General Counsel

Job Description:

About Berklee

Berklee is the world’s leading institution for the study of contemporary music, dance, and musical theater, offering transformative educational programs ranging from performance, technology, production, and composition to business, education, music therapy, music and culture grounded in the African diaspora, and other disciplines. Berklee’s innovative curriculum blends contemporary and classical training with emerging technology and creative entrepreneurship, providing students with unparalleled resources to excel in their creative pursuits. Since its founding in Boston, Berklee has evolved into a global community, now home to over 8,000 students from more than 100 countries and connected by a network of 84,000+ alumni.

Comprising Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Berklee NYC, Berklee Valencia, Berklee Abu Dhabi, and the Division of Pre-College, Online and Professional Programs, the institution's dedication to empowering the world's most inspired artists and creative entrepreneurs through arts education is reflected in the work of Berklee's students, faculty, and alumni — who have earned more than 3,000 award nominations, received more than 300 Grammys and 100 Latin Grammys, and won numerous Oscars, Emmys, and Tonys.

About the President

Jim Lucchese, President of Berklee, started on January 1, 2025, as the institution’s fifth president. A pioneering music industry executive and longtime artist advocate, Lucchese brings more than two decades of experience at the intersection of music, technology, law, and creative entrepreneurship to his leadership of Berklee.

Prior to joining Berklee, President Lucchese held senior leadership roles across the global music ecosystem. He began his career as an artist-side music attorney at Greenberg Traurig in New York, representing musicians and creative entrepreneurs in recording, publishing, licensing, and emerging digital business matters. In 2007, he became the CEO of The Echo Nest, a musician-founded music intelligence and discovery company that was acquired by Spotify in 2014. Following the acquisition, he served as Spotify’s founding Global Head of the Creator team, now known as Spotify for Artists.

In 2019, Lucchese was named CEO of Sofar Sounds, a global live music community operating in more than 75 countries. During his tenure, he expanded Sofar’s artist services capabilities, helping artists strengthen direct relationships with fans and generate sustainable income streams, and oversaw significant growth in global performance and artist payouts.

Lucchese has deep and longstanding ties to Berklee. His relationship with the institution began in 1989 when he attended Berklee’s Five-Week Summer Performance Program, and has since served on multiple Berklee advisory bodies, including the Presidential Advisory Council and the Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship Advisory Board, well before assuming the presidency.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Boston College and a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Georgetown University. A longtime drummer and active participant in the Boston music community, Lucchese leads Berklee with a strong commitment to artistic excellence, innovation, and the future of global arts education.

Position Overview

Reporting directly to the President, the General Counsel (“GC”) serves as Berklee’s chief legal officer and a key strategic advisor to the President and senior administration. The General Counsel is responsible for overseeing and managing legal matters arising from Berklee’s programs and associated activities and plays a central role at the intersection of law, institutional policy, and strategic leadership. This is a unique opportunity to join a mission-driven institution at an exciting moment under new leadership.

Berklee seeks an accomplished attorney with a distinguished professional record who brings both legal depth and leadership experience. Personal and professional resonance with Berklee’s culture and mission is essential, as is a strong desire to contribute meaningfully to the institution’s strategy and long-term goals. The successful candidate will bring sound judgment, strategic, conceptual, and analytical acumen, and an appreciation for the complexities facing institutions of higher education today, including the diverse needs and perspectives of faculty, staff, and students. Experience with, and a deep interest in, the intersection of technology, higher education, and the creative arts is a vital component of this role.

The responsibilities of the General Counsel will include, but will not be limited to: 

• Serving as a strategic thought partner and trusted advisor to the President and Berklee’s senior administration on critical legal, policy, and risk-related issues affecting Berklee and its various constituencies. 

• Working closely with the President, senior administration, and the Board on the formulation and implementation of Berklee’s legal and litigation strategy, and advising on corporate governance matters, including board resolutions, governance documents, and participation in Board and committee meetings, as appropriate. 

• Providing timely, practical guidance on a broad range of legal and policy matters impacting higher education, including student affairs, research, data privacy, real estate and facilities, intellectual property and technology, employment law, governance, nonprofit and tax matters. 

