HARRISON, N.J. (JANUARY 27, 2020) – The New York Red Bulls have announced the appointment of Kari Cohen as the club’s General Counsel. After spending nearly nine years at BSE Global, most recently as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, the highly respected sports veteran will now join the Executive Leadership Team of Major League Soccer’s New York Founding Club.
Cohen will oversee all legal matters pertaining to Red Bull New York, Red Bull Arena and Red Bulls Academy. This involves identifying and leading legal matters in all departments across the company as well as regulatory, compliance and real estate matters and governmental affairs.
Cohen succeeds Djenaba Parker, who was promoted to the role of Senior Vice President and General Counsel with Red Bull North America.
"We are fortunate to have Kari join our club’s Executive Leadership Team," said Marc de Grandpre, General Manager, New York Red Bulls. " Her extensive legal and business experience will be invaluable in furthering our significant growth across all facets of our organization from our first team, Red Bulls II, Academy and Red Bull Arena. Kari’s impact on our sports and entertainment business will be immediate and a key to our future success.”
Cohen was hired by BSE Global in June 2011 as Associate Counsel, was promoted to Counsel for Legal & Business Affairs, and then promoted to Vice President and Assistant General Counsel before becoming Deputy General Counsel.
Cohen was responsible for advising BSE's ownership, executive team, and employees on key legal matters for BSE's holdings. As part of her duties, Cohen handled the negotiation and drafting of agreements with respect to suite licenses, ticketing, vendors, and naming rights/sponsorships for the Brooklyn Nets, New York Islanders, Barclays Center, NYCB Live Home of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and Webster Hall. She was influential in securing the first sports betting sponsorship agreement for the Brooklyn Nets with FanDuel, and the first jersey patch sponsorship agreement for the Nets with Infor. Cohen negotiated programming alliances for the Atlantic Coast Conference, Atlantic 10 Conference, National Collegiate Athletic Association, 2015 NBA All Star events, multiple NBA Drafts, Premier Boxing Champions, Live Nation, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, MTV Video Music Awards, and World Wrestling Entertainment.
In addition to her legal role, Cohen was overseeing external affairs and governmental relations for the organization while interfacing as a registered lobbyist and point person with government officials on issues relating to the development of land surrounding NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, sports betting, liquor licensing, and arena cashless initiatives.
Prior to joining BSE Global, Cohen was an associate in the New Media, Entertainment, and Technology practice group at the law firm of Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP.
Cohen graduated with honors from The George Washington University receiving degrees in Journalism and Political Science. She went on to attend law school at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law where she was the recipient of the Floersheimer Fellowship as well as senior editor for the Journal of Law and Literature. During law school, Cohen interned at Blue Equity and the NHL General Counsel’s office.
Cohen, who is a member of the Sports Lawyers Association and a Regional Captain on its Outreach Committee, lives on the Upper East Side of Manhattan with her husband Ben, and her two young sons.
