Counsel

The Walt Disney Company

Counsel supporting ESPN's legal department and assisting with contract law and legal matters. Requires knowledge in law and experience with legal documentation in a media context.

Posted 4/22/2026full-timeBristol • Connecticut, New York • 🇺🇸 United StatesJuniorMid-Level💰 $144,300 - $186,600 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Assist the Deputy Chief Counsel, Assistant Chief Counsel and other attorneys in fulfilling the legal affairs and requirements of the corporation
Maintains current knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws and of industry legal standards and norms
Drafts contracts and other legal documents, recommends approval/modification of contracts proposed by outside parties, and negotiates with outside parties
Keeps internal clients fully informed of relevant legal issues and implications of their current operations and proposed actions
Reviews and edits significant policies, letters, work orders and other documents from applicable client departments to ensure that potential legal implications are appropriately addressed
Manages outside counsel in their representation of ESPN on litigation and other legal matters
Conceives and recommends strategies and initiatives to minimize the legal risks of current operations and proposed actions

Requirements

What you’ll need

At least 2 years of contract law experience, including extensive drafting, in either a transactional or litigation capacity
Familiarity with content agreement negotiating (including, by way of example only, audiovisual programming, licensing and production agreements) and intellectual property law (copyright, trademark, rights of publicity)
Familiarity with the entertainment, broadcast/cable, Internet, mobile, other digital (including social) media and/or sports businesses
Familiarity with audiovisual production legal work, including licensing of audiovisual content and data components
Familiarity with marketing matters
Experience supervising paralegal/legal support staff
JD or equivalent
Admission to Connecticut State Bar or New York State Bar in good standing or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel

Benefits

Comp & perks

Bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package
Full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

contract lawdrafting contractsnegotiationintellectual property lawaudiovisual production legal worklicensing agreementsmarketing lawlitigationlegal document reviewlegal risk management

Soft Skills

communicationstrategic thinkingclient managementsupervisioncollaborationproblem-solvingattention to detailorganizational skillsadvisory skillsnegotiation skills

Certifications

JDConnecticut State Bar admissionNew York State Bar admissionRegistered In-House Counsel qualification