Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs

Full Time Job
Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs (Industrial Media)

Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs (Industrial Media)

Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs

ABOUT INDUSTRIAL MEDIA

Industrial Media is the feature documentary, premium content, and unscripted unit within Sony Pictures Television (SPT). Through ownership interests in or with production companies Sharp Entertainment, The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC), B17 Entertainment, 19 Entertainment, This Machine Filmworks, This Radicle Act, Trilogy Films, House of NonFiction, and Maxine, the group creates and produces content in every form of programming for audiences worldwide, currently totally more than 100 series across 35 networks. Key programs include the global hit ''American Idol'' and ''So You Can Think You Can Dance'', each co-produced by 19 Entertainment for ABC and Fox, respectively, Sharp Entertainment's ''90 Day Fiancé'' franchise for TLC; IPC's Emmy®-winning hit documentary series ''Leah Remini: Scientology & the Aftermath'' for A&E, ''Indian Matchmaking'' and ''Night Stalker'' for Netflix and ''Selena+Chef'' for HBO Max; and B17 Entertainment's ''History of Swear Words for Netflix and ''Chasing the Cure'' for TNT/TBS. Additionally, 19 Recordings has launched the music careers of Platinum artists, including Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood, Daughtry, Phillip Phillips, Lauren Alaina; and more recently, ''American Idol'' winner Laine Hardy, along with prior contestants such as Gabby Barrett, Laci Kaye Booth, Francisco Martin, and Julia Gargano.

THE ROLE

The VP of Business and Legal Affairs will work out of our Van Nuys office. The VP's primary role will be reviewing, drafting, and negotiating short and long form development, production, license and coproduction agreements and providing business and legal advice across a variety of unscripted programming, including without limitation, documentary series and features, reality and competition shows. In addition, the VP of Business and Legal Affairs will be involved in various employment, corporate and litigation matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES TO INCLUDE:
• Structure, negotiate, and draft development and production deals for unscripted programming for all television and new media licensees/platforms.
• Handle development through production business and legal affairs on projects and manage the day-to-day issues related thereto, including negotiating deals for talent, directors, executive producers, etc.
• Negotiate and oversee drafting of overall deals, first look agreements, rights agreements (books, articles, podcasts, etc.).
• Negotiate license and co-production agreements, production services agreements, financier agreements, and acquisition agreements.
• Interface on a day-to-day basis with various internal groups (creative, production, finance, etc.) and production personnel as needed.
• Advise on any legal related matters (including guild/union issues) arising through the course of development and production.
• Analyze, review, and interpret contracts; provide thoughtful and practical legal advice on potential risks and issues.
• Manage, supervise and train more junior personnel in the department

REQUIREMENTS:
• Candidates must have a JD, admitted to practice in California, and substantial experience (approx. 8+ years) working in a television business affairs department, legal affairs department and/or entertainment law firm.
• Extensive experience in negotiating and drafting all manner of contracts for domestic development and production deals for television.
• Strong legal acumen with the ability to demonstrate sound judgment.
• Familiarity with employment, insurance and litigation matters, production clearance issues, entertainment guild rules & regulations, and copyright and trademark matters.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Collaborative style with proven record of building strong relationships, both internally and externally at all levels.
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to respond to matters in a quick yet accurate manner
• Willingness to take on matters outside of normal duties
• Experience in managing personnel a plus.

*Sony Pictures Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.


USA - Van Nuys - Industrial Media