Senior Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs in London

We are looking for a Senior Counsel to join our UK Business and Legal Affairs team here in London! The Senior Counsel will support the Disney+ Originals Legal and Business Affairs team across the development, commissioning, production and exploitation of original content commissioned from and for the UK and which will be exploited globally on the D+ SVOD service and other Disney services. This role sits within a highly collaborative Business & Legal Affairs team and combines both legal and commercial responsibilities. The successful candidate will provide pragmatic, solutions-oriented business and legal advice while actively supporting deal-making and relationship management with production partners, talent representatives, licensors and other rights owners and internal stakeholders.

Working across scripted and non-scripted content, the role will help ensure that all original productions align with Disney’s business and legal requirements, commercial objectives and brand standards, while contributing to the continued development of best practices across the UK and EMEA business. The Senior Counsel will be expected to work autonomously, have commercial awareness and a forward-looking perspective to structure production (and co-production or licensing) and commissioning (or co-commissioning) agreements to the maximum benefit of Disney’s Businesses. The Senior Counsel will work closely with Disney’s Creative executives (Production and Development), Production Management, Finance and specialist Corporate Legal (as required) teams based in the UK office and will foster a relationship-building and supportive team culture. Further, liaising with and assisting to support Disney’s business and legal executives throughout EMEA, the role will also contribute to business and legal best practice and consistency in SVOD/television production initiatives throughout EMEA.

Please note: This role will be based in our London Hammersmith office, 4 days a week, with Friday working from home.

You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values — acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.

• Act as key advisor to Production/Development creative executives and Production Management teams in negotiations of development projects, productions and co-productions commissioned from and for the UK.
• Demonstrates strong awareness of deal-making terms, market expectations and commercial direction.
• Advises on current legal updates and industry terms and market conditions for the engagement of production companies, writers, directors, talent and crew.
• Possess detailed knowledge of Guild/Union agreements in the UK.
• Ability to work closely with business partners, taking instructions and providing advice across a range of projects.
• Assisting with and as applicable, leading the update and preparation of templates for production company’s engagements including talent, literary options, location, post-production and other production agreements.
• Advising on and reviewing production welfare and where applicable, Duty of Care protocols, production clearance processes including script reviews, set visits and artwork clearance.
• Advising on use of AI tools in production and managing Disney’s corporate requirements for the appropriate use of approved AI tools in production, including managing talent issues and Legal and Business risks.
• Contributing to a continuous improvement culture, ensuring consistency of processes, policies and procedures in order to protect the Business from risk.
• Building strong internal and external relationships to benefit the Business.
• To perform other related business and administrative duties as assigned.

Works side by side with the Business and Legal Affairs team and senior stakeholders in the Production Business to develop negotiating strategies and deal structures, optimizing potential rights structures. This involves:

• Developing a solid understanding of the Business’s expectations and negotiating position through effective research and utilization of industry expertise.
• Provide clear, practical advice on deal structures, rights strategies and risk management in line with Disney’s policies and standards.
• Leading or supporting negotiation strategy to achieve optimal commercial outcomes.

Provide end-to-end business and legal support across the lifecycle of productions, including development, greenlight, production and post-production. Advise on underlying rights acquisition, including option and purchase agreements, format licences and other rights arrangements. Supervise and advise on chain of title, intellectual property, and compliance with Disney policies and production standards, applicable legal and regulatory requirements and where applicable, Guild and union obligations. Working closely with and collaborating with Production Management, Publicity, Marketing, Brand Solutions and Ad Sales, Content Operations & Delivery and Programme Compliance teams to ensure alignment with Disney’s internal frameworks. Ability to assess and advise on finance structures and tax credits, including review and approval on behalf of Disney of finance plans and third-party finance arrangements. Familiarity with completion guarantors and banking agreements. Support the structuring of production, co-production and pre-buy arrangements across EMEA.

• UK/European industry experience at senior level, preferably both private practice and in-house, of scripted/non-scripted SVOD/television programme development, commissioning and production.
• Senior industry level experience working in television and/or film development, commissioning and production.
• Complex production business and legal negotiation and project management.
• Demonstrable knowledge of relevant law and regulatory issues eg relating to copyright and tax incentives.
• Production, Contract, Commercial and Intellectual Property Law experience.
• Qualifications: LLB or Degree/LPC Qualified as solicitor or barrister.
• Plus: At least 7yrs Contract, IP and/or Media Law specialization/expertise (in-house or private practice).
• Understanding of Contract Administration Process.
• Self-starter and self-supporting.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks.
• Ability to manage and prioritize instructions from multiple sources, and work under pressure and to deadlines on multiple projects at the same time.
• Methodical and meticulous, focusses on accuracy at all times in drafting.
• Communication of Legal matters to non-legal audience.

25 days annual leave, Private medical insurance & dental care, Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free, Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.