Counsel

Gateway Licensing; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A global entertainment company is seeking a qualified solicitor for a role focused on employment-related legal matters across multiple jurisdictions, particularly the UK and EMEA. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience and strong knowledge of employment law. Responsibilities include advising on employment issues, drafting agreements, and liaising with HR. The position requires excellent stakeholder management and communication skills in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 5+ PQE Qualified lawyer in a commercial environment.
• Experience handling UK employment law and EMEA/multijurisdictional matters.
• Strong knowledge in both contentious and non-contentious employment law.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical, commercially sound legal advice on employment issues.
• Work with global legal team on shared projects.
• Maintain communication with senior management regarding employment matters.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Legal analysis

Problem-solving

Communication

Education

Fully qualified Solicitor in English law

Job description

WME Group is a global network of businesses that represent the world’s leading talent, intellectual property and brands.

WME Group comprises preeminent talent agency WME, global marketing agency 160over90, brand licensing agency IMG Licensing, and nonscripted content business Pantheon Media Group.

What You'll Do

• Responsible for employment-related legal matters affecting WME Group’s operations throughout EMEA including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Portugal, Hungry, Russian Federation, and UAE, eventually APAC, including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan.
• Partner with HR and business leaders as a strategic advisor on all employment-related legal matters across multiple jurisdictions in the EMEA and APAC regions, including advising on complex, cross‑border employment issues.
• Deliver clear solution‑oriented advice to HR and business stakeholders, including senior decision‑makers, on a broad range of day‑to‑day employment matters including recruitment, compensation, performance management, terminations (including collective consultation and similar processes), investigations, EU Pay Transparency, contingent workers, employee relations and other regulatory obligations.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with business stakeholders, HR teams and other legal team members (including privacy, compliance, immigration and tax) and coordinate on cross‑functional issues affecting employees throughout the EMEA and APAC regions.
• Draft, review, analyse, and negotiate employment clauses of commercial agreements and employment‑related agreements, including staffing, temporary workers, independent contractors, incentive schemes, volunteer workers, and settlement agreements.
• Advise on grievances, disciplinary, performance and dismissal processes, and internal investigations, as well as early negotiation of potential employee disputes and settlement agreements.
• Drive good business results from difficult ER situations by successfully managing ER issues, pre‑dispute conflicts and advising on pre‑litigation strategy and managing employment related litigation.
• Draft, revise, and implement employment policies suitable for a commercial environment.
• Develop, implement and conduct training on employment policies and best practices.
• Support employment‑related aspects of reorganisations, restructures, and M&A activity and related integration of employees across EMEA and APAC.
• Manage projects across EMEA and APAC and work with in‑house and external counsel across the relevant jurisdictions.
• Stay fully up to date with legal developments across EMEA, and APAC ensuring proactive compliance.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Supporting HR and the business by providing practical and commercially sound advice in a fast‑paced environment in relation to a variety of employment‑related legal issues across EMEA and APAC
• Pro‑actively working with the global legal team on shared projects and to ensure that best practice and knowledge is understood, shared and utilised amongst the team
• Maintain regular communication and transparent reporting to the SVP, Global Head of Employment, ensuring timely escalation of significant issues and comprehensive visibility into global employment matters.
• Liaising with the business so that commercial and pragmatic advice and guidance on business opportunities can be followed at all times
• Assisting with and running projects as and when appropriate

Knowledge and Experience

Mandatory

• 5+ PQE Qualified lawyer who has worked in a commercial environment;
• Experience handling employment law matters in the UK together with significant experience of EMEA /multijurisdictional employment law;
• Strong knowledge and experience in a broad range of employment law areas in both contentious and non‑contentious matters;
• Experience in drafting employment documentation including policies and contracts;
• Employment law experience in a reputable law firm or in‑house team; and
• Experience with HR policy and procedure creation and implementation to reduce risk while meeting business requirements.

Desirable

• In‑house legal experience within a media and/or sports organisation, preferably at a multinational company.
• “Business affairs” mentality / experience.
• Experience working with or advising on works council matters.

Skills and Abilities

Mandatory

• Practical, business‑oriented approach to providing advice to internal clients on all employment law related matters and the ability to analyse complex situations and develop simple, concise, and effective legal solutions;
• Outstanding stakeholder management skills with a demonstrated ability to become a trusted advisor, establish and maintain collaborative working relationships;
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written;
• Ability to juggle and prioritise a varied and heavy workload with the ability to plan ahead;
• Demonstrated ability to work efficiently, meet demanding deadlines in a fast‑paced environment, prioritise workflow and adjust to workload fluctuations;
• Able to communicate clearly and concisely with clients of all levels both internally and externally;
• Ability to take responsibility and show initiative; and
• Professional demeanor with ability to interact across different levels within an organisation.

Qualifications and Training

Mandatory

• Fully qualified Solicitor in English law.

Aptitudes/Personal Profile

Mandatory

• Team orientated and focused
• Positive and proactive attitude
• Ability to develop rapport with immediate and wider colleagues
• Disciplined, hard‑working and committed
• Ability to exercise judgment and common sense
• Ability to take ownership and responsibility for projects