Associate Director, Legal & Business Affairs

Job Description:

At Warner Chappell Music (WCM), we shape the culture of songwriting and champion songs that resonate for generations by creating transformational opportunities for songwriters everywhere. Our people and culture are at the epicenter of our company, and we are looking for team members who share our service-oriented mindset and have a passion for looking after our songwriters.

As the global music publishing arm of Warner Music Group (WMG), we’re a collective band of music lovers, innovative connectors, and relentless supporters of our songwriters and catalog of iconic works. We lead with curiosity, collaborate across departments, borders, languages, and genres, and we’re committed to delivering on the promises we make to each other and to our songwriters.  

Job Title: Associate Director, Legal & Business Affairs

A little bit about our team: If you love music both new and old, are highly organized, and want to join a legal department that works with some of the best songwriters in the world, Warner Chappell is the place for you. We deal with a wide range of legal and business affairs, including contract negotiation and copyright enforcement.  If that’s what drives you, too, we want you on our team.

Your role: As part of the Legal and Business Affairs team at Warner Chappell Music, this role will be involved in a wide range of legal and business transactions related to music publishing. You will also work closely with other departments within Warner Chappell, such as A&R, Finance, Sync, and Creative Services, to ensure that all legal and business matters are handled in a timely and efficient manner. 

Here you’ll get to:

• Draft and negotiate music publishing contracts, including, without limitation, co-publishing, administration and sub-publishing agreements, copyright acquisitions agreements, and visual media licenses.

• Pursue special projects and provide general legal counsel and guidance to the Company as directed by supervisor and/or the Head of Legal & Business Affairs, North America.

• Coordinate, confer, and work with outside counsel, with WMG’s Corporate Legal Department, and other WMG affiliates on legal and business matters.

• Review and make recommendations on the payment of certain fees, royalties, licenses, invoices, claims, and related financial matters.

• Make recommendations to management on legal aspects of Company procedures, business relationships, communications and related matters, anticipating and guarding against legal risk.

• Stay informed regarding industry and legal developments affecting the music publishing industry.

• Attend Company staff meetings and prepare necessary and required reports as requested.

• Handle and safeguard confidential and proprietary information.

About you:

• A graduate degree in law (L.L.B. or J.D.) from an ABA-approved school, and current admission in good standing to the State Bar of California (or eligibility to practice law in California as Registered In-House Counsel).

• Minimum Four (4) years of relevant professional legal practice, including at least one (1) with a law firm or business engaged in, or affiliated with, music publishing, with experience in  business affairs operations such as deal negotiations, drafting and administration of contracts, all aspects of copyright, licensing, claims, etc.

We’d love it if you also had:

• The ability to effectively communicate internally and/or externally in a manner consistent with the company’s Code of Conduct and core values.

• The ability to read and understand materials and documents and have the ability to recognize and extract critical data and information.

About us: 

At Warner Chappell Music (WCM), we shape the culture of songwriting and champion songs that resonate for generations by creating transformational opportunities for songwriters everywhere. 

Before the fans and fame, the soundtracks and syncs, there is the song.  And before the song comes the songwriter - the heart of an art form that defines generations, and the soul of our business. Songwriters are our inspiration; we are their partners, collaborators, and crusaders.

Songwriters shape culture; and here at WCM we help hone their craft, build their careers, and protect their legacies. We value curiosity, collaboration, and commitment – which helps set us apart and helps us in our commitment and global service to our s