Senior Legal Counsel

Bertelsmann; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A global media company is seeking a seasoned legal counsel to manage the legal affairs within their production sector. The ideal candidate will have a law degree, at least 8 years of experience in the television industry, expertise in contract and intellectual property law, and exceptional negotiation skills. This position involves providing strategic legal advice for production financing, managing contracts, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. This role is essential to fostering collaboration and efficient operations within media production projects.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience as a commercial/corporate lawyer, preferably in the television industry.
• Experience providing legal services in production and distribution.
• Member of a recognized law society.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal and business counsel for film and television production.
• Negotiate and draft production and distribution agreements.
• Manage legal aspects of day-to-day operations.

Skills

Legal and business counsel

Negotiation skills

Contract law

Intellectual property law

Strategic advice

Project management

Analytical skills

Education

Law degree from a recognized institution

Job description

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About Us

Join the place creatives call home!

Our purpose

Fremantle is a powerhouse of the TV and Film industry. We're one of the world's largest and most successful creators, producers and distributors of Entertainment, Drama & Film and Documentaries.

From Got Talent to My Brilliant Friend, Family Feud to Poor Things, Mussolini: Son of the Century to It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley, Too Hot To Handle to Big Mood, Maxton Hall to Idols, and Maria to The Zelensky Story, our focus is simple - Fremantle creates and delivers irresistible entertainment.

Job overview

Reporting to the Managing Director & Creative Director, the successful candidate will be responsible for managing the legal and business affairs function of the BHP group and providing counsel to BHP's executive and production teams, with a focus on efficiency, collaboration, consensus building and the most efficient use of resources.

Excellent legal skills are imperative, with experience in intellectual property and the production and distribution of audio visual content and services preferred. The successful candidate should also be a creative problem solver with the ability to manage competing interests and multiple deadlines.

Responsibilities include:

• Providing legal and business counsel for the development, production, licensing and distribution of BHP film, television and digital productions, including formulating legal strategy and business and financing structures in consultation with the BHP finance team.
• Providing strategic advice regarding the ownership and exploitation of media content across multiple platforms, including production funding and distribution.
• Negotiating terms and drafting/reviewing production and distribution related agreements including:

1. Development agreements (e.g. rights acquisition, writer agreements etc.);
2. Production agreements for television productions and digital content, such as chain of title, co-venture and co-production agreements, broadcast licences and agreements with talent;
3. Financing agreements and documentation; and
4. Distribution related agreements for BHP content.

• Managing legal aspects of the day-to-day operations of BHP and its related companies, including employment arrangements and policies, work health and safety and leases, and litigation risks.
• Liaising with the Fremantle's business and legal team in London to ensure the consistent application of Fremantle business practices and policies at BHP, as well as to discuss legal issues collegiately.
• Assisting the Company Secretary of BHP and its related companies to ensure compliance with Singapore company requirements.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A law degree from a recognized institution and are a member in good standing of the Singapore Law Society or an equivalent law association in another country.
• 8+ years of relevant experience as a commercial / corporate lawyer, including experience in or providing legal services to, the international production and distribution television industry, with preference given to experience in the legal and business affairs department of a production company.
• Strong practical knowledge of contract and intellectual property law and in production and international distribution processes, and associated legal agreements.
• A proven track record of providing successful strategic advice and direction on a wide range of production funding and licensing issues, and general commercial transactions.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, conceptual thinking, analytical and problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Excellent ability to prioritize and manage competing deadlines and interests and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Good communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility with creatives, executives, and external partners and clients.
• An ability to provide clear, strategic advice on production funding, licensing, and complex commercial transactions, with an appreciation for creative risk and opportunity.
• The judgment, adaptability, and organisational skills to manage multiple productions and transactions simultaneously, often under tight deadlines.

Fremantle is part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, content and digital, itself a division of the international media giant Bertelsmann.

For more information, please visit www.fremantle.com, follow us @FremantleHQ or visit our LinkedIn and Facebook pages.

Company: FremantleMedia Group Ltd | Job ID: 285918