Every great story has a new beginning, and yours starts here.
Welcome to Warner Bros. Discovery… the stuff dreams are made of.
Who We Are…
When we say, “the stuff dreams are made of,” we’re not just referring to the world of wizards, dragons and superheroes, or even to the wonders of Planet Earth. Behind WBD’s vast portfolio of iconic content and beloved brands, are the storytellers bringing our characters to life, the creators bringing them to your living rooms and the dreamers creating what’s next…
From brilliant creatives, to technology trailblazers, across the globe, WBD offers career defining opportunities, thoughtfully curated benefits, and the tools to explore and grow into your best selves. Here you are supported, here you are celebrated, here you can thrive.
Your New Role...
Warner Brother Discovery’s Business and Legal Affairs Department seeks a Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs, to negotiate all commercial and legal aspects of programme commission, co-production, acquisition and talent deals and agreements for Warner Brother Discovery's services across international, with a focus on Southern Europe and kids content for EMEA. The successful candidate will be self-motivated with strong business affairs and legal negotiating experience and a detailed knowledge of the TV production distribution and acquisition business. Extensive contacts amongst programme producers and distributors would be an advantage.
Your Role Accountabilities...
- Negotiate all commercial and legal terms relating to the acquisition, commissioning development, and co-production of programming for Warner Brother Discovery’s services across the international regions within internal budget guidelines and channels’ requirements.
- Draft and negotiate programming agreements such as development, acquisition, commission, co-production, format and licensing agreements and associated agreements such as distribution agreements, independent contractor agreements, location and participant release agreements.
- Liaise with network and third-party production companies and distributors to negotiate and complete such agreements.
- Support and work closely with the Business Affairs & Legal Senior Director, creative teams and production management to advise on legal and business affairs matters relating to local productions, anticipate any legal and rights concerns and offer solutions to eliminate risk. Offer advice on matters such as budgets, risk assessments, duty of care, copyright, clearance issues, insurance and review talent agreements, contributor releases, legal opinions and any other third party agreements associated with productions.
- Establish, maintain and develop relationship with internal key stakeholders.
- Working closely with local content teams and the central EMEA content team responsible for sourcing content.
- Establish maintain and develop relationships with key content suppliers.
- Provide market intelligence research and support for business initiatives as directed.
- Provide on-going general business and legal advice to internal clients concerning production, broadcast clearance, copyright and other intellectual property and content-related issues, as they arise.
- Trouble shoot various programming business and legal issues, including drafting responses to claim letters, drafting delay notification letters, termination agreements, assisting with pre-publication review and legal compliance content review, and liaising internally and externally as appropriate regarding high exposure rights clearances.
- Updating the department’s template agreements.
- Revise and update the internal database and such other information tracking mechanisms in use within the company.
- Supporting other company business initiatives as directed.
Qualifications & Experience...
- Qualified lawyer with negotiating experience working in business affairs in the entertainment industry.
- Experience gained in a broadcast/media environment in private practice or in-house with exposure to production agreements, including broad and in-depth knowledge of television production, acquisition transactions and other tv agreements.
- Extensive contacts with programme producers, distributors and broadcasters.
- Excellent negotiation, drafting and contract analysis skills and proven experience in resolution of complex rights issues.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including clear and effective communication at junior and senior level within and outside the company, must be able to work collaboratively in a diverse team environment.
- Good organizational skills and ability to work well under pressure.
- Ability to handle high volume of work, as well as recognize priorities and manage time effectively to meet deadlines.
- Ability to function on an independent basis, with moderate supervision.
- Knowledge of the legal and regulatory framework within which the tv business operates.
- Knowledge of television business, linear free to air and pay television, video on demand and direct to consumer digital products and general entertainment industry and ‘new media’ developments. Working knowledge of union and guild issues helpful.
- Understanding of European production practices would be beneficial.
- Knowledge of a European language would be helpful.
- Computer skills extremely valuable (including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint. Knowledge / experience setting up databases, tables, knowledge of redlining software).
How We Get Things Done…
This last bit is probably the most important! Here at WBD, our guiding principles are the core values by which we operate and are central to how we get things done. You can find them at www.wbd.com/guiding-principles/ along with some insights from the team on what they mean and how they show up in their day to day. We hope they resonate with you and look forward to discussing them during your interview.
The Legal Bits…
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects the diversity of our society and the world around us. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.If you’re a qualified candidate and you require adjustments or accommodations to search for a job opening or apply for a position, please contact us at recruitadmin@wbd.com.