Licensing Counsel

Bloomberg; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Bloomberg’s London office seeks an experienced Licensing Counsel to join our Legal & Compliance Department. You will draft and negotiate licenses for data and technology services worldwide, guiding product and sales teams to close deals while protecting the company from risk.

The role requires strong written and oral communication, a deep understanding of commercial licensing, and the ability to translate complex legal concepts for business and technology partners.

Qualifications

• Strong communication and collaboration with business, product and sales teams.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex licensing transactions.
• Knowledge of regulatory and IP considerations in data/technology licensing.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate customer and vendor licensing agreements for data and technology services.
• Advise Product and Business on licensing strategies aligned with revenue targets.
• Identify legal risks as products evolve, including AI-related issues, and provide practical solutions.
• Partner with Legal, Compliance and Risk on privacy, data security, IP, and regulatory matters.
• Oversee and mentor Negotiations team members to ensure clarity and consistency.

Skills

Strong communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Commercial contracting

Licensing transactions

Regulatory knowledge

AI technology awareness

Education

England & Wales qualification or JD (US bar)

Job description

Bloomberg’s Legal & Compliance Department plays a critical role in supporting our businesses and operations around the world. We move quickly and thoughtfully to help address a variety of complex issues that come with being the world’s leading financial news and information company. Our team is made up of talented and hardworking legal and compliance professionals who think creatively and work collaboratively in an open environment to deliver results, drive innovation, and solve difficult problems. We are committed to a workplace where all of our employees can thrive regardless of background, and where everyone feels empowered to make an impact. We also recognize the importance of giving back to our communities as evidenced by our award-winning pro bono program!

What’s the Role

We are seeking an experienced Licensing Counsel to join our Legal & Compliance Department.

As Licensing Counsel, you would work closely with our business, product and sales partners to draft and negotiate the legal terms and conditions of our licenses for our data and technology services worldwide. Our colleagues depend on us for our deep product and commercial contract knowledge in order to support them in closing the deal. You will provide guidance to meet the Company’s strategic sales and revenue targets while protecting our business from undue legal risk. You will also oversee the work of Negotiations team members who are the first point of escalation for handling customer inquiries about the Company’s contracts.

Based at Bloomberg’s London office, this role offers the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, high-energy environment and to be an integral partner in driving complex deals, identifying business risks, and supporting strategic decision-making across Bloomberg’s core businesses.

We’ll trust you to:

• Negotiate customer and vendor agreements for a wide range of licenses and services
• Advise Product and Business on challenging and complex licensing transactions
• Identify and assess legal risks as products evolve — including in connection with advancing technology such as generative and agentic AI — and provide practical, business-oriented solutions
• Partner with colleagues in Legal, Compliance and Risk to advise on privacy, data security, intellectual property, and regulatory issues
• Collaborate with Compliance and Risk to develop scalable tools and frameworks to help Business teams manage legal risk efficiently
• Monitor emerging laws and regulations impacting Bloomberg’s technology, AI, data, and financial products
• Oversee the work of and provide training and mentorship to Negotiations team members

You’ll need to have:

• A qualification in England and Wales (or equivalent jurisdiction) or have a JD degree and active membership in the New York bar
• 5+ years PQE
• Experience with commercial licensing transactions, either at a top law firm or in-house at a financial services, technology, fintech, or data-driven company
• Experience drafting and negotiating, and advising clients on, challenging and complex licensing transactions
• Strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to explain legal issues clearly to business and technology professionals
• Working knowledge of intellectual property, commercial contracts, and regulatory frameworks relevant to financial markets
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and deliver clear, actionable guidance
• Practical, solution-oriented mindset with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

We’d Love to See:

• Experience advising in the financial or technology sectors, with a solid understanding of core concepts thereof
• Experience negotiating with government agencies
• Proven ability to deliver clear, commercially focused legal advice under pressure
• Strong skill in translating legal and regulatory concepts for business, product, and technology audiences
• Ability to identify and use technology and data to improve efficiency and knowledge sharing
• Strong organizational and project management abilities, with attention to detail and follow-through
• Experience overseeing the work of other counsel or non-counsel colleagues
• Bi-lingual with any European language

If indicated, please note that years of experience are a guide; we will consider applications from all candidates who can demonstrate the skills necessary for the role.

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