Associate Counsel, Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law at Complex – New York City, New York

Associate Counsel, Intellectual Property and Entertainment Law

Company And Culture
Complex is the definitive platform for global youth culture and music lifestyle, seamlessly integrating cutting-edge content, commerce and live experiences with unparalleled scale. Through innovative content, Complex tells stories of music, streetwear and style, sports, art and beyond. Its content engages in a dynamic conversation with the audience, reflecting and shaping the zeitgeist of convergence culture. A powerful media juggernaut paired with a curated marketplace, Complex is redefining the way fans interact with their favorite brands and artists and reshaping the future of digital culture and commerce.
Why We're Hiring
Complex seeks a New Yorkbased lawyer with 3+ years of experience focused on inbound and outbound intellectual property licensing for consumer products/merch, plus fluency in live events, pop-ups, and talent/influencer contracting. Youll draft and negotiate high-impact deals across collaborations, merchandise programs, experiential activations, and creator partnerships, protecting our brands while enabling speed. You will work closely with cross disciplinary stakeholders to structure, draft, negotiate and advise on intricate, multi-faceted media agreements. You must be able to work independently and as part of a highly collaborative team. A strong work ethic, professional demeanor and business acumen is essential for this role.
What You'll Do

• Merchandise & Licensing: Drafting, negotiating, and managing merchandise licensing agreements; oversight of inbound/outbound co-branded IP licensing; collaborations with consumer brands, retail partners, and manufacturers; and rights clearance.
• Intellectual Property Rights: Advising on trademark, copyright, publicity rights, brand protection, anti-counterfeiting, and enforcement strategies; managing clearance of logos, names, characters, artwork, and designs for use on merchandise and in co-branded programs.
• Retail, Distribution & eCommerce: Manufacturing and supply agreements, QC/approvals, safety/labeling basics, wholesale/marketplace/DTC terms (service levels, returns/chargebacks), and fulfillment/reporting.
• Experiential & Live Events: Draft agreements for pop-ups, festival activations, and on-site retail agreements.
• Brand Partnerships & Sponsorships: Partner with Sales/Brand Partnerships to structure, draft, and negotiate sponsorship agreements (IOs/CCAs/SOWs, talent attachments).
• Structure, draft, negotiate, and manage complex commercial agreements across digital media, entertainment, and publishing, including advertising sales transactions with direct and agency clients.
• Drive inbound licensing and rights clearance for third-party IP used in merch, content, and activations (trademarks, artwork, characters, music/footage), ensuring clean chain-of-title.
• Negotiate manufacturing, distribution, and retail/e-commerce agreements (MGs/royalties, service levels, marketing commitments, returns/recalls basics).
• Structure and negotiate merchandising framework and collaboration agreements with music labels and third-party merch companies, covering rights clearance, co-brand/mark usage, MG/royalty and audit mechanics, and on-site and e-commerce sales.
• Support events and pop-ups: venue and temporary occupancy, fabrication/production, vendor MSAs, insurance/COIs and indemnities, on-site filming/appearance releases, and sponsor/activation packages.
• Draft talent/influencer/creator deals (deliverables, usage windows/territories, exclusivity, morality, right-of-publicity, FTC disclosure and platform-policy compliance).
• Advise on trademark strategy and brand protection and manage the day-to-day portfolio with outside counsel.
• Create and maintain template forms, guideline documentation, and training materials, and prepare clear deal summaries for Brand Partnerships, Content & Editorial, Advertising, and Finance.

Who You Are

• JD required from an ABA accredited university
• An active member of the New York state bar
• 3+ years experience as a practicing in-house attorney at a media/production company, merchandise/e-commerce, or relevant law firm experience
• Experience with entertainment and digital media transactions including licensing, digital publishing, advertising, content product and content distribution
• Strong analytical capabilities and judgment, even when the rules and law are unclear and the issues are of first impression
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience with music licensing, rights clearances, and marketing review
• Proficiency with Prisma, Boostr, Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe, Google Workspace, DocuSign, Airtable, Slack and Contract Lifecycle Management Systems
• Practical command of consumer-product compliance for merch
• Comfort operating in fast-cycle, first-of-kind deals and translating risk into clear options for non-lawyers

What We Offer

• Best in class health, dental, and vision insurance
• Healthcare FSA
• Dependent Care FSA
• Commuter Benefits FSA
• Short-term/long-term disability and life insurance
• Paid Parental leave
• 401k with 4% match
• Pet Insurance
• Legal and Identity Theft Plans
• Vacation time and sick days

The Pay Range for this position is listed. Actual pay will vary based on factors including, but not limited to experience and performance. The range listed is just one component of Complex's Total Rewards offerings for employees.Were an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
The above statements cover what are generally believed to be principal and essential functions of the job. Specific circumstances may allow or require some incumbents assigned to the job to perform a different combination of duties. Complex participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship.
$150,000 - $170,000 a year