Senior Counsel, IP & Content

Overview

Condé Nast is a global media company producing high-quality content for more than 1 billion consumers in 32 territories across print, digital, video and social platforms. The portfolio includes Vogue, Vanity Fair, Glamour, Self, GQ, The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler/Traveller, Allure, AD, Bon Appétit and Wired, among others. Condé Nast thrives on collaboration, with teams in the office four days a week (Monday – Thursday). We value diversity of background, views and cultures and celebrate people for their personal qualities, skills and contributions, recognising the power our brands have to influence and shape culture.

Location: London, GB

The Role

Reporting to the VP, Content & Litigation, this position sits within Condé Nast’s Content Legal team, part of the wider Business and Legal Affairs (BALA) team, providing expert legal advice to editorial teams and the business on a wide range of IP and content legal issues globally.

About Condé Nast’s Business And Legal Affairs Team

The Business and Legal Affairs team is led by the General Counsel, with colleagues in London, New York, China, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Mexico, India, Japan, the UAE and Taiwan. We are supported by outside counsel and work closely with Advance Legal who provide legal counsel to Condé Nast and our parent company, Advance Publications.

Responsibilities

• Advise global content teams on matters relating to content in our markets around the world, with a focus on the UK.
• Assess and advise on legal risks relating to content, including defamation, privacy, publicity and image rights, copyright, trademarks and AI.
• Develop pre-publication review processes, engaging with editorial stakeholders, content operations and outside counsel.
• Build strong partnerships with other relevant legal colleagues across the team and the wider Advance group.
• Lead the creation of materials for and delivery of frequent training sessions for editorial teams on defamation, privacy, copyright and trademarks.

Dispute Resolution

• Manage the defence and resolution of media law and IP disputes and litigation.
• Respond to legal threats relating to content and to third-party information requests and subpoenas.
• Support on broader disputes and litigation matters from time to time.

IP Enforcement and Brand Protection

• Oversee the management of trademark portfolio and brand protection strategy.
• Support trademark enforcement globally and copyright enforcement with a focus on the UK, including drafting cease and desist letters.
• Collaborate with Advance Publications on a global strategy aligned with CN’s business objectives.

People Management

• Manage two direct reports who are legal counsel.
• Provide mentoring and legal educational opportunities to direct reports.

General

• Work independently with minimal supervision.
• Collaborate with multiple departments (Editorial, Business Affairs, Events, Content Operations, HR, Sales/Advertising, Licensing, Product, Technology, Business Development and shareholder Advance) on content, branding and business matters.
• Manage cross-border projects with stakeholders, third parties and legal experts from different markets to deliver cohesive and centralized legal support.
• Develop legal solutions, processes, policies and models for new and emerging content types.
• Maintain awareness of media and IP regulatory matters, particularly in the UK and EU, to advise on trends affecting future strategy.
• Support efficient and cost-effective legal service delivery and best practices within IP and Media law across BALA.
• Engage with outside counsel when appropriate, with a cost-effective approach to outside spend.
• Proactively network within the IP & Media law community.

About you

• Legally qualified in the UK.
• 8+ PQE in relevant experience; flexible for the right candidate.
• Specialist experience in media and IP law, with pre-publication and post-publication defamation, privacy, copyright and trademark issues; experience in-house and at a law firm is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, analytical, interpersonal, organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and project management, with ownership of projects from inception to completion.
• Ability to anticipate needs, take initiative, work independently and seek guidance when needed.
• Fluent English.
• Ability to present legal advice pragmatically and commercially.
• Positive, flexible attitude and willingness to work out of hours to support editorial brands.
• Experience managing direct reports is preferred but not required.

How to apply

Please upload your CV and cover letter/portfolio, highlighting why you’d love this role and why you’re a great match. All submissions are reviewed by our talent team; we do not use AI-assisted technology to review applications.

Benefits

• 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays) and extra days off when moving house or volunteering.
• Competitive pension, Bupa Private Healthcare, season ticket loans and eye tests.
• Wellbeing tools, including core hours, remote work options, Employee Assistance Programme, gym membership and cycle to work scheme.
• Dog-friendly office and magazine subscriptions/discounts.
• Learning Hub with courses and training in local languages.
• Employee Resource Groups for global collaboration.

Important information

Condé Nast is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, familial status and other legally protected characteristics.