Senior Legal Counsel; maternity cover

About SailGP

The Role x SailGP Championship is the most exciting racing on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fuelled 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). SailGP is one of the world’s fastest-growing sports and entertainment properties, founded in 2018, and 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.

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.

• Assisting the SailGP General Counsel in delivering legal services to the Global SailGP business.
• Handling a varied workload including 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.
• Note:
  
  The role covers a diverse range of subject areas; the candidate should be able to issue spot, obtain expert advice where necessary and provide practical, pragmatic advice to meet business needs.

• 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.

• 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 - 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.