VP, Legal & Business Affairs – London, N1C 4AG

Key Responsibilities: 

Commercial and Legal: 

• Draft and / or review, negotiate and execute deals across all areas of Mercury’s diverse and growing business. 

• Working across all areas of unscripted content including but not limited to live productions, feature films, TV series, content for digital channels and all other forms of programming.  Devise and execute a broad range of agreements, including but not limited to development, talent ‘shopping’, co-production, financing, first look, commissioning, sales, rights and other production related agreements;   

• Devise and execute the legal and business affairs aspects of US-based productions;   

• Negotiate multi territory/platform co-production agreements with US and internationally and advising on international clearances or rights issues;  

• Support linear, digital and physical film sales of Mercury content across all linear and non-linear rights; 

• Work on acquisitions of both external and UMG Group content; 

• Expertly resolve commercial and legal disputes as and when they periodically arise; 

• Have up to date knowledge of and advise on industry agreements e.g. PACT, terms of trade, US guild agreements (e.g. DGA) and production/E&O insurance; 

• Provide commercial, legal and operational support to the EVP L&BA as required, including providing ad hoc support to the EVP L&BA at corporate level in relation to dealing with corporate acquisitions, litigation, employment, acting with external counsel where required; 

• Deputise for EVP L&BA as required; 

• Develop and manage junior members of the BA team to support the overall objectives and workload of the L&BA Team, ensuring they develop in the process. 

Dimensions 

• Internal – Report to EVP L&BA, liaising with heads of department, regional offices,  lawyers across labels, UMG Group and any other business stakeholders identified from time to time; 

• External:  External producers, sales licensees, international broadcasters, Pact, Co-Producers and funding partners E&O insurance brokers dealing with external producers and music managers and talent. 

Precedents:  

• Involvement in establishing and improving existing precedents including agreement templates having regard to market changes in the TV and film business. 

Person Specification 

Essential 

• Proven Track Record: working in the TV and Film business; 

• Qualified Lawyer:  The candidate will be a UK qualified lawyer with significant post-qualification TV and Film Industry experience 7+ years PQE; 

• Be Strategic:  Advise on deal strategies and a broad range of complex legal issues, including underlying rights, copyright and other IP issues, as well as compliance, clearances and regulatory matters; 

• Be Knowledgeable of the Business:  Continuing to develop an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the industry and consider the implications of its evolution on our business; 

• Be Proactive: Have the passion and energy to work a busy legal slate, and the self-reliance to manage your workload and that of others to meet timely deadlines;   

• Be Collaborative:  Be at the forefront of fostering positive long-term relationships with a wide network of partners we work with both in the UK and internationally, internally and externally.  To be collaborative and supportive working vertically up and down the L&BA Team; 

• Be a Great Manager: Have a passion for developing others, particularly your own team, but also those across the wider business; 

• Forensic Attention to Detail: in relation to advising, drafting and negotiation of agreements . 

Desirable 

• Experience of the music and audio industry: 

• Catalogue and Catalogue Acquisitions Experience: 

• Previous Management Experience:  ability to multitask and possessing sound organisational skill to enable effective management and prioritisation of BA Team workflow