General Counsel

Museum Overview

The Brooklyn Museum is a world-renowned cultural institution dedicated to preserving and showcasing art, history, and heritage. Our mission is to bring people together through art and experiences that inspire celebration, compassion, courage, and the will to act. Our vision is to serve as an institution where art is a powerful force for personal transformation and social change. Celebrating our differences and learning about our diverse communities through our collections, exhibitions, and programming is the core of who we are and what we do.

We are committed to creating and cultivating a diverse community of talented, passionate people who are inspired to make the Museum an important hub of community activity and a great global destination. Our staff have the opportunity to grow their professional skills and work collaboratively with colleagues they admire and respect.

About The Role

The Brooklyn Museum seeks an experienced and strategic General Counsel to serve as the primary legal advisor to the Museum's leadership team and Board of Trustees. The General Counsel will provide comprehensive legal guidance across all Museum operations, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations while supporting the Museum's mission to create inspiring encounters with art and culture. The ideal candidate has strong labor experience working with unions and is not daunted by hard work with a non-profit of modest resources.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the Museum Director, executive leadership team, and Board of Trustees
• Oversee all legal matters related to Museum operations, including contracts, intellectual property, employment law, governance, and regulatory compliance
• Manage union relationships, collective bargaining agreements, and labor negotiations
• Handle dispute resolution, arbitrations, and National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) proceedings as needed.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws, including FLSA, FMLA, Title VII, ADA, and NY labor laws.
• Provide legal guidance on workplace policies, disciplinary actions, and employee relations keeping employee manuals and Board bylaws up to date.
• Manage complex legal issues related to art acquisitions, loans, exhibitions, deaccessioning, and cultural property laws
• Oversee any litigation, working with external counsel as necessary.
• Review and negotiate a wide range of agreements, including donor agreements, sponsorships, licensing, vendor contracts, and partnerships
• Provide counsel on employment matters, including policy development, employee relations, and compliance with labor laws
• Guide the museum's intellectual property strategy, including copyright, trademark, and rights and reproductions
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit governance requirements and best practices
• Serve as primary liaison with outside counsel when specialized expertise is required
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments relevant to museum operations
• Develop and implement risk management strategies
• Provide legal training to staff as needed
• Support Board governance, including advising on bylaws, committee structure, conflicts of interest, and fiduciary responsibilities
• Provide legal oversight for museum financial compliance, including:
• Ensuring proper management of endowment funds and compliance with donor restrictions
• Advising on restricted funds and their appropriate use
• Supporting compliance with financial reporting requirements for nonprofits
• Overseeing legal aspects of grant compliance and reporting obligations
• Advising on tax compliance matters specific to cultural institutions
  

Qualifications:

• JD degree from an accredited law school and admission to the New York State Bar
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant legal experience, with at least 5 years in a senior legal role
• Experience in nonprofit or cultural institution law, specifically within New York City's cultural sector, strongly preferred
• Specialized legal knowledge related to art acquisition, deaccessioning, and cultural property laws
• Experience working with unions and labor relations in a cultural institution and/or non profit setting
• Strong knowledge of intellectual property law, contract law, employment law, and nonprofit governance
• Understanding of legal issues specific to art institutions, including cultural property laws and donor restrictions
• Experience with nonprofit financial governance, endowment management, and restricted funds
• Excellent judgment, analytical skills, and problem-solving abilities
• Outstanding communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts to non-legal audiences
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and build relationships across departments
• Experience managing outside counsel relationships
• Deep commitment to the Museum's mission and values
  
  

Department: Executive Admin

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Position type: Full-time

Union status: Non-Union

Salary: $225,000-$250,000

FLSA status: Exempt

Schedule: Hybrid, 35 hours per week, Monday through Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

If you have questions about our online application system, get in touch with us at job.applicationquestions@brooklynmuseum.org.