Senior Counsel, Business and Legal Affairs-Media Distribution

BBC Studios

Bold. British. Creative: that’s BBC Studios. Combining the strengths of the UK’s most-awarded production company with a world-class distributor, we fund, create, distribute and commercialize world-class content for the BBC and other UK and international companies. Our aim is to inspire audiences around the globe with quality content that informs, educates and entertains and to strengthen the BBC, our partners and wider industry both creatively and financially. We seek to be the best British content company in the world; a first-choice partner and employer, where everyone can flourish and do their best work.

Job Purpose

The Senior Counsel, Business and Legal Affairs will provide accurate, timely, and commercially focused legal support to all Global Media & Streaming business units in the Americas. 

• A crucial role acting as a member of the Global Media & Streaming Business and Legal Affairs team, delivering first class business and legal affairs support as required, with a particular focus on business units in the Americas.
• Supporting on matters of strategic, financial and reputational importance across a variety of business lines, including in relation to content sales, distribution and acquisitions for BBC Studios’ branded services in the Americas (e.g., BritBox and BBC Select).
• Advising on a wide variety of related legal matters, including intellectual property rights, fair use analysis, corporate governance, insurance, and online and music issues, and performing other day-to-day business and legal affairs-related tasks as needed.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Provide accurate, timely, practical and commercially focused legal advice to clients.
• Work with considerable autonomy, conducting a general workload, referring upwards as required.
• Draft, negotiate, review and conclude complex contracts and other legal documentation in compliance with BBC Studios policies, procedures, guidelines and risk management.
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of recent legal and policy developments and ensure that clients are aware of implications.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in the team and across BBC Studios.
• Support training and knowledge management activities, maintaining and developing templates that implement BBC Studios policies and best practices.
• Ensure all necessary sign offs/approvals have been received in connection with deals contracted out of the Americas.

Knowledge, Skills, Training & Experience

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors

• Ability to work proactively, diligently and independently with appropriate support and reference to managers and other team members.
• Ability to assess risk and offer creative solutions to meet the demands of a fast-paced market and changing regulatory landscape.
• Ability to work supportively as a team member, building and managing relationships at all levels, prioritizing workload and maintaining ways of working to effectively meet and align with business needs/strategy.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of the issues affecting BBC Studios and the media and production industry generally.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to clarify complex issues and concepts for non-lawyers.
• Ability to manage diverse workstreams and to apply complex analytical and problem-solving skills under pressure.
• Demonstrating initiative, commitment and flexibility when faced with obstacles.
• Motivation to develop themselves and to contribute to knowledge sharing across the team.

Professional Experience

• JD degree and member of NY and/or CA bar.
• 6+ years of relevant business or legal affairs transactional experience, ideally gained at a television or multimedia distribution company, network and/or entertainment law firm.
• Familiarity with the entertainment industry and entertainment transactions and relevant deal terms and structures.
• Understanding of industry standards for content distribution agreements, including digital rights. 
• Experience with digital consumer subscription services, technology contracts, social media contracts and/or data privacy are a plus.

Compensation

The anticipated annual base salary for this position is $165,000 to $185,000. The actual base salary offered depends on the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and geographic location of the position.This range is not inclusive of a competitive bonus, flexible, hybrid working schedule & benefits including but not limited to: 100% BBCS covered medical & dental insurance, vision, & 401k match.

Benefits and Perks

• 100% Employer-Paid Medical and Dental Insurance (PPO plans)
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Flexible, Hybrid Working Arrangements
• Work/life balance
• Free Retirement Consulting to All Employees
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Gym Reimbursement
• Bagel Mondays, Monthly Happy Hours, and more!

About the BBC

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. 

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity. 

