Associate Counsel

Company Overview

The Jockey Club, founded in 1894 and dedicated to the improvement of Thoroughbred breeding and racing, is the breed registry for Thoroughbreds in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. In fulfillment of its mission, The Jockey Club provides support and leadership on a wide range of important industry initiatives, and directly or through subsidiaries, it serves the information and technology needs of the sport of Thoroughbred racing.

About the Role

We are seeking an Associate Counsel to join our legal team and support a growing organization operating at the intersection of big data, sports media, and technology. This role reports to the General Counsel and will provide legal support across a wide range of corporate, operational, and strategic matters.

The position will focus significantly on data and technology transactions, while also supporting litigation management, compliance initiatives, and corporate governance matters, including governance matters relating to not-for-profit organizations.

This opportunity is well suited for a mid-level attorney with strong law firm training (3–5 years) who is interested in transitioning to an in-house role with broad exposure across commercial, general legal, governance and business support matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Support big data transactions and data licensing arrangements, including agreements related to analytics platforms and technology partnerships
• Provide legal guidance on employment, human resources, and workplace policy matters
• Advise on privacy, information security, and data protection issues
• Support company compliance and risk management initiatives
• Assist with insurance procurement, claims management and risk management in general
• Provide support on intellectual property matters, including protection and licensing of proprietary data and content
• Support corporate governance and compliance for not-for-profit entities, including compliance with the New York State Not-for-Profit Corporation Law
• Assist with the management and organization of legal documentary records, including contracts, governance documents, and regulatory filings
• Collaborate closely with internal business teams on matters of long- and short-term strategy and provide practical legal guidance aligned with business objective
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of legal agreements, including;

-Vendor and service agreements
-Data license agreements
-Technology and SaaS agreements
-Corporate governance documents
-Other commercial contracts

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school
• Active bar membership in good standing (with the ability to practice law as in-house counsel in New York)
• 3–5 years of experience at a law firm
• Experience drafting and negotiating commercial agreements
• Civil litigation experience preferred
• Experience with technology transactions, data licensing, or digital media agreements is a plus
• Strong analytical, writing, negotiation, and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple matters in a fast-paced environment
• Proficiency with key MS Office applications

Preferred Experience

• Experience working with big data, analytics platforms, or data rights management
• Familiarity with privacy and data security regulatory frameworks
• Experience with not-for-profit corporate governance or compliance
• Exposure to media, sports, or technology companies
• Interest in sports, media, technology, or data analytics industries preferred
• Understanding of corporate tax matters, including sales and use tax compliance

Work Environment

This role is not remote and requires regular presence in the office in New York City with the flexibility to work from home one day per week.

Pay: $140,000.00 - $220,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Law office: 3 years (Required)
• Contract negotiation: 3 years (Required)
• General & commercial litigation: 3 years (Preferred)

Work Location: In person