Overview
Legal and Business Affairs Manager – Central Legal Team – London, N1C 4AG, United Kingdom
The Central Legal Team, part of Universal Music UK’s wider Legal & Business Affairs department for recorded music, provides legal and business affairs support across our core central operations.
Our remit spans a wide range of functions, including:
• Commercial teams (digital and commerce)
• Globe – UMG’s award-winning brand partnerships division
• UMR – UMG’s renowned catalogue team
• Universal Music Ireland
• Abbey Road Studios
• Artist Relations & Events
• Core Universal Music UK business and board (including general commercial, M&A, joint ventures, and artist rights agreements)
We are a central hub, supporting and collaborating with almost every part of Universal Music UK — working closely with teams across the business, as well as partnering with our frontline label Legal & Business Affairs colleagues.
The Role
We are seeking a talented and ambitious Solicitor to join our Central Legal Team. This role offers a broad and varied scope, working across multiple areas of Universal Music UK’s business.
From brand partnerships to corporate transactions, artist rights to live events, your work will cover the full spectrum of music and entertainment law. While some responsibilities will be transactional, this position offers the chance to grow into a trusted advisor role — supporting the business as it evolves and helping shape its future direction.
This is a unique opportunity to gain exposure to the inner workings of the world’s leading music entertainment company, while developing both your legal expertise and commercial acumen in a truly dynamic industry.
Key Responsibilities
Drafting, negotiating, and advising on agreements covering:
• General commercial (commerce, digital, suppliers)
• Brand partnerships and activations
• General corporate (including M&A and joint ventures)
• Artists and labels
• Live performances and musicals
• Competitions and promotional campaigns
• Events and experiential projects
• Producers, remixers, mixers, featured artists, and samples
Overseeing and administering:
• Deals from inception to completion
• Deal approvals and internal processes
• Rights management systems
What We’re Looking For
• Qualified Solicitor in England & Wales, with a strong academic background
• Some experience in music, media, or entertainment law (in-house or private practice) helpful but not essential
• A self-starter who enjoys working across multiple teams and building strong relationships across the business
• A true generalist, excited by variety and comfortable switching between different types of legal and commercial work
• Commercially minded, confident with numbers, and not afraid to think outside the box
• Organised, adaptable, and proactive, with a collaborative approach
Why Join Us?
• An exceptional opportunity to launch or grow a long-term career with the world’s leading music entertainment company
• Exposure to a constantly evolving, exciting, and creative industry
• A varied and challenging role spanning multiple areas of law and business
• The chance to work alongside a young, dynamic, and diverse team in a highly collaborative environment
• First-hand insight into the full breadth of life at a global entertainment powerhouse
