Legal Counsel

BBC Group and Public Services; Singapore; On-site; SGD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

BBC Group and Public Services in Singapore is seeking a legally qualified adviser to provide high-quality, commercially focused legal support to BBC Studios’ Asia businesses. The role acts as a trusted partner to senior stakeholders, advising on negotiations, contracting and regulatory issues across multiple markets while ensuring governance and compliant practices.

You will help manage risks, lead or support complex projects across time zones, and collaborate with teams across the BBC group to

Qualifications

• Admitted to practise as a lawyer in a common law jurisdiction (Singapore or UK preferred; US or Australia jurisdictions will also be considered).
• 1-3 years Post-Qualification Experience.
• Fluency in English.
• Experience with negotiating, rights management, and contracting and copyright experience.
• Ability to manage diverse workstreams and to apply complex analytical and problem- solving skills under pressure in a complex, evolving environment.
• Knowledge of, and experience in, the broadcast, news and/or content production sector.
• Understanding of the structures and systems within which broadcasters, producers, distributors (traditional or digital) operate.
• Knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework particularly in the region within which the business operates.
• Working proficiency in an additional language relevant to the business unit’s operations (particularly, Mandarin, Japanese or Korean).

Responsibilities

• Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements and legal documentation, supporting business objectives while identifying and mitigating legal, financial and reputational risk.
• Provides accurate, timely, practical and commercially focused legal advice to clients.
• To positively represent BBC Studios and foster and develop effective creative and commercial relationships – both externally and internally across the BBC group.
• To mitigate legal, contractual and business risk, and resolve disputes concerning content, brand and IP protection.
• To ensure that standards and frameworks are adhered to and translated into compliant individual deals within a pan-BBC approach.
• To confidently foster excellent relationships across multiple lines of business and territories and be a strategic business partner.

Skills

English fluency

Negotiation & contracting

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Problem solving under pressure

Broadcast/Content sector knowledge

Multi-jurisdiction awareness

Additional language (Mandarin/Japanese

Job description

A globally renowned media company borne of the BBC. We make and distribute the world’s most sought-after TV, audio and digital content.

Our ambition is to be the home of the most powerful, entertaining, and inspiring stories for people all around the world.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To provide high-quality, commercially focused legal advice and support to BBC Studios’ businesses across Asia. The role operates as a trusted legal and business partner to senior stakeholders, supporting strategic, commercial and operational initiatives while ensuring appropriate governance, risk management and compliance. while contributing to a cohesive, high-performing regional legal team.

YOUR KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPACT

• Negotiation and contracting: Draft, review and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements and legal documentation, supporting business objectives while identifying and mitigating legal, financial and reputational risk.
• Advising: Provides accurate, timely, practical and commercially focused legal advice to clients.
• Stakeholder management: To positively represent BBC Studios and foster and develop effective creative and commercial relationships – both externally and internally across the BBC group.
• Risk management: To mitigate legal, contractual and business risk, and resolve disputes concerning content, brand and IP protection.
• Compliance: To ensure that standards and frameworks are adhered to and translated into compliant individual deals within a pan-BBC approach. Ensures compliance with BBCS policies and procedures and relevant legislation and regulation.
• Teamwork: To confidently foster excellent relationships across multiple lines of business and territories and be a strategic business partner. To collaborate effectively with and assist other members of the team as may be required.
• Project management: To lead or assist on complex projects to ensure effective delivery and use of resources.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Key Criteria

• Admitted to practise as a lawyer in a common law jurisdiction (Singapore of the UK preferred; US or Australia jurisdictions will also be considered).
• 1-3 years Post-Qualification Experience.
• Fluency in English.
• Experience with negotiating, rights management, and contracting and copyright experience.
• Ability to manage diverse workstreams and to apply complex analytical and problem- solving skills under pressure in a complex, evolving environment.
• Knowledge of, and experience in, the broadcast, news and/or content production sector.
• Understanding of the structures and systems within which broadcasters, producers, distributors (whether traditional or non-traditional e.g. digital) operate.
• Knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework particularly in the region within which the business operates.
• Working proficiency in an additional language relevant to the business unit’s operations (particularly, Mandarin, Japanese or Korean).

Decision Making

• Analyse and interpret legal issues in a timely fashion and advise the business on how best to address them in its operations.
• Operate with autonomy and drive.

Scope

• Support substantial and varied business lines within the business, with primary responsibility supporting BBC Studios’ Japan business.
• Face a wide variety of complex and challenging legal issues, including those arising from developing geographic and product markets.
• Ability to work across multiple time zones, territories, and business lines.

Strategic Impact / Influence

Provide creative, intelligent, and clearly directed contributions at both the Business Affairs and Legal levels.

Reporting Structure

Part of the Business & Legal Affairs team reporting to Senior Legal Counsel, Asia.

#BBCSTUDIOS

Information at a Glance

This is your BBC

At the BBC you can create and innovate in an inclusive environment while contributing to some of the world’s best loved content, and the BBC’s mission to inform, educate and entertain.

You belong

We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual's unique contribution, so all our employees feel that they can belong, thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to join us. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity.

We welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief.

Find out more about diversity, inclusion and belonging in our strategy below.

Diversity, inclusion & belonging strategy

Disclaimer

This job description is a written statement of the essential characteristics of the job, with its principal accountabilities, incorporating a note of the skills, knowledge and experience required for a satisfactory level of performance. This is not intended to be a complete, detailed account of all aspects of the duties involved.

Please note: If you were to be offered this role, the BBC will conduct Employment screening checks which include Reference checks; Eligibility to work checks; and if applicable to the role, Safeguarding and Adverse media/Social media checks. Any offer made is conditional on these checks being satisfactory.

Before your start date, you may need to disclose any unspent convictions or police charges, in line with our Recruitment policy. This allows us to discuss any support you may need and assess any risks. Failure to disclose may result in the withdrawal of your offer.

For any general queries, please contact: [e-mail]

Reasonable adjustments

If you need to discuss adjustments or access requirements for the interview process, or to carry out this role, please contact us via email and we’d be happy to discuss: [e-mail]

BBC Group and Public Services, Broadcasting House, Portland Place, London, United Kingdom, W1A 1AA. BBC Studios Distribution Limited, company no: 01420028, registered address: 1 Television Centre, 101 Wood Lane, London, United Kingdom W12 7FA.