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

BBC Studios

Bold. British. Creative: that’s BBC Studios. Combining the strengths of the UK’s most-awarded production company with a world-class distributor, we fund, create, distribute and commercialize world-class content for the BBC and other UK and international companies. Our aim is to inspire audiences around the globe with quality content that informs, educates and entertains and to strengthen the BBC, our partners and wider industry both creatively and financially. We seek to be the best British content company in the world; a first-choice partner and employer, where everyone can flourish and do their best work.

Job Purpose

The Senior Counsel, Business and Legal Affairs will provide accurate, timely, and commercially focused legal support to all Global Media & Streaming business units in the Americas. 

• A crucial role acting as a member of the Global Media & Streaming Business and Legal Affairs team, delivering first class business and legal affairs support as required, with a particular focus on business units in the Americas.
• Supporting on matters of strategic, financial and reputational importance across a variety of business lines, including in relation to content sales, distribution and acquisitions for BBC Studios’ branded services in the Americas (e.g., BritBox and BBC Select).
• Advising on a wide variety of related legal matters, including intellectual property rights, fair use analysis, corporate governance, insurance, and online and music issues, and performing other day-to-day business and legal affairs-related tasks as needed.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities

• Provide accurate, timely, practical and commercially focused legal advice to clients.
• Work with considerable autonomy, conducting a general workload, referring upwards as required.
• Draft, negotiate, review and conclude complex contracts and other legal documentation in compliance with BBC Studios policies, procedures, guidelines and risk management.
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of recent legal and policy developments and ensure that clients are aware of implications.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues in the team and across BBC Studios.
• Support training and knowledge management activities, maintaining and developing templates that implement BBC Studios policies and best practices.
• Ensure all necessary sign offs/approvals have been received in connection with deals contracted out of the Americas.

Knowledge, Skills, Training & Experience

Knowledge, Skills and Behaviors

• Ability to work proactively, diligently and independently with appropriate support and reference to managers and other team members.
• Ability to assess risk and offer creative solutions to meet the demands of a fast-paced market and changing regulatory landscape.
• Ability to work supportively as a team member, building and managing relationships at all levels, prioritizing workload and maintaining ways of working to effectively meet and align with business needs/strategy.
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of the issues affecting BBC Studios and the media and production industry generally.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to clarify complex issues and concepts for non-lawyers.
• Ability to manage diverse workstreams and to apply complex analytical and problem-solving skills under pressure.
• Demonstrating initiative, commitment and flexibility when faced with obstacles.
• Motivation to develop themselves and to contribute to knowledge sharing across the team.

Professional Experience

• JD degree and member of NY and/or CA bar.
• 6+ years of relevant business or legal affairs transactional experience, ideally gained at a television or multimedia distribution company, network and/or entertainment law firm.
• Familiarity with the entertainment industry and entertainment transactions and relevant deal terms and structures.
• Understanding of industry standards for content distribution agreements, including digital rights. 
• Experience with digital consumer subscription services, technology contracts, social media contracts and/or data privacy are a plus.

Compensation

The anticipated annual base salary for this position is $165,000 to $185,000. The actual base salary offered depends on the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and geographic location of the position.This range is not inclusive of a competitive bonus, flexible, hybrid working schedule & benefits including but not limited to: 100% BBCS covered medical & dental insurance, vision, & 401k match.

Benefits and Perks

• 100% Employer-Paid Medical and Dental Insurance (PPO plans)
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Flexible, Hybrid Working Arrangements
• Work/life balance
• Free Retirement Consulting to All Employees
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Gym Reimbursement
• Bagel Mondays, Monthly Happy Hours, and more!

About the BBC

We don’t focus simply on what we do – we also care how we do it. Our values and the way we behave are important to us. 

Diversity matters at the BBC. We have a working environment where we value and respect every individual’s unique contribution, enabling all of our employees to thrive and achieve their full potential.

We want to attract the broadest range of talented people to be part of the BBC – whether that’s to contribute to our programming or our wide range of non-production roles. The more diverse our workforce, the better able we are to respond to and reflect our audiences in all their diversity. 

We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.

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