Job Description
Key responsibilities and accountabilities
Contract Negotiation and Management:
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating all Studios contracts including but not limited to talent (cast and crew), production companies, writers, distributors, first look deals, content acquisition deals, co-productions, co-financing deals, development deals, consultancy agreements, rebate/incentive deals, music deals, marketing/publicity deals and other parties involved in the studio's projects. This will include contracts with external partners and vendors.
- Ensuring that contracts align with MBC Group and Studio's legal interests, processes, guidelines and policies.
- Working with and servicing all department within the Studio and across the group more generally
Intellectual Property and Copyright:
- Ensuring that the studio secures the necessary rights to intellectual property, including copyrights and trademarks, and that it respects the rights of others.
- Advising on issues related to licensing, royalties, and distribution rights.
- Oversee/negotiate/advise on all IP and format option and purchase deals.
- Provide advice on intellectual property rights and rights of publicity; talent/crew contractual restrictions/obligations; guild requirements; promotional usage rights and restrictions; third-party rights clearances and music issues.
- Oversee rights acquisitions for adapted works or licensed properties.
Regulatory Compliance:
- Ensuring that the studio complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including those related to broadcasting, content creation, and entertainment industry standards.
Content Clearance and Rights Management:
- Overseeing the clearance process for content to ensure it doesn't infringe on third-party rights.
Litigation and Dispute Resolution:
- Representing the studio in legal proceedings or overseeing external counsel in litigation matters.
- Handling disputes related to contracts, intellectual property, and other legal issues.
Compliance with Industry Standards:
- Staying updated on industry standards and best practices related to legal matters in the entertainment industry
- Assisting in the creation/improvement/amendment/oversight of various industry standard policies, processes, practices, guidelines (including for example relating to the employment of minors, animals, health and safety, etc) to a first class/best practices standard
- Assisting in the creation, development, improvement of the Studios’ legal precedent bank.
Risk Assessment and Management:
- Identifying legal risks and developing strategies to mitigate them.
- Providing guidance to the executive team on legal implications of business decisions.
Corporate Governance:
- Ensuring that the studio adheres to corporate governance practices and compliance with relevant company policies.
Government Relations and Public Policy:
- Monitoring and influencing legal and regulatory developments that impact the studio's operations.
Requirements
- 3+ years PQE.
- Extensive experience of working on scripted and unscripted development and production deals.
- Working knowledge across US WGA/DGA rules.
- Experience of development structure, production overheads and co-productions.
- Exposure of working on large productions across, UK, US, and MENA are highly desirable.
- Experience of tax treaty benefits/rebate/tax/ cash incentive schemes is desirable.
- Sound knowledge of greenlight process.
- Preferred to be bilingual (Arabic and English)
- Excellent team player with a good attitude, and ability to manage stakeholder relationships.
- Strong analytical skills and an eye for details.
Unfortunately, due to the high number of responses we receive we are unable to provide feedback to all applicants. If you have not been contacted within 5-7 days, please assume that at this stage your application has been unsuccessful.
