Principal, Assistant General Counsel, Sports Marketing

Become a Part of the NIKE, Inc. Team

NIKE, Inc. does more than outfit the world’s best athletes. It’s a place where passionate individuals come together to create the future of sport. We are unapologetic about who we are and what we’re after—bringing innovation and inspiration to every athlete* in the world. We look for athletes who can push boundaries, elevate our potential and continue leading us to greatness. The next tastemakers, playmakers, risk takers and glue players. Are you game?

WHO YOU’LL WORK WITH
Reporting to the Senior Director, Assistant General Counsel, Sports Marketing, this role is part of Nike’s Sports Marketing Legal Team based at the Phil H. Knight Campus in Beaverton, Oregon. The position provides legal counsel and strategic advice to Nike’s Global Sports Marketing organization across a broad range of sports, athletes, teams, federations, leagues, and geographies.

The successful candidate will partner closely with Sports Marketing leaders, business teammates and legal colleagues around the world to support some of Nike’s most significant endorsement, sponsorship and partnership matters.

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR
NIKE’s Legal Department is seeking a Director, Assistant General Counsel, Sports Marketing to join the Sports Marketing Legal Team based at the Phil H. Knight Campus in Beaverton, Oregon.

Nike’s ability to build and maintain a world-class portfolio of athletes, teams, leagues, federations and partners is strengthened by an exceptional team of attorneys and legal professionals who combine outstanding legal judgment with a deep appreciation for the power of sport.

The successful candidate will bring excellent legal training, strong business judgment and a proven ability to advise clients on complex, high-impact matters. While experience negotiating sophisticated commercial agreements is valuable, Nike is ultimately seeking an exceptional lawyer who combines strong judgment, intellectual agility, commercial curiosity and a genuine passion for understanding the athletes, teams, leagues and broader sports ecosystem that drive Nike’s business.

Successful candidates may come from transactional, litigation or other sophisticated legal practices, but all will demonstrate a growth mindset, exceptional communication skills and the ability to deliver practical, solution-oriented advice in dynamic and often ambiguous circumstances.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Juris Doctor degree.
• Membership in good standing with at least one U.S. State Bar and willingness to obtain and maintain Oregon State Bar membership through reciprocity or registered in-house counsel status, as applicable.
• Approximately 7-10 years of relevant legal experience, including at least 5 years at a law firm advising clients on complex, high-stakes legal and business matters.
• Significant experience negotiating, drafting, interpreting or assessing sophisticated agreements, commercial relationships or high-stakes disputes.
• Experience in transactional, commercial, corporate, M&A, litigation, investigations or other rigorous legal practices is welcome.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, assess risk, influence decision-making and provide practical, business-oriented advice in dynamic environments.
• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to convey complex legal concepts clearly and effectively to diverse audiences.
• Ability to engage credibly with business partners on both legal and sports-related topics and demonstrate a thoughtful understanding of the evolving sports ecosystem.
• Genuine passion for sport and deep curiosity about the athletes, teams, leagues, federations, competitions and cultural dynamics that shape the global sports landscape.

WHAT YOU’LL WORK ON
As Nike’s Director, Assistant General Counsel, Sports Marketing, you will provide legal and strategic business support for Nike’s industry-leading portfolio of athlete, team, league, federation and brand partnerships around the world.

Serving as a trusted advisor to Global Sports Marketing, the successful candidate will partner closely with business leaders to navigate complex legal and business matters, assess risk, unlock opportunities and support strategic decision-making. The work will span a broad range of endorsement, sponsorship, partnership, licensing and other commercial relationships that help shape Nike’s sports marketing portfolio.

Success in this role requires more than legal expertise. A deep understanding of the athletes, teams, leagues, federations and broader industry dynamics that influence Nike’s business is essential. Effective counsel reflects not only sound legal judgment, but also an appreciation for the commercial, competitive and cultural context in which decisions are made.

The role requires building trusted relationships across Sports Marketing, Legal and other functions while delivering practical, business-oriented advice in a fast-paced and often ambiguous environment. Whether supporting a high-profile athlete negotiation, advising on a novel business opportunity or helping stakeholders navigate evolving issues, you will provide clear, actionable guidance grounded in strong judgment and a solutions-oriented mindset.

In addition, the position plays an important role in driving legal and business excellence through process improvements, cross-functional collaboration and consistently high-quality legal support. Managing multiple complex matters simultaneously will require intellectual agility, strong communication skills and a keen understanding of business priorities.

The strongest candidates bring outstanding legal training, a genuine passion for sport, intellectual curiosity about the evolving sports ecosystem and the ability to engage credibly with business partners on both legal and sports-related topics.

We offer a number of accommodations to complete our interview process including screen readers, sign language interpreters, accessible and single location for in-person interviews, closed captioning, and other reasonable modifications as needed. If you discover, as you navigate our application process, that you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the Candidate Accommodation Request Form .

NIKE, Inc. is a growth company that looks for team members to grow with it. Nike offers a generous total rewards package, casual work environment, a diverse and inclusive culture, and an electric atmosphere for professional development. No matter the location, or the role, every Nike employee shares one galvanizing mission: To bring inspiration and innovation to every athlete* in the world.

NIKE, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.