Safford Motley PLC, a leading transactional music entertainment, business, and intellectual property law firm in Nashville, Tennessee has an opening for an associate. The ideal applicant will have between one and three years of private practice experience working with contracts and concepts relevant to a transactional legal practice. Intellectual curiosity and the willingness and ability to work and learn in a fast-paced and team-based environment is critical for success.
Associate Attorney:
Safford Motley PLC has three principal transactional areas of practice—music entertainment; business; and intellectual property. Each of these areas, in turn, is made up of more specific areas of practice. The music entertainment practice touches upon every conceivable contract or business dealing that might impact an artist, producer, executive, or music company. A very incomplete list would include producer agreements, recording agreements, sponsorship agreements, publishing agreements, management agreements, equipment leases, and a myriad of other deals and agreements. The Firm’s business practice consists of outside general counsel and operations counsel to clients in various industries and includes matters relating to employment, commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions, and leases. The Firm’s intellectual property practice consists primarily with advising clients in trademark and copyright matters. At least initially, the majority of an Associate’s work will come from the music entertainment practice and elements of the Firm’s business practice that relates to the music industry.
As an Associate Attorney at Safford Motley PLC (the “Firm”), you will work under and report to the Firm’s Senior Associate and Partners. In addition, you will work closely with the Firm’s Office Manager who is heavily involved in the Firm’s workflow.
The fundamental role of the Associate is to support the practice and workflow of the Senior Associate and Partners. A successful Associate will work easily with others and be flexible as it relates to project assignments, docketing, and follow up. This is not a role where you are typically assigned isolated research memos. Instead, an Associate will typically be involved in various stages of multiple projects at a time and will be responsible for helping “move” projects through conclusion under the guidance and direction of the Senior Associate and/or Partner. Initially, an Associate will not have direct client contact but such contact will come through obtaining and exhibiting subject matter expertise and the ability to effectively work directly with clients. How long this process takes largely depends on the Associate’s ability.
(1) Intelligent; (2) Self-starter and enjoys seeing projects to a conclusion; (3) Self-confident and comfortable expressing opinions and defending a position; (4) Intellectual curiosity and enjoys learning new things; (5) Flexible in dealing with varied approaches, topics, and communication styles; and (5) Hard worker.
Associates are expected to bill at least 1,600 hours a year which roughly breaks down to a little more than six hours a workday. While “working” hours is not the same as a “billable” hour, an annual requirement of 1,600 billable hours is below what is required at comparable firms and should be achieved easily if an Associate exhibits the keys to success referenced above. The Firm strives to recognize those Associates who go above and beyond this minimum requirement through performance bonuses. It is not expected that an Associate will bring his or her own clients to the Firm as the Associate’s primary role will be to support Firm clients. However, as an Associate develops his or her expertise, the Firm will support the Associate in business development activities and growth.
The Firm offers a market-competitive guaranteed salary with the opportunity to earn performance bonuses. In addition, the Firm offers participation in a group health plan, paid CLE tuition, TBA and NBA memberships, and a computer. In addition, the Firm supports Associates’ and Senior Associates’ professional and business development activities on a case-by-case basis/request.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $90,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Health insurance
Schedule:
Work Location: In person