Senior Legal Counsel (12 month maternity cover)

Senior Legal Counsel (12 month maternity cover)

About

The Rolex SailGP Championship is the most exciting racing on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fueled battles between national teams at iconic stadium destinations worldwide. Top athletes fly in identical high-tech F50 catamarans faster than the wind, at speeds in excess of 100km/h (60mph). Founded in 2018, SailGP is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, now in its sixth season.

SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. Underpinning the organization’s purpose-driven agenda is a diversification of the league, with the goal of immediately progressing gender equity and inclusivity.

SailGP is a global organisation with defined values that shape the culture of its team – Deliver Quality and Consistency; Evolve with Focus; Make it Count; Stand Together and Strike a Balance.

Job Summary

SailGP is seeking a senior legal counsel to join its legal team to cover a 12 month maternity leave, commencing at the beginning of May 2026. Reporting to the General Counsel, the lawyer will provide support on a range of legal issues affecting the league across the world for SailGP. This London-based position (with the option to work flexibly/remotely as required) is suited to a lawyer with 6+ PQE.  

Key Responsibilities

• Assisting the SailGP General Counsel in delivering legal services to the Global SailGP business. 
• Handling a varied workload including the following areas of law: commercial contracts, IP, sponsorship, media and broadcast, licensing, data protection, employment and immigration, and property.
• Liaising with external counsel where necessary on local law issues or on areas of specialist legal advice.
• Areas of focus include:
  • Negotiating commercial contracts.
  • Negotiating broadcast production agreements with SailGP’s production partners and advising the broadcast team on the same.
  • Negotiating broadcast sales agreements with linear and non-linear broadcasters around the world.
  • Assisting the commercial team with agreements for sponsorship of SailGP and the events and teams.  Advising the commercial team on activation of such contracts.
  • Assisting Event organisers with holding SailGP events, including agreements for local infrastructure, immigration issues, IP, commercial contracts, property licensing.
  • Advising on IP issues including protection of valuable trade marks, copyright, designs and patents.
  • Advising on employment law issues across the world.
  • Advising on collection, storage, protection and use of personal data.
  • Advising on health and safety issues.
  • Negotiating licensing deals and collaborations with third parties.
  • Drafting and advising on competition terms and conditions.
  • Assisting the marketing teams with clearance and protection of marketing assets.
  • Assisting General Counsel on establishment of corporate entities and investment proposals to match SailGP expansion.
• As the role requires the coverage of a diverse range of subject areas, it does not require the candidate to have expertise of all.  The candidate should be able to issue spot, obtain expert advice where necessary and provide practical, pragmatic advice to the SailGP business to meet business needs.

Background Qualifications

• At least 6 years PQE.
• Strong commercial contracts experience.
• Some experience in one or more of employment law, data protection, broadcast and licensing and sponsorship agreements.
• Excellent communication skills.
• In-house experience. 
• Strong interest in sports and a working knowledge of how sports properties operate.

Attributes

• Strong strategic thinking capabilities with demonstrated problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to take on any task, even outside comfort zone.
• Ability to analyse and explain complex legal issues to non-lawyers to work to a solution.
• Ability to operate both independently and in a collaborative, team environment.
• Entrepreneurial and passionate with a desire to exceed expectations.
• Strong organisation, prioritisation and project management skills.
• Extremely good attention to detail with the ability to multi-task and meet deadlines with limited supervision.
• Ability to work effectively and thrive in a fast-paced, start-up environment.
• Self-starter, action-oriented, resourceful; can take a project or program from start to completion.
• Culturally sensitive and able to effectively work globally.
• Willingness to attend the London office regularly. 

Location

Location - West London. Hybrid working model with a minimum of 3 days per week in the London Office

SailGP is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace committed to building a team culture that celebrates diversity, equity and inclusion.