Business and Legal Affairs Counsel
ASCAP
New York, NYThis is a Full Time Job
Job Description
Job overview:
The Counsel or Senior Counsel will support the Business & Legal Affairs ("BALA") and Membership Departments with a variety of business affairs and legal responsibilities related to member affiliations and distributions, including drafting and negotiating songwriter and composer agreements with music lawyers and other representatives of ASCAP members. The role reports to the SVP, Membership and Business & Legal Affairs and is positioned in the Business & Legal Affairs department. This is a hybrid role with a 3 day per week in-office requirement based out of the ASCAP New York headquarters.
Areas of Responsibility & Accountability:
• Responsible for the drafting, negotiating, closing and day-to-day management of all long-form member agreements, NDAs, letters of direction, letter agreements and amendments.
• Providing legal support for ASCAP’s Repertory and Distribution Departments regarding ASCAP rules, policies, and procedures.
• Assisting the Global Member Services ("GMS") and Member Inquiry & Resolution Services ("MIRS") teams with escalated complex member transactions, including royalty assignments, works licensing questions, and distribution/royalty issues.
• Supporting MIRS team with guidance on member estate matters, including reviewing and summarizing estate documents, and recommending designation of a successor(s).
• Supporting the SVP, Membership and Business & Legal Affairs in executing strategy to achieve departmental and organizational goals, including long-term growth in market share and revenue.
• Special legal projects as assigned by senior staff.
Qualifications & Requirements:
• Minimum of two years (Counsel) or five years (Senior Counsel) of relevant law firm and/or in house experience required.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) required. Must be licensed and in good standing to practice law in New York State.
• Prior experience working in the music business or other creative field a plus.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation and organizational skills, as well as excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to develop highly effective and productive working relationships externally and internally throughout ASCAP.
• Ability to learn fast and have a commonsense approach to decision-making.
• A strong work ethic and a bias towards action, change and speed.
• Impeccable ethics and adherence to confidentiality obligations.
Occasional travel for in-person meetings may be required.
Please be aware that ASCAP is not a nut-free or other allergen-free workplace.
Salary/Benefits
$190,000 - $240,000 /year USD
Salary will be determined on an individualized basis depending on several factors.
Benefits
• Medical and dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• 401(k)
• Profit sharing
• Paid time off
• Company holidays
• Volunteer time off
• Flexible spending accounts
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life insurance
• Employee gym discounts
• Commuter benefits
• Voluntary pet health insurance
• Voluntary auto and homeowners insurance
• Voluntary life insurance options
• Voluntary ID protection coverage
Additional Information
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) is a membership association of over one million songwriters, composers, and music publishers, representing some of the world’s most talented music creators. Founded and governed by its members, ASCAP is the only not-for-profit performing rights organization in the U.S. It licenses a repertory of more than 20 million musical works to hundreds of thousands of businesses, including streaming services, cable television, radio, and brick-and-mortar establishments such as retail stores, hotels, clubs, restaurants, and bars. ASCAP collects licensing fees, identifies and processes trillions of performances annually, and returns nearly 90 cents of every dollar back to its members as royalties. The ASCAP blanket license provides an efficient solution for businesses to legally perform ASCAP music while ensuring fair compensation for songwriters and composers. ASCAP advocates for music creators' rights and the value of music, drives industry innovation, builds community, and offers resources and support to help creators succeed in their careers.
