Director, Legal, Technology and Commercial

Warner Bros. Entertainment; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global media and entertainment company is seeking a legal expert to draft and negotiate technology-related contracts. The ideal candidate will be a UK qualified lawyer with strong technology transactional experience and knowledge of the media industry. This hybrid role involves close collaboration with various teams, providing strategic legal advice, and managing contracts for key business areas.

Qualifications

• Must be a UK qualified lawyer with excellent academics.
• Strong technology transactional experience at a reputable law firm.
• Experience in the entertainment or media industries preferred.

Responsibilities

• Drafting and negotiating technology related agreements.
• Providing strategic legal advice on production, licensing, and commercial topics.
• Coordinating legal matters with internal divisions and outside counsel.

Skills

Strong technology transactional experience

Excellent drafting skills

Negotiating skills

Knowledge of the technology industry

Education

UK qualified lawyer

Job description

Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.

Who We Are…

When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…

From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.

Your New Role...

The successful applicant will draft and negotiate a broad range of commercial and technology contracts in close contact with other legal teams. The team has particular focus on supporting Technology & Operations (T&O), digital products, TNT Sports, Olympics and sports events operations, M&A activities, finance & tax and other business critical functions.

The role involves close liaison with the relevant commercial stakeholders and providing legal advice to the business on a wide range of issues as well as occasional dispute resolution management.

Your Role Accountabilities…

• Drafting and negotiating technology related agreements, including software and technology license/development agreements, SaaS agreements, consulting services agreements and statements of work
• Providing strategic legal advice and counsel on a variety of production, licensing, intellectual property, commercial and other legal topics
• Areas supported in the T&O and digital product business lines include technology and operations infrastructure and data platforms that support our theatrical and television studio productions; linear broadcasting; digital brands; direct-to-consumer and streaming platforms; software and application licensing and development; data science and data strategy; distribution technologies (digital/physical); production and post-production technologies; media supply chain (content workflow and management); enterprise systems and solutions; IT and telecoms; information security and data privacy; digital and linear advertising sales technology; payment processing technologies; emerging technology and artificial intelligence intake management and processes
• Working closely with and supporting WBD Sports in respect of the Olympic Games, TNT Sports and other sports events and the related production, distribution, logistics, studio and technology requirements and projects
• Other support areas include:
  • supporting the M&A and Corporate Development teams on services, systems, consolidation and integration related elements of transactions;
  • supporting the finance and tax teams with cap- leasing arrangements, intercompany transfer-pricing agreements, group-wide intragroup projects;
  • supporting the People & Culture, PR & Marketing teams, Ad Sales and Ad Tech teams, global Company Secretarial with ad-hoc tasks and bespoke commercial arrangements
• Creating and maintaining standardized template agreements for key service areas and updating legal knowhow
• Coordinating legal matters with other internal divisions and/or outside counsel and implementing best practices
• Resolving legal queries of a varied nature and providing overall advice relating to all aspects of television broadcasting/distribution/programming across the international region

Qualifications & Experience…

• Must be UK (or comparable jurisdiction) qualified lawyer - excellent academics; training and experience at top law firm
• A strong technology transactional experience at a reputable law firm and/or comparable in-house experience
• Substantive work in and knowledge of the technology industry; experience in the entertainment or media industries preferred
• Excellent academic credentials and references
• Superior drafting and negotiating skills

Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.

How We Get Things Done…

This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.