Senior Legal Counsel

About Us: The National Basketball League (NBL) is a world-renowned basketball organisation, home to some of the globe's best players. As a leader in sports entertainment, we operate an innovative media platform and are dedicated to achieving new heights of success and growth. Our vision is to be the most entertaining sports experience for fans, through bold innovation and partnerships, and to become the fastest growing league globally.

Our Values

• Always Think Big:Be courageous, be open to new ideas, learn and grow - no limits.
• Be Accountable:Own it Ask for help. The scoreboard matters.
• Integrity is Key:Act ethically, act honestly, keep our word.
• Show Respect:Show care, listen and seek to understand, value opinions.
• We are Fans Too:Have fun, always consider the fan, share the love of the game.
• One Team:Communicate, trust each other, celebrate the wins, build relationships.

The Opportunity

We're seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel to play a critical role in supporting the National Basketball League's continued growth and success through strategic legal advisory and commercial support. This position focuses on delivering timely and practical legal advice across commercial, compliance, and governance matters that enable the League to meet its strategic and operational objectives.

You'll work closely with internal stakeholders and external legal advisors, providing sound legal advice while supporting the League's governance framework and ensuring ongoing compliance with relevant laws and regulations. This role offers the perfect opportunity to combine legal expertise with sports entertainment in a fast-paced, exciting environment.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Advisory and Commercial Support

• Provide high-quality legal advice across commercial contracts, governance, regulatory obligations, and risk matters
• Draft, review and lead negotiations on sponsorship, media, broadcast, supplier, partnership and licensing agreements
• Support strategic legal aspects of new tournaments, events, joint ventures, and procurement projects
• Advise competition and operations teams on player contracting and collective bargaining agreements
• Manage legal disputes and coordinate with external legal counsel as required

Governance and Compliance

• Develop and maintain policies, procedures, and frameworks for legal compliance and corporate governance
• Monitor legislative changes and industry best practice to ensure ongoing business compliance
• Support company secretarial functions and prepare governance documentation and Board materials

Team Contribution and Development

• Mentor junior legal and administrative staff, including compliance and integrity officer support
• Collaborate with the Legal and Compliance team to foster a high-performing work environment
• Drive continuous improvement of legal processes and systems, including technology integration

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Build strong internal relationships to enable proactive, solutions-oriented legal support
• Liaise with external stakeholders including Basketball Australia, Players' Association and NBL Clubs
• Act as trusted advisor ensuring legal input aligns with commercial and operational objectives

Risk Management and Policy Development

• Identify and assess legal risks across the organisation and develop mitigation strategies
• Provide expert advice on privacy, intellectual property, employment, and regulatory compliance
• Lead implementation and refinement of the organisation's legal and compliance policies

About You

Legal Expertise

• Strong technical legal capabilities with sound knowledge of corporate and commercial law, including contract law, intellectual property, privacy, and employment law
• Proven ability to provide pragmatic, commercially focused legal solutions
• Proficiency in drafting and negotiating contracts and legal documents

Key Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to simplify complex legal matters
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to influence and build rapport across all organisational levels
• Detail-oriented with strong organisational and time management abilities
• High degree of personal integrity, professionalism, and accountability

Experience and Background

• Law degree and admission to legal practice in Australia
• Minimum 5-8 years' senior legal experience, preferably in corporate, commercial, or sports environments
• Experience managing legal teams and driving cross-functional collaboration
• Proven track record providing strategic legal counsel to senior executives and Boards
• Background in contract negotiation, governance, and regulatory compliance
• Familiarity with sports, entertainment, or commercial sector legal landscapes preferred

Why Join Us?Career Growth: Shape legal strategy in Australia's fastest-growing professional sports league

Competitive Package: Full-time permanent role with attractive salary and professional development opportunities

Dynamic Environment: Work with elite athletes and industry leaders in professional basketball

Strategic Impact: Provide legal counsel that enables business growth and drives strategic objectives Innovation Focus: Support cutting-edge sports entertainment initiatives and high-profile projects

Industry Networks: Build relationships with sports legal professionals and industry-leading partners Work-Life Balance: Melbourne-based role with collaborative culture and professional growth opportunities

Global Vision: Be part of NBL's ambitious expansion and international brand development

Why Wait? We're reviewing applications as they come in, so don't wait --

APPLY NOW to join our Melbourne-based team

The National Basketball League is dedicated to championing diversity and inclusion. We wholeheartedly embrace individual differences and warmly welcome all qualified applicants to apply, including First Nations peoples.