Entertainment Paralegal, Business & Legal Affairs

This is a Full Time Job

Tennis Channel has an immediate opening for an EXPERIENCED Entertainment Paralegal.

Position: The Entertainment Paralegal reports directly to the SVP of Business & Legal Affairs and is responsible for a variety of duties, including drafting and interpreting business and legal documents, negotiating agreements, managing trademark and copyright issues and maintaining efficient, up-to-date information. The ideal candidate is a seasoned paralegal with broad entertainment experience in television and/or film. Entertainment industry experience is absolutely necessary. A sports media background is preferred. This is not a job for someone looking to break in to the entertainment field.

Under supervision of SVP, Business & Legal Affairs, responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Drafting and negotiating various production agreements for talent, writers, producers, composers, production crew members’ voice-over for both sports event programming and original lifestyle programming, as well as various technical/IT production agreements for onsite technology (e.g., Genesis, IDS, Hawkeye), equipment rental, etc.
• Drafting and managing Tennis Channel’s on-air Sweepstakes rules and ensure compliance by creating and reviewing prize winner affidavits, bonding as necessary, determining eligibility, drafting sponsorship agreements, indemnification letters, etc.
• Drafting, negotiating and reviewing various licenses and releases (including music licenses, 3rd party footage, etc.) for production and marketing and revising as necessary.
• Licensing out Tennis Channel footage and programs and non-commercial use letters.
• Coordinating dubbing and web hosting with appropriate departments, as needed.
• Collaborating with outside counsel on trademark and copyright issues relating to preliminary and full searches for title clearances, trademark and copyright filings and maintaining TC registered marks, including issue spotting potential liabilities to Tennis Channel and determining what clearances or modifications to materials are needed
• Researching, reviewing, drafting, negotiating and interpreting business searches, insurance certificates/compliance, barter arrangements, marketing, promotional and related deals, new media/web agreements, location releases, etc.
• Drafting and negotiating music synchronization and master use license agreements, in coordination with various departments
• Responding to rights/clearance inquiries as well as tracking and coordinating timely payments

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree is required
• Paralegal Certification or at least 3 years’ legal experience is required
• Television network, sports network, and/or studio experience is strongly preferred
• Minimum 4-6 years experience in the entertainment industry administering the contractual obligations in Business and Legal Affairs agreements is absolutely necessary
• Experienced knowledge of interpreting contractual agreements and industry practices and standards including working knowledge of legal clearance issues worldwide, such as right of publicity and intellectual property is highly preferred
• Familiarity with television production process is helpful
• Intellectual Property (trademarks and/or copyright) experience is helpful
• Meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to multi-task, meet tight deadlines and work calmly under pressure
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to facilitate positive work relationships with internal and external contacts
• Professional, proactive, responsible, organized team player with a strong team orientation and ability to work collaboratively
• Extremely proficient in Word (including redlining/track changes feature) and Outlook; FilmTrack proficiency desirable
• 65wpm typing speed (or fast and accurate typing), fact-checking and proof-reading capabilities