Director, Legal Affairs

Centric Brands is a leading lifestyle brand collective that designs, sources, markets and sells high quality products in multiple segments, including women’s, men’s and kid’s apparel, accessories, entertainment and beauty. Centric Brands is focused on our customers and our brands that will drive the company’s future growth. We are defined by innovation as we seize new opportunities and thrive in an environment informed by creativity and thinking that is both analytical and outside the box. Centric Brands reflects a team built on respect, for others and for the hard work it takes to achieve our goals and build our bright future together.

About the Role

As Director, Legal Counsel, for Centric Brands, this role will be responsible for contracts, intellectual property, licensing, and mergers & acquisitions with a focus on fashion, apparel, accessories and luxury goods. This individual will be a trusted advisor to internal business units, providing practical legal guidance that supports growth, protects the company’s assets, and ensures compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

Contract Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial contracts including vendor agreements, service agreements, partnership deals, distribution contracts, and NDAs.
• Provide contract support to cross-functional teams such as design, sourcing, marketing, sales, and operations to ensure business alignment and risk mitigation.

Intellectual Property

• Oversee the management and enforcement of Centric’s global IP portfolio, including trademarks and copyrights.
• Develop and execute strategies to protect brand equity, monitor infringement, and manage disputes in collaboration with external counsel.
• Advise on IP issues related to advertising, product design, packaging, and digital content.

Licensing

• Structure, draft, and negotiate domestic and international brand licensing agreements, joint ventures, endorsements, and collaborations.
• Ensure compliance with contractual and regulatory obligations across all licensing activities.
• Serve as a liaison between legal and business teams to support licensing deals and renewals.

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Provide legal counsel and risk analysis for potential acquisitions, investments, and divestitures.
• Lead legal due diligence efforts and coordinate with internal stakeholders and external advisors.
• Support post-transaction integration efforts, including governance, contract transition, and compliance.

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in New York State.
• 2–4 years of relevant legal experience, ideally in a law firm or in-house legal department.
• Strong experience in contracts, intellectual property, licensing, and/or M&A strongly preferred.
• Prior experience in fashion, apparel, luxury goods, or consumer products industries is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, creative environment.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Business-minded approach with the ability to think strategically and provide practical legal solutions.
• Manufacturing and integration planning for strategic transactions.

In return, we provide an industry-competitive salary, along with a comprehensive benefits plan (medical, dental, vision) that includes a matching 401(k), Summer Fridays, generous PTO, merchandise discounts, excellent career development opportunities, and a work environment that reflects our industry leadership. Our social impact program, Centric Cares, focuses on volunteerism to make a difference in communities we live and work in and our D&I committee is shaping the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Centric Brands though workshops, resources and inspiring conversation.

Salary Range: $150,000 - $180,000

At Centric Brands, we believe our people are our greatest asset, and we seek to structure competitive compensation offers to ensure that we are able to attract and retain the best talent. Our job postings include an annual base salary range at the time of employment. The stated base salary range represents our good faith estimate as to what candidates are likely to expect, and we tailor our offers within the range based on several factors, including the selected candidate's educational and professional experience, industry knowledge, location, technical and communication skills, and other factors that may prove relevant during the selection process. Base salary is a part of a total compensation package, which, depending on the position, may also include commission earnings, annual bonus and other Centric Brands sponsored benefit programs.

Be part of our growing community by getting involved with groups, teams and initiatives like Be Green, Be Giving, and Be Celebrated.

Centric Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Please note that Centric Brands will only reach out to interview, make an offer of employment or conduct onboarding activities for candidates who have applied through our careers site. When interviewing for a position, the candidate experience will include live interaction, such as a video conference or telephone call, with a Recruiter and/or company employee(s). We will never ask for any money or payments from applicants at any point in the recruitment process. Be aware of suspicious recruitment activity. If you think you are a victim of an employment scam, you may contact your local law enforcement agency and/or visit the Federal Trade Commission website here: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams.

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