Mark Krajnak on behalf of New York Red Bulls
Kari Cohen
General Counsel, New York Red Bulls
Born: Manhattan, N.Y., and raised in Great Neck, N.Y.
Education: George Washington University, B.A., graduated cum laude majoring in journalism and political science; Cardozo School of Law, J.D.
After less than two years as a corporate associate with a New York City-based law firm, Kari Cohen found her dream job with BSE Global in mid-2011 as the organization embarked on opening Barclays Center and rebranding an NBA franchise in the Brooklyn Nets.
“There’s nothing quite like being thrown into the fire. It’s a great way of learning,” Cohen said. “There’s no experience that’s really akin to being a lawyer for opening up a major sports and entertainment venue.”
Her work at Hughes Hubbard & Reed concentrated around intellectual property, trademark and copyright issues, so upon arriving at BSE, Cohen’s skill set translated well to the new position.
She worked closely with the NBA registering the team’s new IP marks while spearheading agreements with Ticketmaster, concessionaire Levy, founding-level sponsors and other third-party vendors. Most notably, she negotiated with Jay-Z’s representatives at Roc Nation Sports around his eight-night concert opening of Barclays Center in September 2012.
Cohen was named general counsel of the New York Red Bulls in January. She quickly adapted to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and was charged with determining how the club would handle work-from-home protocols, amending current sponsorship deals and handling how players and staff would resume training in-market.
“It was always very important to me to do what you love because that’s where you will thrive,” Cohen said of her career in sports and law. “I wasn’t wrong.” — Mark J. Burns
More about Kari
Guilty pleasure: Austin Powers movies. Whenever they’re on TV I can’t resist watching.
Advice to my younger self: Be present, ask questions, and always look to learn something new. If you’re actively engaged, odds are you’ll meet a lot of people with wisdom to share.
Attributes I look for when hiring: It's twofold: Passion and integrity.
Woman in sports business I’d most like to meet: Michele Roberts, executive director of NBPA. I’ve been following her career and listened to her speak at a conference last October. She is brilliant, poised, and has done a tremendous job in garnering the respect of men and women alike. Michele was raised in a low-income housing development in the Bronx by a single mom who stressed the importance of education. … I would love for her to regale me with her stories and whether she ever envisioned being where she is today.
I wish I’d known at my career’s start: It’s OK to ask clarifying questions rather than spending hours trying to guess what advice your client is seeking.
