Head of Legal in London

About the Company: Sela is a dynamic creator of spectacular experiences across the sports and entertainment industries. Building on a world-class reputation and recent international event success in London and Los Angeles, Sela has established a London office to develop and execute world-class experiences in sports and entertainment outside of the Middle East. Sela is looking to build a global portfolio of sports and entertainment projects, delivering commercial, operational, and creative consultancy and services. We aim to see Sela established as the global market leader in the sector.

About the Role: The Head of Legal will be a critical member of the leadership team, responsible for defining and executing Sela’s legal strategy across its global sports and entertainment portfolio. This is a senior, strategic and hands-on role that combines deep corporate, commercial, media, events and IP expertise with the ability to navigate complex international regulatory landscapes. You will partner with the executive team to drive Sela’s growth, ensuring that our commercial ambitions are supported by robust risk management, innovative legal frameworks, and world-class commercial agreements.

Responsibilities:

• Legal Strategy & Leadership: Define and implement a comprehensive legal strategy that supports Sela’s global growth ambitions, ensuring legal risk is effectively managed while enabling commercial opportunity.
• Executive Partnership: Act as a trusted advisor to the executive leadership team on all legal, governance, and compliance matters, providing commercially pragmatic, Board-level advice.
• Commercial, Corporate & Media Rights Leadership: Oversee the negotiation and execution of high-value, complex multi-territory rights including: media rights, content distribution, sponsorship, venue, talent and partnership agreements. Lead or oversee corporate transactions including joint ventures, (seed) investments, and owner-operator arrangements.
• Team Leadership: Build, lead, and mentor the in-house legal function, fostering a high-performance culture that provides rapid, pragmatic legal support to commercial teams. Liaise with and co-ordinate Sela's legal teams in other jurisdictions, including in KSA and Ireland. Manage external counsel effectively across relevant jurisdictions.
• Governance & Regulatory Oversight: Manage global data compliance (GDPR/UK GDPR), regulatory frameworks, compliance matters and governance standards across Sela’s diverse entertainment and live-event operations.
• Dispute Resolution: Lead the management of complex contentious matters and high-value disputes, instructing and managing external counsel to protect Sela’s intellectual property and commercial interests.
• Collaborative Innovation: Work cross-functionally with the BD, Commercial, Marketing, Finance, and Events teams to structure new partnership models and innovative digital exploitation strategies.

Qualifications: 10+ years PQE as a qualified solicitor, with a significant track record operating at a senior level within the sports, media, and/or entertainment industries.

Required Skills:

• Commercial Acumen: Exceptional commercial and strategic judgment, with experience operating as a key business partner to senior leadership.
• Sports & Entertainment Expertise: Demonstrable experience leading the legal function for major sports/entertainment rights holders, broadcasters, global agencies, promoters, venues and brand partners.
• Deal Leadership: Proven track record of leading, negotiating, and closing high-value, complex international media, content, live events and partnership deals. Experience with corporate transactions, including joint ventures, investments, and strategic partnerships.
• Crisis Management & Risk: Ability to provide pragmatic, solution-oriented advice under high pressure in fast-paced production and live event environments.
• Leadership Presence: Excellent communication and influencing skills; capable of managing diverse stakeholder groups, from external governing bodies and federations to internal executive teams.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Comfortable working within a high-growth, fast-paced international environment; results-driven and proactive in shaping the organisation’s direction.
• International Outlook: Covering multi-jurisdictional experience and coordination with international legal teams, with familiarity with Middle East business environments noted as advantageous given Sela's regional presence.

Preferred Skills: Join a fast-growing, ambitious global agency shaping the future of sport, entertainment, and culture. Opportunity to lead the legal function for iconic properties and emerging global projects. Collaborative, entrepreneurial culture that rewards initiative, innovation, and leadership. Competitive compensation and benefits, with genuine scope to define and grow the legal function globally.

Equal Opportunity Statement: We are committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion among our workforce and recruitment and eliminating unlawful discrimination.