Inside Counsel
$200k - $250k USD
Who we are
Semafor is a global news platform for an increasingly complex world in which consumers are overwhelmed by too many news sources and unsure what to trust. We are building Semafor to enable world-class journalists to deliver reporting and insights with rigor in journalistic forms that ensure a new level of transparency. Our editors and reporters distill the most important stories from all over in formats that uncover the forces shaping the stories, explain the interests behind polarizing narratives, and replenish the stock of shared facts. As a global platform, Semafor recognizes that smart people can disagree and that informed readers need to understand alternative points of view from competing centers of power and culture in a multi-polar world. Want to join us? Read on.
About This Role
We are seeking an exceptional Inside Counsel to serve as a strategic legal partner to Semafor's leadership team as we scale our global intelligence platform. This is a unique opportunity to help build and shape the legal function of a fast-growing media company redefining how business and political leaders access global insights. The ideal candidate brings a blend of media law expertise, commercial acumen, and startup adaptability, working directly with the CFO and executive leadership on all aspects of the business—from complex sponsorship negotiations to global event operations and editorial guidance.
Your Responsibilities
Legal Advisory & Strategic Counsel
- Serve as a trusted legal advisor to the CFO and executive team on all legal and regulatory matters across business functions
- Advise on media law issues including defamation, privacy, copyright, fair use, and First Amendment considerations
- Advise editorial teams on legal issues related to journalism and ensure compliance with applicable media regulations and industry standards
- Support corporate governance matters including board materials, corporate policies, regulatory filings, and maintaining corporate records
- Develop and implement internal policies, procedures, and legal risk frameworks to ensure compliance and operational efficiency
Commercial Contracts & Transactions
- Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements including event sponsorships ($500K-$5M+), sales contracts, vendor agreements, content partnerships, licensing agreements, syndication deals, and talent agreements
- Maintain standardized contract templates and playbooks to enable business velocity while protecting company interests
- Provide practical legal solutions that support business objectives in a fast-paced media environment
Events Legal Support
- Provide comprehensive legal support for Semafor's global events portfolio, including budgets ranging from $25,000 to over $5 million
- Advise on issues of liability, insurance, force majeure, and attendee terms
- Navigate cross-border legal and regulatory considerations for major event franchises
Intellectual Property Management
- Manage Semafor's global trademark portfolio and brand protection strategy
- Advise on copyright, content ownership, and journalists' external IP arrangements
- Oversee domain and social media legal matters
Risk Assessment & Litigation Management
- Identify and evaluate legal risks across the organization and develop practical mitigation strategies
- Coordinate with outside counsel on litigation matters, manage discovery processes, and develop litigation strategies
- Oversee pre-publication review when necessary to minimize legal exposure
- Manage relationships with outside counsel and legal service providers to ensure cost-effective delivery of specialized legal services
Employment & Compliance
- Support leadership on employment agreements, consulting arrangements, and compliance with employment laws across multiple jurisdictions
- Ensure understanding and compliance with data privacy regulations including CCPA and GDPR
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Partner with editorial, events, revenue, and operations teams to advance business goals
- Provide practical, solutions-oriented legal guidance that balances risk with opportunity and enables growth
- Build trusted relationships across all levels of the organization
What Makes You Qualified
Education & Experience
- J.D. from an accredited law school (top-tier institutions strongly preferred)
- Active bar membership in New York (or eligibility to practice in-house in New York)
- 5-10 years of progressive legal experience, ideally including media, entertainment, publishing, technology, or related industries
- Demonstrated expertise in media law, intellectual property, and commercial transactions
- Experience managing litigation matters and working with outside counsel
- Experience supporting live events or conferences strongly preferred
- Experience with newsroom operations and First Amendment issues strongly preferred
Knowledge & Skills
- Deep understanding of contract law, intellectual property, and media/publishing law
- Strong command of legal issues affecting digital media companies including content licensing, privacy, and platform liability
- Familiarity with advertising and marketing regulations including FTC guidelines
- Knowledge of employment law and talent/creator agreements
- Superior analytical and problem-solving abilities to address complex legal issues
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for conveying legal concepts to non-legal stakeholders
- Strong negotiation skills with ability to achieve favorable outcomes while maintaining relationships
- Project management skills to handle multiple matters simultaneously
Salary and Location information
This position is based in New York, NY at Semafor Headquarters.
Candidates must be willing to work flexible hours and travel domestically and internationally on an as-needed basis. This position is in office Monday - Thursday and work from home on Fridays.
Salary Range: $200,000 - $250,000 per year, is based on several factors including but not limited to education, work experience, certifications, etc.
Additional job details
Semafor offers a Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) policy to our full-time, salaried employees who may take paid time off as-needed without a prescribed limit or defined balance.
Semafor, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer and enthusiastically encourages people from all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Semafor, Inc. will consider all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical and/or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.