• Leading comprehensive regulatory compliance efforts and collaborating across departments, programs, and affiliated entities on enterprise risk management. 

• Providing clear, creative, and supportive leadership in labor matters, including collaborative engagement with union leadership. 

• Supporting the development and execution of strategic partnerships, in collaboration with institutional leaders, to advance Berklee’s mission and global priorities. 

• Supporting crisis prevention and response strategies. 

• Providing oversight and guidance to the Contract Management Team in the review, drafting, and negotiation of contracts and transactional documents, and representing Berklee in commercial transactions, as appropriate. 

• Proactively monitoring legal developments, regulatory trends, and legislative initiatives relevant to Berklee’s operations and strategic objectives. 

• Establishing relationships with, and supervising the work of, outside counsel. 

• Drafting and advising on the development of institutional policies and procedures. 

Qualifications 

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school. 

• Membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, with the ability to become licensed in Massachusetts within one year of hire. 

• Experience with, and interest in, the intersection of technology, higher education, and the creative arts, including best practices related to institutional policies, data protection and compliance, and third-party partnerships. 

• Expertise in intellectual property, with a particular interest in the convergence of music, higher education, and technology. 

• Strong knowledge of relevant federal and state laws, regulations, administrative best practices, and large commercial transactions. 

• Experience interacting with boards of trustees, including preparing materials for board meetings and advising on matters such as corporate governance, fiduciary duties, ethics, legal compliance, and strategic transactions. 

• Experience managing attorneys across a range of legal disciplines and selecting and managing outside counsel. 

• Demonstrated experience in higher education–related matters, such as Title IX, FERPA, the Clery Act, and the Higher Education Act is strongly preferred. 

Key Attributes 

• Demonstrated commitment to Berklee’s mission and a passion for music and the performing arts. 

• Ability to think strategically, with a progressive approach to understanding best practices to meet the needs of Berklee’s diverse faculty, staff, and broader community. 

• An entrepreneurial, forward-thinking leader who serves as a strategic business partner, approaches complex challenges creatively, and brings a bias toward thoughtful action and solutions. 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information clearly and effectively to a wide range of audiences, both orally and in writing. 

• Keen intellect, strong judgment, and adaptability, with well-developed emotional intelligence. 

• A collaborative leader who fosters a workplace climate that is supportive, respectful of difference, and genuinely open to multiple perspectives. 

• High level of integrity, professionalism, and discretion, with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with the utmost care. 

• Strong risk-assessment skills, including the ability to identify, analyze, and calibrate risks associated with various courses of action. 

• Outstanding executive leadership capabilities, with a proven ability to support and counsel a large, complex organization with multiple constituencies. 

• Enthusiasm for campus life and the confidence to engage effectively with senior administrative and academic leaders in a fast-paced environment. 

• Comfortable navigating change and able to pivot quickly as priorities and circumstances evolve. 

• Demonstrated commitment to excellence, intellectual curiosity, strong work ethic, and high ethical standards. 

Hiring Range: $350,000 to $400,000; salary dependent on relevant experience and education. Please visit the Berklee Total Rewards page for a complete listing of benefits.

Process 

All applications, nominations, and inquiries should be directed to:

Amy Carlin 

Managing Director 

In-House Counsel Recruiting 

acarlin@mlaglobal.com 

Stephanie Crosse 

Managing Director 

In-House Counsel Recruiting 

scrosse@mlaglobal.com 

Logan Trotter 

Search Coordinator 

In-House Counsel Recruiting 

ltrotter@mlaglobal.com  

This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” employment relationship.

 

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Equal Employment Opportunity at Berklee: 

We support an inclusive workplace where everyone excels based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance.  Berklee affirms that inequality is detrimental to our faculty, staff, students, and the communities we serve. Our goal is to make lasting change through our actions. Berklee is committed to providing fair and equitable consideration of all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, age, national origin, place of birth, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, or status as a member of the armed forces or veteran of the armed forces, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

As part of this commitment, Berklee will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact the Human Resources Team at hroperations@Berklee.edu or call 617-747-2375.

*Currently enrolled Berklee students are not permitted to apply for staff or faculty positions.*

Employee Type:

Executive