Senior Legal & Business Affairs Manager

Commercial Affairs is responsible for the financial, legal and business aspects of Channel 4’s content supply, and is tasked with negotiating all contractual, financial and other deal terms between Channel 4 and content suppliers. Film4 is the division of Channel 4 which develops/finances/produces feature films for theatrical release and broadcast on the Channel. The purpose of the role is to provide legal and business affairs support to Film4.

Key Responsibilities

• Taking a senior role in the legal & business support provided to the Film4 commissioning and sales/distribution teams with respect to all stages of film developments, financing, production and sales/distribution.
• Reviewing/drafting/negotiating all agreements and documentation in respect of film productions, including (without limitation) all production financing and distribution agreements, sales agency agreements, chain of title documents, completion guarantee documents, inter-party and mutual funding agreements, key cast & crew agreements, co-production agreements, security agreements; and reporting and advising on those documents to Film4 and negotiating terms with the relevant third parties.
• With oversight from Head of Legal & Business Affairs, reviewing finance plans for productions and negotiating Film4’s recoupment position in respect of its investment in productions, as well as conducting appropriate due diligence in relation to Film4’s investment and preparing project appraisal papers for the Greenlight committee.
• Drafting and negotiating standard development agreements with independent producers and reviewing and negotiating terms for development deals with screenwriters, directors and other development contributors.
• Reviewing/drafting all underlying rights agreements and chain of title and advising Film4/assisting producers with chain of title and clearance issues.
• Drafting and negotiating Film4 licence agreements in respect of Free Television and related VOD rights and dealing with all new media and cross platform aspects of productions (together with accompanying rights, windowing and clearance issues) and liaising with the relevant internal departments (eg: Acquisitions/Rights).
• Dealing with miscellaneous legal issues relevant to general Film4 business, including tax issues (eg: UK Tax Credit), Guild agreements and film policy as well as helping implement department and Channel wide projects and initiatives.
• Drafting and maintaining know-how materials and information as relevant to general Film4 business and supervising/mentoring junior members of Film4 BA team.
• Assisting with, where required, and monitoring local PFC paperwork and status lists and routine review of system reporting within Commercial Affairs.
• Assisting with, where required, maintenance of rights, options and other databases.
• Attending commissioning and legal routines and other meetings (external and internal).

Skills and Experience

• Lawyer with significant post qualification experience, or equivalent.
• Proven track record specialising in commercial and entertainment law, with an emphasis on film financing, production and distribution, contract law and copyright.
• Ideally prior experience in a media legal practice and/or “in-house” legal experience in a media/production company, film financing company or broadcaster.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills.
• Sound understanding of film development, financing and production, in particular, the complex issues arising and competing interests of the various parties involved in film financings.
• Strong business acumen/commercial judgement and proactive problem solving attitude.
• Strong interpersonal skills are essential.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a diverse team environment.
• Mentoring junior team members and role modelling senior team member behaviours through proactive information sharing and an open and inclusive communication style.
• Excellent administrative/organisational skills.
• Ability to work autonomously / take lead on film financing closing transactions.
• Familiarity with wider media issues including distribution, new media and cross platform issues and demonstration of an understanding of the issues affecting Channel 4 and its remit.