Job Description
Salary: Negotiable
SENIOR BUSINESS & LEGAL AFFAIRS MANAGER
12 MONTH FTC (MAT COVER)
MEDIA CLIENT - SCRIPTED TV ACQUISITIONS
4 OR 5 DAY WEEK
LONDON, HYBRID WORKING
We have a great opportunity for an experienced Senior Legal & Business Affairs Manager to work with a world respected media brand in London. You will be part of a team of talented professionals in a challenging, fun and ever-changing media environment.
This 12-month maternity cover role sits within a team of lawyers in the Productions division, with a focus on supporting relationships with independent producers working with the Scripted genre team, dealing with financing and acquisition of Drama, Comedy and Children's programming.
The team is at the forefront of key deals with Global SVOD partners and co-producers for premium entertainment programming.
As well as acquiring content created by others, the business is increasingly developing content directly through relationships with writers, format creators and rights holders.
Key Responsibilities
* Advise the business on all legal matters and engage in business affairs deal-making to support the team partnering with and acquiring content from independent producers.
* Take the lead on business affairs deal-making particularly in relation to complex and innovative projects for Scripted genres.
* Draft and negotiate development and distribution agreements with producers to secure distribution rights.
* Review and advise on existing development, output and equity relationships in place with a number of independent producers.
* Review (i) commissioning agreements with producers (ii) contributors' contracts (including producers, writers, directors and composers), underlying rights agreements (e.g. book agreements) and format and third party distribution agreements for chain of title purposes.
* Collaborate with regional teams in relation to co-production sales agreements.
* Advise on drafting and negotiating development agreements and option agreements with writers and other rights holders.
* Manage, motivate and develop staff including, where necessary, assisting with recruitment and assisting the Head of Business & Legal Affairs to build a high calibre team.
The successful candidate will be a qualified solicitor (or equivalent) with several years PQE.
Experience in drafting and negotiating distribution, production and commissioning agreements is essential, with a sound understanding of the areas of contract and intellectual property law applicable to audiovisual production and distribution.
You will also be familiar with supporting production and financing agreements, such as inter-party agreements, book options, format agreements, writers agreements and contributor agreements.
Knowledge of television production including sources of finance, talent contracting (particularly UK guild/union agreements), the production processes and conventions would be highly advantageous.
In addition to knowledge of the legal framework of the UK broadcasting industry and commercial practice, you'll possess an understanding of the legal aspects of contracts, rights and clearances.
