• Provide guidance and support to the Club’s Business Leadership Team and the Club’s Baseball Operations leadership, when assigned by the Vice President, General Counsel, on questions regarding general governance, questions requiring strategic input, and issues pertaining to Club policies and procedures.
• Monitor and review the business operating structure and assist the Vice President, General Counsel in making recommendations related to best practices and new baseball and business initiatives.
• Assist in the management of outside legal counsel representing the Club in local and national litigation matters and other matters involving outside legal counsel; interact with MLB league counsel and counsel for other Clubs as appropriate.
• Provide guidance on risk management issues and in managing open claims related to risk and Workers’ Compensation.
• All other duties as assigned by the Vice President, General Counsel.

Secondary:

• Attend other corporate department or vendor meetings as assigned.
• Review and maintain appropriate governance and compliance relationships for the Club and provide advice on the same.
• Provide guidance on financing, banking, and credit facility relationships for the Club and provide advice on the same.
• Develop understanding of Club’s business objectives and identify opportunities for the legal department to enhance such objectives.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
• Ohio Bar Membership in good standing.
• Minimum of three (3) years of experience with a major law firm and/or in-house legal department.

JOB SKILLS:

• Excellent interpersonal and problem-solving skills and ability to maintain strong relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise thoughtful and pragmatic judgment, including with respect to new or unfamiliar topics and issues.
• Capacity for identifying areas of potential risk and for developing mitigation opportunities.
• Astute, detail-oriented self-starter with excellent organizational skills and the ability to multitask, must be able to independently prioritize projects, manage workflow, and complete projects under time pressure.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS:

• Actual experience in any or all of these disciplines preferred: the professional baseball/professional sports industry; day-to-day management of business (more than 50 employees) legal matters; in-house employment law; development of in-house legal department policies/processes; oversight of a small or mid-sized company’s regular contracting operations; digital media rights; or commercial real estate matters.
• Outstanding negotiating and writing skills, with a strong ability to draft and review legal documents, analyze complex issues, and provide practical, business-oriented remedies.
• Broad transactional experience in multiple disciplines.

ORGANIZATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Reads, speaks, comprehends, and communicates English effectively in all communications.
• Represents the Cleveland Guardians in a positive fashion to all business partners and the general public.
• Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationships with members of the Front Office.
• Ability to act according to the organizational values and service excellence at all times.
• Ability to work with diverse populations and have a demonstrated commitment to social justice.
• Ability to walk, sit or stand for an entire shift.
• Ability to work extended days and hours, including holidays and weekends.
• Ability to move throughout all areas and levels of the Ballpark.
• Ability to work in a diverse and changing environment.
• Occasional physical activity such as lifting and carrying boxes up to 25 lbs.

The Cleveland Guardians are committed to developing and maintaining an environment that embraces all forms of diversity to enrich our core values, enhance our competitive position, strengthen our impact within our community, and foster a greater sense of belonging for our employees.

In this spirit, we know studies have shown that people from historically underserved groups - including women and people of color - are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job and understand that candidate may bring certain skills and experiences to the role that are not listed above, but that would add tremendous value to our organization. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described.