General Counsel (Part-Time)

BRITISH BOARD OF FILM CLASSIFICATION; London; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 54,000; Part time

Job summary

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is seeking a part-time General Counsel to provide essential legal support across key areas, including media law, intellectual property, and employment matters. This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the legal framework of a renowned organization at the forefront of film and digital content regulation. The position is ideal for a proactive solicitor with relevant experience who wishes to contribute strategically while enjoying hybrid working conditions and a supportive workplace.

Benefits

25 days holiday per full year (pro rata)

Group personal pension plan

Non-contributory life assurance

Employee assistance support

Opportunities for professional development

Qualifications

• At least two years post-qualification experience required.
• Strong experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Good understanding of intellectual property law and GDPR.

Responsibilities

• Providing legal advice on media law and content regulation.
• Managing legal risks and compliance for the organization's operations.
• Drafting and negotiating various commercial contracts.

Skills

Analytical Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Interpersonal Skills

Communication Skills

Teamwork

Commercial Focus

Education

Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales

Job description

Job Profile

General Counsel (Part-Time)

Report to: CFO

About the BBFC:

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation and the UK's independent body for issuing age ratings for films and digital content. Our mission is to empower audiences, especially parents, to make informed decisions about what their families watch and to protect children and vulnerable adults from potentially harmful content. We are at the forefront of regulatory policy in an evolving digital landscape.

In 2024 BBFC established BBFC Technology. It is a wholly owned subsidiary, established to leverage the BBFC's technology and skills, delivering revenue to further the BBFC’s public service.

Purpose:

The BBFC is seeking a dynamic part time General Counsel to join our team. This is an exciting opportunity to provide legal advice and support across a broad range of legal and regulatory matters impacting our unique and high-profile organisation.This is a new position which offers the chance to shape the role while working on a variety of commercial contracts, business projects, and general legal matters. You will be an integral part of the team, engaging in strategic high-level issues and building strong relationships with senior management, the Board and the wider team.

The BBFC is about to see the culmination of several years’ work on the development of new technologies that will provide a step change in the way it works, and also provide a major commercial opportunity. The BBFC has just launched the pilot of CLEARD, a new AI compliance solution developed by BBFC Technology.

The General Counsel will role model the BBFC’s values and will demonstrate commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and to their own professional development.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Providing accurate, relevant, and timely advice to the Board, senior management and other members of staff on legal topics relevant to the BBFC such as media law and content regulation, its commercial trading subsidiaries (BBFC Technology Ltd) and our classification products and services.
• Managing and mitigating legal risks by designing and implementing company policies and procedures.
• Ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations that apply to the BBFC and its subsidiaries.
• Promoting legal, compliance and risk management best practice throughout the BBFC and staying up-to-date with any changes to legislation affecting the BBFC and its subsidiaries.
• Communicating with and managing any external legal advisors.
  Designing and implementing cost-effective knowledge transfer from external advisors.

Contracts and Commercial:

• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts with customers (including streamers), coordinating contract renewals for Digital Video Service Licenses, handling commercial work (NDAs, supplier agreements), and drafting/reviewing tenancy contracts.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating accreditation agreements for BBFC Technology AI products with other territories.
• Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating other customer agreements, metadata sharing agreements, and providing ad-hoc legal advice for subsidiary companies.
  Vendor due diligence

Intellectual Property:

• Intellectual Property defense and protection related to BBFC Technology classification and metadata generation products
• Handling trademark applications, registrations and infringements for new products and services.

Employment Law:

• Providing legal support to HR on employment matters, drafting/reviewing employment contracts for employees and Boards, and advising on new company set up and employee transfers (TUPE) with external support as appropriate.

Corporate Governance and Regulatory Compliance:

• Ensuring the BBFC and its subsidiaries governance structures align with best practices.
• Legal support for setting up new companies.
• Advise on ethical policies, including those related to GDPR and data privacy

Strategic Business Support including Media Law:

• Legal support for media law and content regulation matters (POCA, IPSO, Ofcom broadcasting code).
• Legal support for corporate transactions such as Mergers and Acquisitions.
• Commissioning and implementing legal advice from external advisors to inform legal requirements for content classification in non-UK territories

Additional information:

• The post holder must accept responsibility for ensuring that the policies and procedures relating to Health and Safety in the workplace are adhered to at all times
• The post holder must respect the confidentiality of data stored electronically and by other means in line with General Data Protection Regulation 2018 (GDPR) the Data Protection Act 2018

Person Profile

Personal Qualities:

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and legal drafting skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly and concisely to non-legal colleagues.
• Skilled in teamwork with a highly collaborative approach to legal practice.
• Ability to work independently, manage a diverse workload, and prioritise effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• A proactive and commercially focused approach with a strong understanding of business needs.

Qualifications and experience:

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales (or equivalent common law jurisdiction).
• At least two years post-qualification experience.
• Strong experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
• Good understanding of intellectual property law
• Good understanding of EU AI Act and forthcoming UK legal frameworks relating to AI and AI Ethics
• Good understanding of GDPR and data privacy
• Experience in media law or content regulation.
• Experience with corporate governance matters is desirable.

Terms of appointment:

• The appointment is permanent.
• BBFC is committed to equal opportunities in all its activities and all posts are subject to reasonable adjustment under the Equality Act 2010
• The responsibilities of the role may be reviewed from time-to-time by the CFO.

What We Offer:

• Salary: £70,000 - £90,000 FTE (£42,000 - £54,000 pro rata)
• Part time: 0.6 FTE (3 days a week)
• Hybrid working (minimum of 1 day per week in the office)
• 25 days holiday per full year (pro rata)
• Group personal pension plan
• Non-contributory life assurance
• Employee assistance support
• Opportunity to influence the future of media regulation in the UK and protect children from harmful content.
• Be part of a dynamic, forward-thinking organisation at the forefront of film and digital content regulation.
• A supportive and inclusive work environment that values diversity and promotes professional development.