Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs

BBC Studios

BBC Studios, a global content company with bold British creativity at its heart, is a commercial subsidiary of the BBC Group, creatively and financially supporting the BBC, its partners, and the wider industry. We combine the strengths of the UK’s most awarded producer with a world-class distributor. Taking ideas from thought to screen and beyond, our activities range from content financing, development, and production, to global program sales, branded services, consumer products, live events, and ancillaries.

Together with our independent production labels and content sales partners, we deliver thousands of hours of content annually to the BBC and other broadcasters and services, including Amazon, Apple TV, Channel 4, Channel Five, Discovery, Disney, National Geographic, Netflix, Migu, PBS, Sky, and YouTube. BBC Studios Productions creates high-quality, award-winning content across an extraordinary range of genres and specialisms. Recent credits, made by BBC Studios Productions and its indie labels, include Happy Valley 3, Frozen Planet II, Strictly Come Dancing/Dancing with the Stars, Killing Eve, Am I Being Unreasonable, Grenfell: The Untold Story, Prehistoric Planet, JoJo and Gran Gran, Top Gear, The One Show and Royal and ceremonial events.

Job Purpose

• Lead business and legal affairs support for standard agreements, including non-disclosure agreements, insurance matters, agreements with independent contractors, consultants, vendors, voice-over artists, research panels, promotional festivals or screenings, and similar agreements.
• Counsel the client groups on a wide variety of other legal matters, including intellectual property rights, fair use analysis, corporate governance, insurance, online and music issues, and performing other day-to-day business and legal affairs-related tasks as needed.
• Support other members of the BLA team in providing business and legal affairs services to the distribution business in the Americas.
• Support content sales and acquisitions for BBC Studios branded services in the Americas, including BBC America, BBC Select and BritBox.
• Provide support to the Senior Vice President and provide business affairs and legal counsel to all business units in the Americas.
• Support the Senior Vice President on matters relating to corporate housekeeping and governance.

Key Responsibilities And Accountabilities

• Handle business and legal interactions with BBC Studios’ offices in other regions and territories as necessary.
• Support all business and legal affairs aspects of the distribution business in the Americas.
• Ensure all necessary sign offs/approvals have been received in connection with deals being contracted out of the Americas.
• Review, negotiation and sign-off on relevant BBC Studios contracts (both revenue generating and expenditures) with emphasis on timeliness, compliance and consistency with BBC Studios policies, procedures, guidelines and risk management.
• Work with the Americas BLA team to create and implement coordinated approach to deals and agreements across multiple business units and territories to ensure that all the business and legal affairs needs of BBC Studios are being met.
• Maintain and develop template forms and implement BBC Studios’ policy.
• Communicate legal restrictions and requirements to all necessary departments across the organization and internally.

Compensation

The anticipated annual base salary for this position in New York is $150k to $170k with a 15% bonus. The anticipated annual base salary for this position in Los Angeles is $175k to $195k with a 15% bonus. This range does not include other benefits that an individual may be eligible for. 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 flexible, hybrid working schedule & benefits including but not limited to 100% BBCS-covered medical & dental insurance, vision, & 401k match.

Knowledge, Skills, Training & Experience

Knowledge & Skills

• Organized, detail oriented and self-motivated.
• Ability to identify and resolve legal issues quickly and communicate effectively to all levels of the organization.
• Strong analytic, negotiation and legal drafting skills.
• Ability to manage multiple matters and accommodate tight deadlines while working in a fast-paced environment; flexibility or long hours if and when necessary.

Professional Experience

• 4+ years of prior business or legal affairs transactional experience, ideally gained at a television or multi-media distribution company, network, and/or entertainment law firm.
• Familiarity with the entertainment industry and entertainment transactions.
• JD degree and member of NY or CA bar
• Familiarity with and understanding of industry standards for distribution agreements, including digital rights.

Behaviors

• Ability to be discreet with confidential information.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Positive and professional manner.
• Ability to work independently but also be a team player.

Benefits and Perks

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

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. Please make sure you’ve read about our values and behaviors 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.