[LA28] Managing Counsel

The Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games will be hosted in Los Angeles, California in 2028, returning to the United States for the first time in over 30 years. 2028 will be the first time LA hosts the Paralympic Games, creating an opportunity to expand awareness, understanding and inclusion of people with disabilities.

LA28, the organizers for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, is on a mission to create an unparalleled Games experience for athletes, fans, partners, our community and our people. Our vision is to collectively create what’s next through sport, community and the power of our differences.

The 2028 Olympics and Paralympics will represent LA and leverage the strength of our community’s creativity as we collectively work to design a Games that we all want to be a part of. We do this by focusing on people and by inviting everyone into the story of the LA28 Games.

The LA28 organizing committee is an independent, non-profit organization that is privately funded and governed by a board of directors. 

OVERVIEW

The Managing Counsel will be an integral part of the legal team, working closely with the Associate General Counsel and broader legal department to advise LA28’s senior management on legal matters.  This position will leverage negotiation, relationship-building, critical-thinking and communication skills to (1) support the Games Delivery functional area legal needs, including supporting negotiations with venues and certain commercial and governmental partners, (2) negotiate operational contracts, and (3) draft summaries and legal memoranda.  

This role offers an unparalleled opportunity to increase your professional network, gain valuable negotiating and business skills, and grow with the organization as we gear up for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games! 

This position will report to the VP & Deputy General Counsel.

RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Keep current on industry-wide legal trends and developments.

  • Work with outside counsel on matters requiring representation.

  • Ensure compliance with applicable international, federal, state and local laws and regulations.

  • Work closely with individual departments to anticipate, identify and manage legal exposure and risk management.

  • Review and understand all relevant corporate/stakeholder documents (including Host City Contract, Olympic Charter, Code of Ethics, etc.).

  • Support senior members of legal department on identified business transactions and legal matters, including venue use agreements, venue city agreements and agreements with governmental and other delivery partners.

  • Steady stream of self-directed analytical work, meetings, and decision-making, including preparing, reviewing and negotiating all varieties of legal documents including but not limited to confidentiality agreements, memorandums of understanding, term sheets, vendor/service agreements, waivers, consents, real estate documents, corporate governance documents and legal memoranda or other correspondence and strategic projects.

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Previous law firm and in-house experience.

  • Excellent judgment, knowing when to escalate issues.

  • A bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited university.

  • Juris Doctor Degree from an ABA accredited law school.

  • At least 8 years’ experience in transactional matters required.

  • Experience in sports, real estate, tech, and/or government contracts is preferred.

  • Concrete understanding of contract and corporate law, and business transactional principles.

  • Excellent analytical skills; capable of identifying and prioritizing issues and providing alternative solutions.

  • Excellent project and time management skills and ability to manage and prioritize changing workloads to meet deadlines.

  • Consistently able to make sense of complex and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve issues.

  • Consistently able to adapt approach and demeanor in real time to match the shifting demands of different situations.

  • High level of personal integrity and professional ethics; ability to maintain confidentiality.

  • Demonstrated commitment to co-creation and collaborative decision-making.

  • Strong interpersonal skills including ability to communicate effectively with a variety of contacts, including outside attorneys, senior management and business associates.

Jaia Thomas