Corporate Counsel

About Us

Sparks is a leading global brand experience agency, specializing in the design and execution of award-winning experiences that forge deep connections between brands and audiences. Recognized by Adweek as Experiential Agency of the Year, we bring a unique blend of strategic insight and execution excellence to every brand activation, corporate event, trade show exhibit, and immersive experience. Our commitment to creativity, innovation, and flawless execution drives us to craft impactful experiential marketing solutions that deepen relationships, inspire action, and build trust—all around the world.

Summary

Sparks is searching for a Corporate Counsel who is energized by a collaboration, innovation and partnership across business functions. This is not a typical legal role — we are looking for a nimble attorney and genuine business partner who brings sound judgment, creative problem-solving, and a collaborative spirit to every engagement.

You will work side-by-side with our growth and leadership teams to negotiate complex commercial agreements with sophisticated clients, helping the business grow while keeping risk firmly in view. You are comfortable moving fast, holding the line where it matters, and finding the creative path forward when the situation calls for it.  You will operate operate as a trusted partner to the broader business — from management and operations to the frontline sales team. You will be a go-to resource for teams across Sparks, building the kind of cross-functional relationships that make the Legal Department a true partner to growth rather than a gate.

This position will support our Legal team.  It is eligible to work a hybrid schedule, generally requiring work in-office and/or show-site 2-3 days per week. This position is based out of our Sparks office location in Philadelphia, PA.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Contract Drafting & Negotiation

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements including master service agreements, statements of work, subcontractor and vendor agreements, , letters of intent, NDAs and confidentiality agreements, and independent contractor agreements.
• Manage multiple contract reviews and negotiations with precision and composure, ensuring every document reflects Sparks’ interests and business objectives.
• Assist with the development and maintenance of contract templates, standard form agreements, and internal playbooks to improve consistency and efficiency across the contracting process.
• Engage confidently and skillfully with sophisticated counterparties, closing deals in a manner that mitigates risk and brings commercial value to the company.
• Advise on production and event-specific risk, including force majeure, event postponement and cancellation, venue and facility liability, and the allocation of risk across production agreements and client contracts with hard event deadlines.

Research, Advisory & Partnership

• Conduct legal research and prepare clear, concise memoranda on a range of corporate, regulatory, and transactional issues, translating complex legal analysis into practical guidance for business stakeholders.
• Partner closely with the sales organization to understand deal dynamics, apply sound legal principles, and deliver practical, actionable guidance that moves transactions forward.
• Identify and flag emerging legal and regulatory issues that may affect the business and assist in developing internal policies or training materials in response.
• Support ad hoc legal projects across practice areas – including employment, privacy, and compliance – as business needs evolve, demonstrating the ability to ramp quickly on new subject matter.
• Advise and educate business stakeholders on the contract review process, set clear expectations, and serve as a trusted resource across the company.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal departments — from operations to finance — to support business objectives while proactively identifying and mitigating legal risk.
• Liaise with outside counsel as needed, managing those relationships efficiently and cost-effectively.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Lead and participate in proactive team initiatives, including enterprise-wide legal training programs that build legal awareness and support a compliance-minded culture.
• Contribute to departmental efficiency improvements — bringing a continuous improvement mindset to how legal delivers value across the organization.
• Actively participate in department meetings, communicate work status clearly, and keep stakeholders appropriately informed at all stages of a matter.
• Foster a positive, inclusive work environment by leading with integrity, empathy, and enthusiasm — embodying the values that define how Sparks operates.

Education & Experience

Required Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree from an accredited law school.
• Active membership in good standing in at least one state bar.
• 3–5 years of substantive experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements including master service agreement, vendor contracts, and customer-facing agreements with sophisticated counterparties.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating directly with counterparty counsel on both company paper and third-party paper, with the ability to identify and resolve issues at all stages of the contract lifecycle.
• Practical familiarity with risk allocation principles, including indemnification structures, insurance requirements, and limitation of liability frameworks as applied in commercial services agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to learn new areas of law and industry-specific regulations quickly and independently.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with exceptional written and oral communication ability.
• Proven organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines without sacrificing quality.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and related productivity tools.

Preferred — But Not Required

• In-house counsel experience is a plus, but we welcome applicants with law firm or government backgrounds.
• Experience in experiential marketing, events, or related industries is beneficial but not required.
• Working knowledge of intellectual property law, including IP ownership, licensing frameworks, and content rights, sufficient to identify issues and advise on risk in commercial agreements.
• Background in or exposure to live events, trade shows, branded environments, or production services — whether through legal practice, prior in-house roles, or direct industry experience.

What We Offer

The Freeman Company provides benefits that aim to empower our people and their families to thrive mentally, physically, and financially.  These are a handful of the types of programs and benefits our full-time people may be eligible for.  There may be some variances in specific benefits across regions.

• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Paid Parental Leave
• Life, Accident and Disability
• Retirement with Company Match
• Paid Time Off

Diversity Commitment

At The Freeman Company, our commitment to diversity and inclusion is helping us to create not only a great place to work, but also an environment where our employees, our customers and our communities around the world can reach their goals and connect with each other. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status and other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

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