Your New Role
The position is a broad commercial/IP role providing legal and business affairs advice and related support to Warner Bros. Discovery's International Content Licensing Sales and Commercial Strategy executives, as well as related functions such as Finance, Marketing and Contract Administration.
The International Content Distribution legal team is focused on licensing all of Warner Bros. Discovery's content portfolio (including HBO, HBO Max, WB, Turner and Discovery) to broadcasters, digital home entertainment services, streaming services and platforms in all territories outside of the United States of America and Canada, and the company's portfolio of formats across all international territories. The content licensed includes movies, scripted and unscripted US series, local language scripted and unscripted series, as well as animation.
It is an essential function of this position that the work be performed partially from the Company's offices located in Burbank, California, in accordance with the Company's in-office/work from home policies.
Your Role Accountabilities
- Drafting and negotiating a variety of complex television, home entertainment and on demand content distribution agreements and related documentation with platforms, broadcasters, WBD-affiliated services and other media companies for WBD content outside the US and Canada, with primary focus on Asia Pacific and Latin America.
- Drafting ancillary legal agreements such as non-disclosure agreements, assignments, novations, settlement agreements, cease and desist letters and other related agreements.
- Advising sales, commercial strategy and management executives of the effects of contractual commitments, local law and regulatory issues, marketing restrictions and production guidelines impacting the ability to license WBD programming.
- Analysing and summarising complex provisions (including underlying rights, availability, holdbacks and other key terms) under all agreements, and communicating findings clearly to internal stakeholders, as required for strategic projects and to answer ad-hoc queries.
- Researching and providing general legal support, in coordination with the overall WBD legal team and outside counsel, to respond to local law issues and issues that arise during contract negotiations.
- Performing other related duties as assigned as part of a supportive and experienced legal team, closely integrated into the business.
Qualifications & Experience
- Undergraduate degree required.
- JD degree from an accredited law school required.
- Admission to California State Bar in good standing or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel
- Likely to have at least 4 years experience with a major law firm and/or in-house media company.
- High level of skill in detailed drafting essential.
- Experience of complex negotiations essential.
- Commercial contract experience strongly preferred.
- Experience in copyright law licensing preferred.
- Television distribution/acquisition experience preferred.
- Understanding new media business models and new technologies preferred.
Core Competencies
- Well organized, efficient and able to prioritize.
- Able to work independently to handle multiple tasks and meet conflicting deadlines in short timeframe.
- Excellent attention to detail and able to work well under pressure.
- Excellent communication skills and able to explain complex issues to senior business executives simply, clearly and tactfully.
- Trustworthy and able to handle confidential issues with the utmost discretion.
- Able to think ahead and anticipate needs of function and remain calm under pressure.
- Willing to use initiative to add value to the organization and to be proactive.
- Demonstrates strong team orientation, able to work closely and well with other team members.
- Able to exercise independent judgment and determine when consultation with others (such as lawyers, sales executives etc.) is required.
- Demonstrates commercial acumen to apply law to reach business objective of the company.
- Able to negotiate around complex problems.
- Familiarity with MS Office suite
