SPORTS & EXHIBITION AUTHORITY
OF PITTSBURGH AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY
JOB TITLE: Senior Counsel
DATE UPDATED: 03/02/2026 DESCRIPTION NUMBER:
EXEMPTION STATUS: Exempt
The Sports & Exhibition Authority (SEA) develops first class sports, entertainment, recreational, and convention venues to benefit Pittsburgh’s economy and improve quality of life.
GENERAL: The Senior Counsel is responsible for finding sophisticated legal solutions to a variety of matters, including land use, construction law, civil litigation in the areas of tort, and employment; administrative hearings and appeals; and corporate policy matters. Your work will be a key component in delivering superior in-house legal services. The Senior Counsel reports directly to the SEA Executive Director.
Our ideal candidate for Senior Counsel has:
· Experience negotiating and drafting documents for complex commercial transactions, including, but not limited to commercial, and financial transactions.
- In-house experience working with other lawyers, government officials, and managing internal client expectations while aligning competing priorities within a demanding portfolio.
- The successful candidate will also demonstrate a dynamic professional style and a knack for translating technical legal concepts into oral and written communication that connect with the intended audience.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Main areas of responsibility include but are not limited to the following:
1. Provides prompt legal and strategic advice to the Executive Director and SEA Board.
2. Advise the Authority, Boards, Department Heads and Authority Staff regarding contracts, litigation, mediation, administrative process and appeals, statutory interpretation, constitutional questions, court orders and opinions, and legislation affecting the Authority’s operations.
3. Manages real estate transactions and seeks process improvements while maintaining compliance with the Authority's enabling legislation and all other applicable state and federal laws.
4. Review for legal sufficiency the following types of documents: contracts, resolutions, memoranda of understanding, settlement agreements, and other instruments.
5. Coordinates the preparation of the Authority Board agenda and meeting minutes.
6. Seeks process improvement strategies for managing workflow in the Legal Department.
7. Reviews SEA's Sport Event Grant (SEG) program guidelines to ensure compliance with state funding sources.
8. Serve as the Authority’s Open Records Officer and respond to all “Right-to-Know” requests.
9. Partner with HR leadership on employment law and human resources best practices.
10. Supervises and oversees litigation on behalf of the SEA:
a. Litigate suits and appellate proceedings in state and federal courts, as well as before administrative agencies
b. Draft pleadings, motions, orders, agreements, summaries, correspondence, policies and other legal documents and memoranda.
c. Work with insurance companies as appropriate.
11. Work independently with limited supervision, exercise good professional judgment, and work well with outside counsel, as well as in-house team members.
12. Complete other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
1. Law degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.
2. Six (6) years progressively responsible experience in the practice of law, specialized legal experience in land use, legal transactions, civil litigation, administrative litigation, and employment law.
3. A valid license, in good standing, to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and before the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, or in another state, subject to attainment of a valid license to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during initial probationary period.
4. Member of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations and the Association of Corporate Counsel.
SALARY: Negotiable
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT: Must live or be willing to relocate to Allegheny County
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS: Candidates must send their resume with a cover letter and salary requirements to
[email protected] 
