Sr. Counsel, Business and Legal Affairs

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Job Description

The role of Senior Counsel, Business and Legal Affairs reports to the Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, and is part of a team responsible for providing business and legal affairs services for scripted and unscripted programming, content acquisitions and live entertainment across Versant’s portfolio of television entertainment networks, including USA Network, Oxygen, E! and SYFY. 

Job Duties:

• Provide high-level business and legal affairs services during development, production and delivery of original productions, including structuring, negotiating and drafting business and legal terms for production services, co-productions, studio licenses, rights agreements, showrunners, on-camera talent, writers, and other above-the-line personnel.
• Draft and negotiate agreements for licensing of acquired television series, motion pictures and specials and serve as a business and legal affairs point of contact for content acquisition business partners.
• Review, analyze and interpret a wide range of production and acquisition-related contracts and provide thoughtful and timely legal advice on potential risks and issues to internal business, production and creative partners. 
• Interface with production service companies during all phases of development and production and advise and collaborate with all key internal departments including creative, production, risk management, intellectual property, labor, and other groups to ensure all chain-of-title, guild, legal (e.g., engagement of minors) and insurance requirements, as well as clearance processes, production contracts and credits are completed in an accurate and timely manner.
• Provide high-level, timely advice on advertising and marketing materials across Versant networks to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, company policies and key agreements.  

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• 7+ years of entertainment legal experience at a network, studio, entertainment law firm or production company.
• Juris Doctorate (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Member of the California or New York State Bar.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Outlook; experience with document management systems and protocols.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must have unrestricted work authorization to work in the United States.

Desired Characteristics:

• Strong academic credentials. 
• Excellent negotiation, drafting and analytical skills.
• A willingness to master new areas and to “think differently” when needed regarding dealmaking, work processes and guidelines.
• Proficiency with a wide variety of entertainment contracts and IP law, including copyright and trademark, rights of publicity, and employment law issues.
• Working knowledge of the SAG-AFTRA, WGA and DGA Basic and New Media Agreements.
• Highly collaborative, team-oriented and adaptable in a rapidly changing media environment. Develops and