Legal Counsel
NBCUniversal
Full-time
On-site
London United Kingdom
Sports
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
OVERVIEW
The role is to work with the Chief International Counsel, International and the rest of the Versant International Legal Team located in London, Belfast and Singapore. This is a broad role as the remit spans legal work for Versant’s International News brands (CNBC, MS NOW and E!), including supporting their commercial and editorial activities, and includes ad hoc work for the direct to consumer and ‘b2b’ GolfNow products and services.
This position would suit a mid-level lawyer who is keen to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the media industry and work across a variety of matters to support the Versant News and Sports businesses. The candidate must be able to prioritise efficiently and communicate regularly and appropriately with other departments. A good working knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape in relation to the creation and dissemination of news and current affairs content, plus strong commercial drafting skills across a range of commercial contracts is important.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Commercial Matters:
Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a range of commercial deals including vendor, event, supplier and licensing contracts. Assisting the EMEA Senior Counsel with preparing advertising and sponsorship agreements across broadcast and digital media and preparing agreements and amendments for CNBC International’s linear carriage deals in EMEA regions.
Ad hoc support to GolfNow International operations including software services agreements and privacy work.
Business Development:
Supporting the CNBC Commercial team with renewals of existing CNBC brand partnerships (e.g. CNBC Africa, CNBC Italy) and joint ventures, and assisting with the drafting and negotiation of new partnerships. Papering outbound content licensing agreements as CNBC International exploits its proprietary content on a multiplatform and global basis.
Editorial:
Supporting the Senior Counsel leading editorial support for International on a variety of editorial and programming agreements and issues. Ad hoc advice to CNBC and MSNBC newsrooms in London on fair use, copyright work, and third-party rights. Candidate should show a solid understanding of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act and regulatory requirements of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, in relation to News content in particular.
Data Privacy
A basic understanding of data privacy laws and regulations (including GDPR) and how they may impact the Versant International business. Liaising with the Versant Chief Privacy Officer team as required and communicating their advice to internal stakeholders.
Compliance:
Advising on an ad hoc basis on compliance with laws and regulatory requirements (including FCPA, FARA and competition laws), implementing internal policies and providing assistance and training to facilitate compliance with such laws, regulations and policies. Liaising with the Versant Compliance team when required and communicating advice to internal stakeholders.
Taking responsibility for the management of third-party representatives. Working with the business to ensure all internal compliance requirements are met when appointing and managing third party representatives.
Company Secretarial:
Assisting with local entities’ corporate secretarial needs as required.
General Advice:
Providing prompt, accurate and practical legal and commercial counsel to the business teams as required.
This position may support other special projects and perform other related duties as assigned and directed by management.
Qualifications
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Qualified lawyer, with at least 3 years post qualification relevant experience, preferably at an international law firm in UK, Europe or the US and/or from an in-house role at an international broadcast/media company
Good contractual experience and solid understanding of boilerplate clauses in commercial agreements.
Experience with applicable compliance and regulatory regimes
First class drafting skills, with a methodical and detail-oriented approach
Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
Time management capabilities, client-servicing skills and problem-solving abilities
Ability to work independently, multi task, prioritise and work under pressure
Passion for the role with a “can do” attitude
A commercially minded team player with strong interpersonal skills
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].
Although you'll be hired as an NBCU employee, your employment and the responsibilities associated with this job likely will transition to Versant in the future. By joining at this pivotal time, you'll be a part of this exciting company as it takes shape.
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
OVERVIEW
The role is to work with the Chief International Counsel, International and the rest of the Versant International Legal Team located in London, Belfast and Singapore. This is a broad role as the remit spans legal work for Versant’s International News brands (CNBC, MS NOW and E!), including supporting their commercial and editorial activities, and includes ad hoc work for the direct to consumer and ‘b2b’ GolfNow products and services.
This position would suit a mid-level lawyer who is keen to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the media industry and work across a variety of matters to support the Versant News and Sports businesses. The candidate must be able to prioritise efficiently and communicate regularly and appropriately with other departments. A good working knowledge of the legal and regulatory landscape in relation to the creation and dissemination of news and current affairs content, plus strong commercial drafting skills across a range of commercial contracts is important.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Commercial Matters:
Drafting, reviewing and negotiating a range of commercial deals including vendor, event, supplier and licensing contracts. Assisting the EMEA Senior Counsel with preparing advertising and sponsorship agreements across broadcast and digital media and preparing agreements and amendments for CNBC International’s linear carriage deals in EMEA regions.
Ad hoc support to GolfNow International operations including software services agreements and privacy work.
Business Development:
Supporting the CNBC Commercial team with renewals of existing CNBC brand partnerships (e.g. CNBC Africa, CNBC Italy) and joint ventures, and assisting with the drafting and negotiation of new partnerships. Papering outbound content licensing agreements as CNBC International exploits its proprietary content on a multiplatform and global basis.
Editorial:
Supporting the Senior Counsel leading editorial support for International on a variety of editorial and programming agreements and issues. Ad hoc advice to CNBC and MSNBC newsrooms in London on fair use, copyright work, and third-party rights. Candidate should show a solid understanding of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act and regulatory requirements of the Ofcom Broadcasting Code, in relation to News content in particular.
Data Privacy
A basic understanding of data privacy laws and regulations (including GDPR) and how they may impact the Versant International business. Liaising with the Versant Chief Privacy Officer team as required and communicating their advice to internal stakeholders.
Compliance:
Advising on an ad hoc basis on compliance with laws and regulatory requirements (including FCPA, FARA and competition laws), implementing internal policies and providing assistance and training to facilitate compliance with such laws, regulations and policies. Liaising with the Versant Compliance team when required and communicating advice to internal stakeholders.
Taking responsibility for the management of third-party representatives. Working with the business to ensure all internal compliance requirements are met when appointing and managing third party representatives.
Company Secretarial:
Assisting with local entities’ corporate secretarial needs as required.
General Advice:
Providing prompt, accurate and practical legal and commercial counsel to the business teams as required.
This position may support other special projects and perform other related duties as assigned and directed by management.
Qualifications
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
Qualified lawyer, with at least 3 years post qualification relevant experience, preferably at an international law firm in UK, Europe or the US and/or from an in-house role at an international broadcast/media company
Good contractual experience and solid understanding of boilerplate clauses in commercial agreements.
Experience with applicable compliance and regulatory regimes
First class drafting skills, with a methodical and detail-oriented approach
Excellent oral and written English communication skills.
Time management capabilities, client-servicing skills and problem-solving abilities
Ability to work independently, multi task, prioritise and work under pressure
Passion for the role with a “can do” attitude
A commercially minded team player with strong interpersonal skills
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].
Although you'll be hired as an NBCU employee, your employment and the responsibilities associated with this job likely will transition to Versant in the future. By joining at this pivotal time, you'll be a part of this exciting company as it takes shape.