Junior Legal Counsel

ABOUT MOTION

Motion Content Group is a global content investment and rights management company which meets the market demand for new economic models for premium content across the entertainment and media marketplace. This is achieved by investing and partnering with the world’s leading talent, producers, and distributors to fund, develop, produce and distribute premium content to help drive and support editorially and commercially vibrant, premium content networks and platforms for the global benefit of our partners. Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, the business currently operates in 29 countries worldwide with Motion’s broad range of award-winning programming distributed globally. Motion Content Group is part of GroupM, the world’s leading full-service media investment management operation, a WPP company.

ABOUT THE LEGAL TEAM

Motion Content Group’s legal team advise Motion’s businesses in the UK and internationally. The Junior Legal Counsel will be based in London and shall report to the Senior Legal Counsel. Due to expansion and increased workload, there is an exciting opportunity for another lawyer to join our dynamic legal team.

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Senior Legal Counsel, this is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious candidate to develop their legal experience with unparalleled exposure to a plethora of producers, broadcasters, distributors, format creators and media platforms. The successful applicant will be tasked with negotiating complex and high value contracts across all aspect of the business. The legal team works well together in a fast-growing business and is looking to recruit an adaptable and personable lawyer with excellent communication, analytical and problem-solving skills.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• drafting and negotiating non-disclosure, finance, co-production, development, option and attachment agreements;
• reviewing and commenting on broadcaster commissioning and international distribution agreements;
• assisting with internal legal processes such as board approvals and contract execution formalities;
• carrying out legal research and staying up to date with developments across the content industries and intellectual property law;
• assisting the legal team with updating and maintaining contract precedents in accordance with Motion’s business needs as well as drafting know-how guides;
• assisting the legal team with setting the agenda for commercial and legal best practice within the company; and
• liaising with external counsel on certain matters.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• NQ – 3 years PQE (having qualified at a leading law firm or content company) with experience in either a television production company, distributor, broadcaster or media law firm;
• an understanding of, and interest in, the television industry, including familiarity with PACT terms of trade, international television distribution and television production (including budgeting, finance, commissioning processes and conventions);
• experience in negotiating commissioning agreements with international broadcasters and SVOD platforms would be advantageous;
• a strong grasp of commercial and intellectual property law (particularly copyright);
• a robust negotiator and able to draft clear and concise legal documentation;
• able to take a pragmatic and risk-based approach;
• holds a meticulous attention for detail;
• conversant with the GDPR and its implications;
• can manage competing deadlines and a varied workload; and
• is a great team player and takes their work, but not themselves, seriously.