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.
Universal Pictures Content Group (UPCG) is a distinct business unit within Universal Pictures Filmed Entertainment Group, part, of NBCUniversal. With offices around the world, UPCG acquires, develops and produces a diverse range of quality content across a multitude of genres (film, anime, TV drama, music, sports, documentary, family entertainment, events & special interest) for global distribution.
We are seeking an experienced business affairs executive with legal experience to oversee the Legal & Business Affairs function in our Tokyo office.
Overview (Purpose of the Position)
- Principal Legal & Business affairs advisor to company and senior management team on all company activities including development and production of scripted dramas and anime, acquisition and distribution of films and TV programs, and exploitation of film and TV rights, music recording rights, music publishing rights including all ancillary rights.
- Overseeing Legal & Business affairs team in Tokyo office.
- Minimization of the company risk in conducting external transactions and maximization of profits.
- Improvement of efficiency of the organization and activities.
- Ensuring company is compliant with all relevant laws and internal compliance policies.
Job Description
Key Responsibilities
- Production Development/production work: Providing business affairs advice on all aspects of scripted drama and anime developments and productions. Negotiating, drafting and advising on a full range of development and production agreements including in relation to writers, onscreen talent, other key production personnel etc. Ensuring that all production activities are in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations in all territories and with the company's compliance policies and best practice procedures.
- Production financing and commissioning arrangements: Advising MD and senior management team on arrangements and documentation in connection with the structure and financing of developments and productions including internal production services and licensing agreements as well as third party production services agreements including security arrangements.
- Distribution & Rights Exploitation: Negotiating, drafting, and advising on film & TV distribution licenses and rights exploitation agreements (including ancillary rights).
- Team Management: Managing Legal & Business Affairs team, ensuring that company is adequately supported on all Legal & Business affairs matters and overseeing team training and development.
- External Legal Counsel: Engaging and managing external legal counsel ensuring delivery of cost efficient and timely advice.
- Storage and Management of Contract documents / Provision of Contract Information: Ensure proper storage and administration of contract documents. Provide contract information to internal staff as needed.
- General: Lead team in
- Risk management ensuring minimization of legal risk in contracts and business transactions. Provide input to senior management team in determining contract rules and policies for the purpose of risk management and maximization of profit.
- Implementing and maintaining policies regarding business management, issuance of internal reminders, and employee training for the purpose of prevention of legal issues.
- Implementing and managing policies to protect company’s intellectual property.
- ensuring company is fully compliant with all applicable laws and internal compliance policies including leading business affairs team in providing training to employees for risk management and compliance related training.
- Working with the London office (including the Legal and Business Affairs function in London) to ensure consistency in approach across the business and Universal's group requirements are met.
Qualifications
Qualification:
- At least 10 years’ experience in providing commercially focused business affairs and legal support within a media company or studio including structuring, negotiating and drafting film and television agreements.
- Experience with negotiating and contracting with broadcasters and other distribution platforms.
- Detailed knowledge of exploitation and protection of Intellectual Property rights.
- Strong drafting skills in Japanese and English.
- Good industry knowledge of film and television development, production, acquisition and/or distribution.
- Experience in managing a Legal & Business Affairs team.
- Experience with recruitment and management of external legal counsel.
Desirable:
- Legal qualification in Japan, US or UK.
Desired Characteristics:
- Ability to work as a proactive, collaborative team member with a constructive and flexible approach in both a creative environment as well as a legal and commercial environment.
- Strong communication skills including within a diverse internal and international legal team as well as with a range of internal and external stakeholders, broadcaster and content distribution platforms, creative and production personnel and talent agents.
- Ability to operate in a transparent and cooperative manner in the context of a highly matrixed organization with a variety of stakeholders and interconnected functions.
- Holistic approach so that the candidate gives full consideration at all times to the range of issues and stakeholders which need to be taken into account as well as the wider strategy of the group.
- Resourceful, collaborative, outgoing, intellectually curious, ethical, respectful and eager to take on new challenges in a demanding environment including innovative solutions and ways of working.
Additional Information
As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].
