Business Affairs Executive, Motion Picture

WME | William Morris Endeavor; Beverly Hills (CA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 225,000; Full time

Job summary

WME | William Morris Endeavor in Beverly Hills seeks a talented lawyer to join its Business Affairs Department as a Business Affairs Executive, supporting Motion Picture, Talent, and WME Independent divisions. You will structure, negotiate, and review deals for producers, writers, talent, and financiers involved in feature films, digital and streaming projects.

Ideal candidates have a JD, CA bar eligibility, 10–12+ years of transactional experience, and a track record negotiating complex

Qualifications

• J.D. from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Admitted to CA Bar or a bar permissible for CA in-house counsel rules.
• 10–12+ years of transactional business/legal affairs experience, including at least 2 years at a law firm.
• Strong negotiation, drafting, analytical, prioritization and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Curious, hardworking, good judgment, detail-oriented with practical problem-solving.
• Ability to collaborate with agents, executives, production teams and outside counsel.

Responsibilities

• Advise agents, executives and clients on deal structuring, negotiation, terms and strategy.
• Act as entrepreneurial business partner with WME’s Motion Picture, Talent, and WME Independent agents.
• Review and negotiate term sheets and agreements for personal services, production services, underlying rights, content development, content licensing, financing and distribution.
• Develop knowledge of the entertainment industry and implications for WME's clients.
• Apply practical, risk-aware problem-solving and business judgment.
• Foster long-term relationships with internal clients and external partners.

Skills

Negotiation

Drafting

Legal analysis

Communication

Project management

Education

J.D. (ABA-accredited)

Job description

Business Affairs & Legal Executive (Motion Picture, Talent, and WME Independent)

WME seeks a talented and highly motivated lawyer to join its Business Affairs Department as a Business Affairs Executive in Beverly Hills, supporting the WME Motion Picture, Talent, and WME Independent Film Departments. Primary responsibilities include structuring, negotiating and reviewing a wide range of deals and agreements in feature length theatrical, digital and streaming media for production companies, writers, on-camera talent, producers, directors, rights-holders, financiers, and other clients involved in the creation and exploitation of content.

Responsibilities:

• Effectively advise agents, executives and clients on deal structuring, negotiation, terms and strategy.
• Act as an entrepreneurial business partner with, and provide strategic guidance to, WME’s Motion Picture, Talent, and WME Independent agents.
• Review and negotiate term sheets and agreements for personal services, production services, underlying rights, content development, content licensing, film financing and distribution, etc.
• Continue to develop an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the entertainment industry and consider the implications of the evolution of the industry on the business and WME’s clients.
• Apply innovative problem-solving skills and practical business judgment to balance WME’s business needs and acceptable levels of risk.
• Foster positive, long-term relationships with internal business clients and WME’s external clients.

Qualifications:

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school
• Admitted to CA Bar (or another state bar permissible under CA in-house counsel rules)
• Minimum of 10-12+ years of transactional business/legal affairs experience, ideally with at least 2 of those years at a law firm. In-house experience at a studio, production company, or other media outlet, or comparable experience at an entertainment law firm, is a plus.
• Outstanding negotiation, drafting, analytical, prioritization and organizational skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication (verbal and written) skills and able to interact with a range of personalities and styles in a fast-paced, high-volume business environment. This includes explaining complex concepts to clients and colleagues who do not necessarily have legal knowledge and have a range of personalities and styles.
• Ability to execute multiple, high-priority projects independently and simultaneously and on short timeframes.
• A curious mind, strong work ethic, excellent judgment, keen attention to detail and a creative but practical approach to problem-solving.
• Able to work effectively with various types of professionals at different levels (including agents, studio executives, production company executives and attorneys, talent, outside attorneys and other WME in-house client divisions).
• An upbeat temperament, dynamic personality and highly collaborative and team-oriented approach to work.

Per local requirements and in the interest of transparency, the rate shown below reflects the prevalent current hiring range for this position. Hiring pay rates are based on a number of factors, including location and may vary depending on job-related qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience. The company strives to provide locally competitive rewards packages, which include base rate along with, as applicable, short- and long-term incentives, growth and developmental opportunities, and robust benefits, such as health care, retirement, vacation and other paid time off, and additional offerings.

Hiring Rate Minimum:

$168,750 annually (minimum will not fall below the applicable state/local minimum salary thresholds)

Hiring Rate Maximum:

$225,000 annually

WME is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, or religion or belief.