Job Introduction

***You must be legally authorized to work in the United States in order to be considered for this role.

Job Purpose

To ensure BBC Studios Los Angeles creates, acquires and distributes intellectual property to maximize audience value and commercial return in a global media environment by:

• Managing, organizing and advising on commercial rights, legal risk and business affairs activities across scripted and unscripted programming.
• Implementing commercial and talent rights strategies, policies, and frameworks
• Commercial and legal negotiation and complex contracting.
• Building and managing internal and external relationships and partnerships with respect to the scripted and unscripted business.
• Liaise with and provide counsel to LA and UK on all Content Production legal matters in the US.

The ideal candidate is an energized, dynamic and detail-oriented individual with the ability to effectively negotiate with agents, managers and outside attorneys as well someone who can coordinate among all relevant stakeholders within the LA Productions group and in the UK.  This is central to our purpose and culture and is critical to this role.

Role Responsibility

• Manage, structure, negotiate and document a wide range and high volume of day-to-day documents across BBC Studios’ unscripted and scripted television development and production verticals including (but not limited to): underlying rights agreements, format deals, coproduction deals, talent agreements, showrunner agreements, appearance releases, location releases, materials releases, vendor agreements format deals, key talent, access and other material components of unscripted and scripted programming.

• Advise and counsel and provide strategic advice on rights, legal, commercial and business affairs activities for all scripted and unscripted development and production issues, including guild/union and labor issues, intellectual property rights, insurance, product integrations, online and music issues, rights management, digital media, fair trading, finance, legal risks, editorial policy, advertising, sponsorship and compliance issues.
• Must be able to manage a high-volume workload efficiently and smoothly, operate autonomously/independently and work collaboratively across the department and the company, build strong internal relationships, and effectively advise senior level executive under time sensitive conditions through strategic thinking and risk analysis.

• Interface on a day to day basis with various internal groups (creative, production, finance, marketing/publicity, contract administration, talent etc.) and production personnel as needed and develop collaborative, creative and commercial relationships at senior level – both externally and internally across the BBC Group.
• Act as a liaison between the company’s creative executives and the creative community (i.e., talent agencies, talent managers, entertainment law firms, studios and production companies).  All television and new media licensees/platforms.  Seeking and using market intelligence to advise on the commerciality of new and existing business development proposals.
• To propose innovative and entrepreneurial solutions in order to maximize benefit to BBC audiences and/or deliver commercial returns to the BBC. To proactively innovate and problem-solve to ensure the BBC optimizes its position within the commercial marketplace.
• To proactively assist the development and maintenance of high performing teams that are focused on ensuring the BBC benefits from an increasingly digital, global and commercial media environment. To keep team approaches and processes under constant review and propose new ways of working. To lead by example in maintaining a culture of teamwork, integrity and empowerment. To guide, support and help develop other members of the team.
• Maintain template forms and implement BBC Studios’ policy.
• Handle business and legal interactions with BBC Studios’ offices in other territories as necessary.
• Elevate issues up to BBC Studios editorial standards department and brand management teams as necessary. 
• Participate in the BLA Global Production Network, working with BLA colleagues around the world to create common practices and global strategic approaches to production related issues, primarily related to BBC Studios controlled formats.
• In conjunction with the Head of Business and Legal Affairs, oversee outside counsel assisting with deals/agreements, litigation issues, and other production related matters. 

The Ideal Candidate

• Minimum of 6 years of prior business or legal affairs transactional experience, ideally gained at a television production company, network, talent agency and/or entertainment law firm.
• JD degree and active member of CA bar
• Deep knowledge of entertainment industry, broadcast, production, entertainment transactions and strong relationships within the industry.
• Extensive unscripted and scripted television business & legal affairs experience required.
• Familiarity with and understanding of industry standards for writer, director, talent, underlying rights, and network agreements.
• Extensive knowledge of current market intelligence and global media trends.
• Extensive negotiating, rights management, contracting and copyright experience.
• Experience of team building and team development experience.
• Knowledge of legal and/or commercial policy development in specific areas and ensuring that the business is aware of the implications.
• Experience of managing risk in a complex environment.
• Experience of delivering projects and directing change in a complex environment.
• An approach that encompasses teamwork, openness, creativity, flexibility, resilience, passion and energy, in an assured and professional manner.
• Builds and maintains team standards of high performance and professionalism.
• Comprehensive working knowledge of television industry agreements, guild and union regulations (DGA, SAG-AFTRA, WGA, IASTE), contract law and intellectual property
• Ability to identify and resolve legal issues quickly and communicate effectively to all levels of the organization.
• Highly organized, detail oriented and self-motivated.
• Ability to manage multiple matters and accommodate tight deadlines while working in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Positive and professional manner.  

Perks:

• 100% Employer-Paid Medical and Dental Insurance (PPO plans)
• Generous Paid Time Off
• Flexible Working Arrangements / Work-Life Balance
• Free Retirement Consulting to All Employees
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Free Peloton App Membership
• Gym Reimbursement

About the Company

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. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviours in the document attached below.

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.

To find out more about Diversity and Inclusion at the BBC, please click here