Sr. Counsel, Intellectual Property

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 and Licensing. The ideal candidate will have approximately 6-8 years of legal experience, focused on intellectual property clearance, prosecution, enforcement and protection as well as drafting and negotiating corporate agreements. This position offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of law, business strategy, and entertainment.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive clearance searches and provide risk assessments for new brands, products, character names, corporate logos, and apparel slogans.

• 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.

• Develop and institute best practices for IP enforcement and protection for infringements, counterfeit and video piracy strategies.

• Advise on copyright, domain name and related brand protection issues.

• Support IP enforcement, including monitoring, cease and desist letters, opposition and related disputes. 

• 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.

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

• Draft a broad range of contracts relating to sports and entertainment, including intellectual property settlement and coexistence agreements, license agreements, product placement agreements, independent contractor agreements and NDAs.

• 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.

• 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 school and admission to at least one U.S. state bar, and the ability to register as Connecticut authorized in-house counsel.

• Strong background in trademark clearance, prosecution and enforcement.

• Experience drafting and negotiating corporate contracts.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

• Knowledge or willingness to watch current and historical WWE programming.

Required Skills

• Working and recent knowledge and experience with clearance search work as well as U.S. trademark prosecution (including all filings with the U.S. Trademark Office).

• Familiarity with domestic and international IP enforcement strategies.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary and bonus structure

• Equity/stock options (if applicable)

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) with company match