Business Affairs Executive, Motion Picture

IMG LIVE; Beverly Hills (CA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

health care

retirement

vacation and other paid time off

additional offerings

Job summary

WME seeks a talented Business Affairs & Legal Executive in Beverly Hills to structure, negotiate and review deals for motion picture, talent, and WME Independent projects. The role supports multiple departments and requires senior transactional experience with strong negotiation and drafting skills.

The successful candidate will advise executives, review term sheets, and balance risk with practical business judgment while fostering long-term client relationships in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
• Admitted to CA Bar (or another state bar permissible under CA in-house counsel rules).
• 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.

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.

Skills

Negotiation

Drafting

Analytical skills

Prioritization

Organizational skills

Interpersonal communication

Verbal & written communication

Multitasking

Team collaboration

Detail-oriented

Education

JD from ABA-accredited law school

CA Bar admission or other state bar permissible

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.

Hiring Pay Rates

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

Benefits

• health care
• retirement
• vacation and other paid time off
• additional offerings

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.

WME Group is a global network of businesses that represent the world's leading talent, intellectual property and brands. WME Group comprises preeminent talent agency WME, global marketing agency 160over90, brand licensing agency IMG Licensing, and nonscripted content business Pantheon Media Group.