Legal Counsel (Home based)

We're working with a leading broadcasting and streaming company to find an experienced and diligent Senior Legal professional! This role is responsible for supporting and advising the content business, protecting the global business' interests and working with colleagues at all levels of management and leadership to minimise and mitigate risks in production and publication.

Working with in-house producers and commissioners to provide programme and online content legal and regulatory advice on a broad range of issues that can include defamation, contempt, privacy, data protection, intellectual property as well as regulatory compliance with the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and other regulatory codes.

• Understanding editorial ambition and direction - advise effectively on both pre- and post-broadcast and online publication across multiple genres, including live output, current affairs, drama documentaries, blue-light, true-crime and factual programming.
• Analysing and balancing risks involved in the production and publication process - identifying potential consequences that may result in regulator sanctions and/or legal liabilities, both criminal and civil.
• Liaising/working closely with commissioners, production companies, press, programme management, business affairs, creatives, marketing and management.
• Advising on child protection and contributor duty of care, commercial references in programmes and teleshopping, sponsorship, product placement, broadcast competitions, election broadcasting - reviewing, maintaining and updating policies, guidelines and protocols for the management of programmes.
• Understanding editorial ethics affecting programmes and online content.
• Supporting reviews into programme and online content issues pre-and post-broadcast.
• Preparing responses to complaints and regulatory investigations including Ofcom standards or fairness and privacy complaints.
• Attending and advising at recordings, and live and ‘as-live’ programmes (some travel may be required).
• Pre- and post-litigation management including instructing counsel and external solicitors. (Experience of media litigation – defendant and/or claimant work desirable).
• Keeping up to date on the evolution of the law and practice in this area; Commercial Compliance.
• Advising on sponsorship opportunities, signing off script to rough cut/delivery ensuring compliance with brand values etc.
• Understanding and facilitating IP leverage - Licensing brands/characters for partnerships, commercials, digital & social #ad, etc.
• Advising on the creation and delivery of global internal projects/release support.
• Supporting new monetisation opportunities in SVOD/streaming, DtC, PRM, events, AFP, digital/social.
• Working with Commissioning team to support Advertiser Funded Programming and commercial integration in content.
• Advising on advertising compliance and BCAP Codes and guidance.

Education and Training:

• Conducting on-going training sessions for staff and freelancers on legal and compliance issues affecting programme and online content.
• Qualified lawyer (barrister or solicitor) with at least 8 years’ post qualification experience of programme legal/regulatory compliance issues as they relate to the creation and publication of content in the public service and commercial broadcasting space.
• In-depth understanding of media law and regulation including defamation, contempt, privacy, copyright, data protection and the Ofcom Broadcasting Code and BCAP Codes and Guidance.
• Experience of advising producers and commissioners pre- and post-broadcast on media law and regulation in relation to programmes and/or online and/or other media content.
• Creative problem solving skills with strong and sound judgement in evaluating legal and editorial issues.
• A flexible and collaborative approach with energy, drive and resilience and the ability to deal with a large and varied workload, often under critical time pressure.