Job Summary:
We are seeking an attorney to join the Walt Disney Studios Production Legal Affairs team to support film development and production for theatrical and streaming content, and other original content in support of various studio initiatives. As a member of the team, you will work independently and be responsible for all legal matters arising during the course of development and production, including but not limited to evaluating rights and chain of title issues, drafting and negotiating a wide variety of agreements, providing legal counsel to production executives and other key stakeholders in an accurate and timely manner, including providing thoughtful legal advice on potential risks and issues.
Responsibilities:
- Draft, analyze and negotiate above-the-line talent contracts for feature film development and production.
- Draft complex rights acquisitions and provide legal analysis related to chain-of-title, intellectual property rights and other rights management matters.
- Prepare memos summarizing motion picture rights, talent approvals, and other obligations.
- Provide counsel on corporate structuring, draft production services agreements, payroll services arrangements, and other documents related to production set-up.
- Draft and negotiate a variety of production agreements including locations, leases, vendor/equipment, catering, third party consulting and other production related agreements.
- Evaluate and advise on clearance matters, guild issues, and other concerns relating to the production, marketing and exploitation of feature films.
- Provide guidance, mentor and act as a resource to colleagues with less experience
- Manage important relationships with our business and entertainment partners
- Assist Legal senior leadership in the development of department policies and procedures, and help shape strategies.
- Work independently but generally subject to supervision of more senior lawyers in the group, in particular seeking guidance on more complex or high-risk matters.
Basic Qualifications:
- Minimum 8-10 years of significant legal experience with a minimum of 5 years in the entertainment industry.
- Solid understanding of motion picture business and legal issues. Demonstrated capacity to keep current on emerging business and legal trends in streaming, motion picture, episodic, television and new media industry.
- Superior drafting, negotiation, communication and organizational skills. Significant experience drafting and negotiating live-action, animation, television, SVOD and/or other entertainment contracts.
- Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to work well in a team environment and act as a resource to colleagues with less experience. Ability to build interdepartmental relationships at all levels.
- Demonstrated ability to think strategically and present arguments to higher-level attorneys and clients to help shape strategic decisions made by those individuals. Ability to effectively challenge business approach and articulate legal risks.
- Ability to evaluate and reconcile issues from the business-unit and enterprise level perspective.
- Exceptional organizational, prioritization and time management skills with the ability to work under deadlines and execute efficiently against multiple, high-priority and high volume projects. Demonstrates a clear ability to manage fast paced production environment.
- Ability to work in an environment with a high degree of confidentiality.
Required Education
- JD degree.
- Admission to California State Bar Association (or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel) and law degree from an accredited law school.
Additional Information:
#CORP_MEDIA