Director of Legal and Business Affairs, Unscripted

Opportunity: Director of Legal and Business Affairs, Unscripted

Location: Shepherds Bush, London

Company: Banijay stands as the largest international content producer and distributor; home to over 120 production companies across 22 territories, and a multi-genre catalogue boasting over 88,000 hours of original standout programming.

Job Purpose: The Director of Legal and Business Affairs is a full-time role leading the Legal & Business Affairs team, working across several unscripted production labels within Banijay UK Productions Limited (specifically including Electric Robin, Initial, Remarkable Entertainment and Zeppotron) and the procurement, commercial and policy work for the core teams at Banijay UK. The role is responsible for leading a team of approximately 8 lawyers and will work closely with the Managing Directors and Directors of Production/Operations for the relevant labels, as well as working with the Banijay UK Senior Management Team. The individual ensures that an exceptional legal and business affairs service is delivered to production teams. The role is key in delivering commercial success for the relevant labels and supporting MDs and DoPs.

Duties:

• Leading the legal production and business affairs operations for the relevant production labels to ensure smooth processes, best practice, legal compliance and maximising of returns.
• Actively reviewing, drafting and negotiating the high profile, high risk or sensitive deals including development agreements, production agreements and distribution licence agreements and guiding the team in their negotiations.
• Advising the team on drafting and negotiating agreements required by productions; including presenters’ agreements, contributors’ agreements, format agreements, location agreements and production service agreements.
• Identifying, overseeing and managing risk on productions for all labels particularly on high value entertainment and reality programmes.
• Guiding the Legal & Business Affairs team in managing risks and making decisions or escalating where required.
• Drafting and advising on press and complaints responses in short time frames on high pressure fast turnaround programmes.
• Building and maintaining excellent working relationships with the MDs and DoPs of the relevant labels, to become a trusted advisor.
• Confidently building great working relationships with external parties including UK broadcaster and global/streaming Legal & Business Affairs teams, broadcaster compliance teams and agents.
• Providing effective solutions on significant issues that arise on productions or within the BUK business and providing support to the BUK General Counsel and other members of the BUK Senior Management Team.
• Working at a senior level in the business with credibility, tact, conciseness and a positive outlook.
• Being a recognisable and vocal ambassador and advocate of the governance processes in place at Banijay UK and Banijay Group.
• Advising on general legal queries including intellectual property such as copyright issues, fair dealing, trade marks and chain of title of productions.
• Advising on relevant areas of compliance including in relation to the OFCOM Codes and data protection law.
• Advising and liaising internally and externally (specifically broadcasters and solicitors) on pre-litigation correspondence, right to reply letters, Data Subject Requests, OFCOM complaints and drafting responses to complainants and their lawyers.
• Liaising and building excellent working relationships with other parts of the BUK Group, including Banijay Rights, Banijay Brands, Banijay Group and Creative Networks.
• Advising on and implementing any relevant changes in the law across the labels and core BUK departments.
• Demonstrating and valuing good teamwork for the Legal & Business Affairs Team.
• Providing positive and encouraging leadership and supporting the development of the team and their work on productions.
• Giving advice on employment related issues in respect of the production teams.

Knowledge and skills:

• Legally qualified (15 years PQE +)
• Significant experience of leading a Legal & Business Affairs team in-house at a television production company working on quiz shows, large entertainment and reality shows.
• An extensive knowledge of IP rights and commissioning deals with linear UK broadcasters, streamers and US commissioners.
• Demonstrable track record of building excellent working relationships with MDs and HoPs.
• Demonstrable track record in crisis management on fast turnaround productions.
• Extensive experience in independent drafting and negotiating high value deals and agreements.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to respond to and make decisions based on rapidly changing circumstances and assist team members in the same.
• The ability to work calmly under pressure to tight deadlines.
• Experience of working for a company within a large group.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

Reporting to: General Counsel

Contract type: Full time, permanent

Hours: 9:30am - 6pm

We will consider flexible working requests for all roles, unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. There is no obligation to raise this at the application stage but if you wish to do so, you are welcome to. Flexible working will be part of the discussion at offer stage.

Closing date: 30th June 2025

We are an inclusive and disability confident employer. We actively encourage applications from individuals from diverse and under-represented backgrounds and are committed to providing a creative and inspirational home for all people. To make sure we are inclusive and accessible to all, please let us know if you require any reasonable adjustments or assistance either to help you with your application or whilst working with us.