Associate Counsel - Compliance, NBA Africa & BAL at the National Basketball Association (NBA)

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is passionate about growing and celebrating the game of basketball. Through the intensity of the game and the amazing athletic skill of our players, we deliver excitement to hundreds of millions of fans around the world.

As a global sports and media business, the NBA is so much more. While Basketball Operations runs the league’s on-court activities, other departments manage relationships with television and digital media partners, develop marketing partnerships with some of the world’s most recognizable companies, oversee the licensing of NBA merchandise, and handle a wide range of responsibilities that drive the NBA’s success.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Associate Counsel - Compliance, NBA Africa & BAL

Job ID: 11546
Location: Lagos
Job type: Full-time
Category: Legal

Position Summary

• Play a critical role in the operation of the NBA’s compliance program with responsibility for managing the region’s compliance with applicable law and NBA policy, including leading the third-party due diligence vetting process across Africa. 
• This position may be based in our office locations in Nairobi, Johannesburg, or Dakar.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead third-party due diligence in accordance with the NBA’s policies and procedures, with first-line responsibility for assessing and advising legal, regulatory, and reputational risk.
• Proactively analyse relevant deal terms, third-party information, and risk reports in connection with due diligence reviews, provide assessments to the Deputy Chief Compliance Officer.
• Draft reports that succinctly summarize findings and provide a recommended course of action.
• Provide general compliance assistance to employees in the region, including advising on best practices and complex compliance issues, particularly in the areas of anti-bribery and corruption, sanctions, conflicts-of-interest, and business conduct.
• Provide ongoing guidance on adherence to NBA compliance policy.
• Support regional business lawyers in analyzing compliance-related contractual provisions and assessing risk.
• Give regional due diligence and other training to regional employees.
• Effectively track and communicate the status of open issues.
• Maintain broad knowledge of compliance best practices and trends.

Required Skills/Knowledge

• Knowledge of and experience advising clients on sanctions laws and other compliance-related laws and regulations.
• Demonstrated experience balancing commercial goals and risk, with an ability to think strategically and creatively.
• Strong analytical, writing, and verbal communication skills, with an exceptional level of attention to detail.
• Robust, proactive problem-solving skills and ability to identify and facilitate solutions.
• Ability to work autonomously, accurately, and efficiently while balancing a high-volume workload.
• Experience working collaboratively in cross-border environments with legal colleagues and business clients.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 5 years post-qualified or post-admission experience gained at a top-tier multinational law firm and/or a multinational company.
• Experience working in or supporting a corporate compliance function with knowledge of executing third-party due diligence reviews.
• Experience supporting Africa.

Educational Background:

• Law Degree from a top-tier university.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.