Sr. Counsel, Legal, WBTV Unscripted

Posted:
8/19/2024, 5:00:00 PM

Location(s):
California, United States ⋅ Burbank, California, United States

Experience Level(s):
Senior

Field(s):
Legal & Compliance

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

This position will support Warner Bros. Unscripted Television Business & Legal Affairs

     Your Role Accountabilities

  • Negotiate deal terms for on-air talent, producers, directors, and writers with talent agents and attorneys for a wide variety of unscripted projects including docufollows, documentaries, dating shows, competition shows, talk shows, syndicated programming, and specials; negotiate and draft literary and format rights deals, production service agreements, shopping agreements, options, and all other agreements related to the development of original programming.  Research intellectual property rights and talent attachments and advise on risks and financial implications
  • Negotiate and draft all production related agreements including brand integration deals, sponsorships, tax incentives, trade outs, location agreements, composer agreements, music licenses, releases, assignments, etc.  Advise on all matters relating to the physical production of original content.
  • Oversee clearance team and researchers on assigned shows; advise on clearance matters including rights, defamation, right of privacy, publicity rights, union obligations, and fair use issues; oversee outside counsel in specialized areas and in other domestic and international locations
  • Handle all labor relations matters for assigned productions, including negotiating production-specific deals with the WGA, DGA and IATSE.
  • Negotiate licensing agreements with major networks and streamers, and advise company on distribution, marketing, and ad/promo issues.

Qualifications & Experience

  • Minimum 5-7 years of experience practicing law with a national law firm, studio or streaming service. 
  • 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
  • Must be able to communicate and work effectively with talent agents and attorneys, network executives, producers, showrunners, creative and production executives, and outside counsel.   
  • Must have knowledge of law and legal environment of entertainment industry sufficient to negotiate and draft all manner of production-related agreements, and to advise production and management on the legal implications of their actions.
  • Must be able to supervise outside counsel, paralegals, clearance professionals, and clerical staff.
  • Must have ability to work independently and proactively with strong organizational and interpersonal skills, and to manage numerous projects in a fast-paced, dynamic production environment.
  • Ability to manage a high-volume workload efficiently and smoothly in a high-pressure, customer service driven environment.
  • Strong work ethic combined with a cooperative and collaborative team-oriented attitude.
  • Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to establish productive relationships externally and internally at all levels in the organization.
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
  • High attention to detail and ability to multi-task under tight deadlines.
  • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office including Outlook and Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

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.

Championing Inclusion at WBD

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, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, mental or physical disability, and genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, military status, protected veteran status 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 [email protected].

In compliance with local law, we are disclosing the compensation, or a range thereof, for roles in locations where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, skill set, experience, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of Warner Bros. Discovery’s total compensation package for employees. Pay Range: $126,000.00 - $234,000.00 salary per year. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short- and long-term incentives, and program-specific awards. In addition, Warner Bros. Discovery provides a variety of benefits to employees, including health insurance coverage, an employee wellness program, life and disability insurance, a retirement savings plan, paid holidays and sick time and vacation.