Full Job Description
EmploymentType: Full-Time
Location: NY-New York (Union Square)
LocationType: corporate
JobLocation: New York, New York 10003
JobSummary: The Barnes & Noble Legal Department is looking to hire a creative, collaborative, detail-oriented and hard-working publishing attorney to assist our Barnes & Noble and Sterling Publishing team with legal support including but not limited to drafting, negotiating, and managing contracts, terms negotiation, drafting and maintaining policies pertaining to the publishing businesses, litigation, and mergers and acquisitions support. This attorney must have exceptional interpersonal skills, a high value for client service and experience interfacing with internal and external clients.
- Independently draft, review and negotiate agreements and amendments (author, agency, licensor, packager, co-edition, artist, illustrator).
- Update existing contract templates as needed, liaising with BN legal and publisher.
- Consult with Barnes & Noble and Sterling employees as needed to facilitate negotiations and contract finalization; advise internal personnel and third parties on contract detail queries, and further negotiate with contracted parties as needed for nonbusiness terms.
- Responsible for drafting and maintaining policies related to our publishing businesses.
- Provide assistance, working with Sterling executives and Barnes & Noble General Counsel, with negotiating terms with counterparties with an emphasis on distribution and Sterling customers.
- Provide support relating to claims, litigation, and subpoena responses related to Sterling Publishing.
- Provide legal guidance as needed with respect to author contracts, copyright advice, general licensing matters and all other intellectual property matters arising out of Sterling’s imprints and business initiatives.
- Support for any potential mergers and acquisition activity relating to the Sterling Publishing businesses and imprints.
- Work with colleagues within the Barnes & Noble legal team to create and implement processes and procedures to handle high-volume contract needs more efficiently.
- Assist VP, General Counsel, in providing legal counsel oversight for Sterling Publishing.
- Demonstrated ability to provide sound legal advice, exercise good business judgment, work effectively and proactively with senior management and implement policies and processes on a cross-functional basis in an agile work environment.
- Experience working with legal matters relating to publishing, with strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
- Analytical, problem-solving, interpersonal, negotiation and legal reasoning skills.
- Ability to manage issues and prioritize a large number of projects effectively.
- Flexibility/adaptability to manage multiple wide-ranging matters, conflicting deadlines, and new areas of expertise as business needs change.
- Confident self-starter with strong organizational skills.
- Juris Doctorate or equivalent degree, with state bar membership.
- A minimum of 3-7 years of relevant experience in a law firm or publishing house.
- At least 3 years’ experience negotiating and drafting publishing related contracts.
- Admitted to the New York Bar.
- This role is based in our New York City Home Office.
EeoStatement: Barnes & Noble is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, citizenship status, military or veteran status, religion, creed, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition as defined by applicable law, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances.
