Seattle Sounders FC and Seattle Reign FC introduced immediately the appointment of Christine “Chris” Masse as Chief Authorized Officer of the larger enterprise enterprise representing each golf equipment. Masse brings 25 years of intensive authorized expertise to the Sounders and Reign, with deep-rooted experience navigating transactions in a extremely regulated setting.
Masse marks the second govt recruited to particularly work throughout the broader enterprise comprising each Sounders FC and Reign FC following the rent of Courtney Carter as Chief Income Officer this summer time. The 2 golf equipment had been joined earlier this 12 months as a part of blockbuster settlement between Sounders FC’s possession group and main world funding agency Carlyle. Masse is about to drive all authorized technique that helps enterprise goals throughout the enterprise.
In her function, Masse is main the golf equipment’ in-house authorized staff, aligning the group’s authorized methods with its overarching mission, values and enterprise targets. She might be answerable for making certain authorized compliance throughout all organizational and membership operations, offering knowledgeable and tactical authorized steering to proactively handle danger and facilitate strategic enterprise initiatives.
“Chris’ distinctive management expertise in authorized and group affairs within the sports activities and leisure area make her the best alternative at an necessary time for the group,” stated Sounders FC President of Enterprise Operations Hugh Weber. “Her expertise might be instrumental in guiding the Sounders and Reign in strategic progress areas. We’re happy to welcome Chris and her household into our group.”
Masse joins Sounders and Reign FC from Miller Nash LLP, the place she practiced for 25 years, serving as a accomplice within the agency’s Seattle workplace since 2007. With experience in company governance, financial improvement, regulatory issues and authorities affairs, Masse co-chaired Miller Nash’s tribal staff, offering skilled counsel to Native American tribes and organizations on numerous financial improvement points, together with gaming, actual property, building and extra. She additionally chaired the agency’s hashish trade staff, the place she was a sought-after advisor within the continually evolving matrix of state legislation and federal enforcement priorities, serving to to form the regulatory framework in Washington State. Most just lately, she was appointed co-chair of the Sports activities, Leisure and Media staff, offering authorized recommendation to Seattle-area golf equipment and venues on a wide range of operational issues and strategic efforts.
“As a longtime fan of each the Reign and Sounders, I’m thrilled to hitch the passionate govt management staff that stewards these vibrant organizations,” stated Masse. “This can be a distinctive alternative to make use of my expertise to assist the enterprise navigate the evolving authorized panorama throughout an thrilling time for soccer in Seattle. As I look ahead to being part of constructing the legacies of those championship groups, I additionally need to thank my colleagues and purchasers for 25 fantastic years at Miller Nash. I’m grateful for his or her help as I transfer on to this new chapter.”
Masse’s experience is in supporting complicated and complex authorized landscapes. She has co-authored a number of Washington State Home and Senate payments and has been acknowledged regionally and nationally for her work in gaming legislation, hashish legislation and Native American legislation.
An Illinois native, Masse attended legislation college on the College of Washington and has been within the Seattle space since departing Montlake. She is a passionate soccer fan and former participant. Moreover, Masse has been concerned within the native youth soccer panorama, having coached Rocket 88, a boys’ premier soccer staff for the Woodland Soccer Membership in Seattle from 2001-2007 and now cheering for her sons’ Seattle United and Seattle Youth Soccer Affiliation groups.
