Business Attorney – Athletics

🔍 Office of the General Counsel, Stanford, California, United States

📁: Compliance Legal

📅   : Nov 20, 2025 Post Date

📅   : 107772 Requisition #

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is seeking an experienced business attorney to provide legal advice on collegiate athletics and other similar business matters. Reporting to the Deputy General Counsel and Managing Attorney, this University Counsel or Senior University Counsel role demands a high degree of legal acumen, discretion, flexibility, and excellent client service. The ideal candidate will excel in interpersonal communication, including around complex legal issues and their pragmatic impact and application, managing competing interests and executing projects within a dynamic and cutting-edge environment.

Core Responsibilities

Providing legal advice to Stanford’s Department of Physical Education and Recreation (“DAPER”) ensuring coordination and consistency with policies of its cross-campus partners.
Draft, review, negotiate and approve athletics-related contracts in a highly regulated environment subject to existing and changing Stanford policies and procedures, federal, California, and local laws, including, but not limited to: (1) sponsorship, multimedia rights, and licensing agreements, (2) facility use and rental agreements, (3) vendor and consultant agreements, and (4) Name, Image, Likeness agreements.
Advise the DAPER Compliance Services Office on complex legal issues, ongoing judicial and administrative developments, NCAA and College Sports Commission legislation and case outcomes, and relevant state/federal laws.
Advise on legal issues related to relevant Civil Rights laws, including Title IX, Title VI, and the ADA, concluding state law equivalents in collaboration with Stanford’s Title IX and Title VI Coordinator and the Office of Accessible Education.
Advise other Stanford business units on related matters, including but not limited to facility use and rental agreements, intellectual property, trademark usage and similar.
Provide legal counsel on matters concerning student-athlete health, safety, conduct, and well-being.
Collaborate with Office of the General Counsel colleagues to manage litigation, claims, and disputes involving the athletics department, including the supervision of outside counsel.
Coordinate with OGC subject matter experts as appropriate.

Qualifications

Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
Minimum of six (6) years of relevant experience for the University Counsel role and ten (10) years of relevant experience for the Senior University Counsel role.
Experience as in-house counsel for a higher education institution with intercollegiate athletics or counsel in a law firm or company with significant experience in sports law, media rights, and antitrust law as applied to collegiate athletics on campus.
Membership in the California Bar preferred; will consider members of another state’s bar who have the ability to qualify as registered in-house counsel in California upon starting.
Strong client service skills with a capacity to maintain effective cross-campus collaboration while managing competing priorities and projects effectively.
Discretion, flexibility, excellent judgment, and the ability to collaborate and manage a broad range of client needs in a dynamic academic environment.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with administrators, athletics department staff, outside counsel, external campus partners, and other OGC attorneys.
Residency in the Bay Area and in-office attendance is required. Estimated three days onsite at DAPER and two days onsite at OGC.

The job duties listed are typical examples of work performed by positions in this job classification and are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, tasks, and responsibilities. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary depending on department or program needs without changing the general nature and scope of the job or level of responsibility. Employees may also perform other duties as assigned.
The expected salary range is $201,000 to $248,000 per annum (for the University Counsel position) and $250,000 to $300,000 per annum (for the Senior University Counsel position).
Stanford University provides pay ranges representing its good faith estimate of what the University reasonably expects to pay for a position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, geographic location and external market pay for comparable jobs.
At Stanford University, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive rewards package. The Cardinal at Work website (https://cardinalatwork.stanford.edu/benefits-rewards) provides detailed information on Stanford’s extensive range of benefits and rewards offered to employees. Specifics about the rewards package for this position may be discussed during the hiring process.
The final candidate will need to successfully pass a background check to be considered for this position.
Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of their job.
Stanford is an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

How to Apply:
For consideration, please submit a confidential resume to Carol Scott at carolscott@stanford.edu, Executive Assistant to Jennifer Zimbroff, Deputy General Counsel and Managing Attorney in the Office of General Counsel.

Additional Information