Senior Legal Counsel

DAZN; Greater London; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sports media company is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel to oversee legal operations in Japan. This role requires a qualified lawyer with at least 6 years of experience, fluency in both Japanese and English, and the ability to lead a legal team. Responsibilities include negotiating high-value agreements and managing various legal matters. This position offers a unique opportunity to be part of a dynamic industry within a high-growth company.

Benefits

Social security benefits including health care and employee pension

Annual health exams

Defined contributions plan

15 days annual paid leave

Access to company doctor

Free subscription on DAZN

Free tickets for J-league games

Paid commuting allowance

Qualifications

• Minimum 6 years of experience post-qualification.
• Fluent in Japanese and English for legal drafting.
• Experience in Japanese consumer, media, and competition law.

Responsibilities

• Lead the legal support function in Japan.
• Negotiate and draft sports rights deals.
• Manage high-profile litigation and legal proceedings.

Skills

Qualified lawyer in Japan (Bengoshi)

Fluent Japanese and English

Experience in media sector

Technical legal skills

Track record of managing a legal team

Knowledge of Japanese law

Education

Qualified lawyer with a minimum of 6 years post-qualification experience

Job description

Senior Legal Counsel (Fixed-term/Freelance)

Department: 85-884 - Legal - Commercial - Distribution & Regulatory

Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time

Location: UK - London

Reporting To: Ben Haskey

Description

This is a unique opportunity for a senior media or commercial lawyer to be involved in the rapid growth of our DAZN business in Japan as it moves to the next level!

Senior Legal Counsel, Japan is a key appointment within the wider DAZN Legal function and an important leadership role in the Japan business in particular. Reporting into SVP Legal in London with a strong dotted line to DAZN Japan’s CEO, you will be responsible for heading up and growing the legal team on the ground in Japan, providing legal support to all parts of the DAZN business in the Asia region and managing a small team of lawyers.

The role represents a fantastic opportunity to move into one of the most exciting businesses in the sports industry! This is a high profile role for the DAZN business in Japan offering you the opportunity to raise your profile in the domestic sports market and to head up your own team in territory.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Head up the legal support function in Japan and work with senior business stakeholders in the region as well as the central legal function.
• Provide support to all commercial aspects of the DAZN business in Japan, which includes supporting the rights, commercial, partnerships, marketing, product, operations and production teams (with assistance from outside counsel, where necessary).
• Be primarily responsible for all consumer, regulatory, labour, piracy and lobbying matters affecting the business from a legal point of view, including management of high profile litigation and other legal proceedings affecting the business from time to time.
• Negotiate, draft and oversee a wide and exciting variety of work, including the negotiation of high value sports rights deals; distribution, sponsorship and advertising agreements with third parties; important contracts with technology service providers.

What You'll Bring:

• Qualified lawyer in Japan (Bengoshi) with minimum 6 years post-qualification experience. Fluent Japanese and English, both verbal and written to legal drafting standard.
• Extensive post-qualification work experience having trained at and subsequently worked in private practice, or a strong in-house team in the media sector.
• Experience of Japanese consumer, media and competition law.
• Experience of copyright licensing, whether relating to the acquisition and/or distribution of content. Experience with a wide range of commercial and/or technology services contracts.
• Technical legal skills, especially first-class drafting and interpretative abilities. Ability to conduct research and draft reports related to Japanese law.
• Track record of recruiting and managing a team of lawyers.

【Even better if you have】

• Strong expertise in Japanese corporate law and M&A.
• Experience working in an international, high growth company.

Benefits

• Social security included (Health care insurance, Employee pension scheme, Employment insurance, Labour personal accident insurance)
• Annual Health Exams
• Defined Contributions Plan (DC)
• Annual paid leave of 15 days (pro-rated depending on the start date)
• Company doctor (monthly inspection of office as well as stress check)
• Free subscription on DAZN
• Access to free tickets for every J-league game and occasionally for other sports
• Paid commuting allowance up to 30,000 yen a month