Associate Counsel - NBA Africa & BAL at National Basketball Association NBA in Nairobi, Kenya

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    Associate Counsel - NBA Africa & BAL

    Posted

    1 week ago

    Apply by

    28 Aug

    Full Time
    On Site
    Senior
    Legal Services
    Legal Services

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    Job Description

    Provide legal, business affairs, compliance, and general corporate support for the NBA in Africa and for the Basketball Africa League BAL globally. This position will be based in Johannesburg, South Africa or Nairobi, Kenya, and it will work together with the NBA's legal staff across its various offices, including the NBA's HQ in New York.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Provide timely and actionable legal and business affairs counsel for NBA Africa and the BAL business teams.
    • Draft, review, and negotiate contracts across all business lines, in particular for NBA Africa and BAL basketball operations, fan events, marketing partnerships, merchandising, and service providers.
    • Manage due diligence process for business partners and service providers.
    • Advise on various regulatory issues and strategic initiatives in the region, and work with local counsel as needed.
    • Drive general corporate and administrative legal matters for NBA Africa and the BAL.
    • Implement organizational best-practices, controls and policies, and provide regular training of the same to existing and new business staff.

    Required Qualifications

    • Strong analytical, legal writing, communication, and organizational skills, as well as strong problem solving and collaborative skills.
    • Experience with contract drafting and negotiation, with an exceptional level of attention to detail.
    • Experience with compliance, due diligence, and legal research.
    • Knowledge of FCPA, UK Bribery Act, OFAC, and African compliance-related regulations is preferred.
    • In addition to English, speaking and written fluency in French or Arabic is preferred.
    • Minimum 5 years' PQE or post-admission experience, with experience gained at both a top tier multinational law firm in Africa, US, UK, Europe, or the Middle East, and a multinational company or other similar in-house experience in Africa, US, UK, Europe, or the Middle East.
    • Cross-border transactional work experience is required.
    • Commercial or corporate law background.
    • Law degree from a top tier university in Africa, US, UK, or France.
    • Admitted as an attorney in South Africa, Kenya, or a relevant African country, qualified as a Solicitor in England and Wales, admitted to the NY bar or other US jurisdiction, and/or qualified as an attorney in a similar jurisdiction.

    Job Details

    Job Function

    Legal Services

    Minimum Experience

    5 years

    Education Level

    Bachelor’s Degree

    Area of Study

    Law

    Field of Study

    Law

    Languages

    English, French or Arabic preferred

    Additional Information

    How to Apply: Interested and qualified? Go to National Basketball Association (NBA) on careers.nba.com to apply.

    Show You Can Handle Cross-Border Deals and Compliance

    This role sits at the intersection of sports, business, and regulation across Africa and beyond. The hiring team will be looking for someone who can move between contract negotiation, due diligence, and compliance with ease.

    1. Highlight your cross-border experience: Emphasize any deals or matters that involved multiple jurisdictions, especially in Africa, the US, UK, or Europe. Use specific examples of cross-border transactions you've worked on.

    2. Show your compliance knowledge: Be ready to discuss FCPA, UK Bribery Act, OFAC, and African regulations. Prepare examples of how you've navigated compliance issues in past roles.

    3. Demonstrate contract drafting skills: Bring samples of contracts you've drafted or negotiated, and be prepared to walk through your approach to key clauses.

    4. Prepare for case studies: Expect to be tested on your analytical and problem-solving skills through hypothetical scenarios. Practice structuring your answers clearly.

    5. Understand the sports and entertainment industry: Show genuine interest in basketball and the business of sports. Research the NBA Africa and BAL initiatives to speak knowledgeably.

    6. Emphasize your ability to train others: The role involves implementing policies and training staff. Share examples of how you've developed and delivered training programs.

    7. Be ready to discuss your admission: Confirm your bar admission or qualification in a relevant jurisdiction. If you're admitted in multiple, highlight that.

    8. Show your language skills: If you speak French or Arabic, highlight that prominently. Even if not required, it's a strong plus.

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    Tags

    legal
    compliance
    contracts
    due diligence
    FCPA