Fremantle is one of the largest creators, producers and distributors of television brands in the world with an outstanding international network of production teams, companies and labels in over 30 countries. Fremantle is responsible for many of the world's highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama, factual and factual entertainment with capabilities that extend from content creation to licensing, digital and branded entertainment, gaming and home entertainment. We are a world leader in digital and branded entertainment, with more than 370 million subscribers across 1,500 social channels and over 100 billion views across all platforms.
The Fremantle Group is the content production arm of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, with interests in 31 television channels and 30 radio stations in 10 European countries. RTL Group is part of Bertelsmann AG, an integrated media and entertainment company that commands leading positions in the world's major media markets.
Fremantle Commercial & International is the commercial distribution division of the Fremantle Group. It has a network of international sales offices and licenses over 20,000 hours of programmes to more than 200 territories worldwide. The International division is also responsible for the licensing of Fremantle's slate of over 70 formats in many territories including the iconic Fremantle brands Got Talent, X Factor and Idols as well as acquired brands including The Masked Singer. Fremantle's programming comes from both its in house production businesses around the globe and from third party producers in the UK and internationally and includes Nightsleeper, Too Hot to Handle, Britain's Got Talent, The Responder, My Brilliant Friend, Jamie Oliver, Domino Day, QI, American Idol, Escape to the Country, Family Feud, The Price is Right and Grand Designs.
We aspire to tell stories that connect people around the world. We believe our shows should reflect and celebrate the world we live in and we want to create irresistible entertainment and engage with our audience. To achieve this, we must have people from all backgrounds and cultures working in our teams and on our shows, and we commit to creating opportunities for talent by being inclusive in all that we do.
The Legal and Business Affairs team led by the EVP, Head of Legal and Business Affairs, an SVP and 3 VP's comprises 14 members. We are responsible for providing legal and business affairs advice and support across the division focussing mainly on the licensing of content and formats and the acquisition of such content from producers. We value strong communication and collaboration as well as keen commercial skills.
To support the VP of Legal and Business Affairs in the European team working with a Director and another Legal and Business Affairs Executive predominantly focussing on international sales and distribution activities and format licensing. This is a key role in a team of 4 who support a high performing sales team operating across Europe from offices in London and Madrid. This is an excellent role for a junior lawyer to grow their skills and experience in the global entertainment sector The successful candidate will have responsibility for and ownership of allocated territories and the corresponding direct relationship with the respective sales executives from the outset . This will be a busy role responsible for a high volume of agreements - the successful candidate will have strong time management skills and be able to work flexibly at busy times around sales markets and financial year end .
Key Responsibilities
- Drafting, negotiating and approving C&I standard licence agreements within tight timeframes (usually within 24 hours).
- Reviewing and negotiating third party agreements
- Structure and negotiate multi-territory, complex and innovative deals and ventures with the commercial team predominantly for sales but also across acquisitions.
- Working across high value, multi-territory and global SVOD licensing (eg Netflix, Amazon).
- Assisting the VP for acquisitions with third party and FM Group content acquisition contracting and queries .
- Ensuring all contracts are turned around expeditiously by liaising both internally and with licensees.
- Establish and successfully maintain excellent direct relationships with sales teams, licensees and legal representatives of C & I's commercial partners globally.
- Ability to prioritise and manage workload efficiently taking into consideration different time zones.
- Dealing promptly with general queries and/ or requests from sales and production executives, internal support teams and licensees relating to contractual or business affairs issues.
- Tracking all contracts and updating WIP lists.
- Able to assess when upwards referral is required and ensure more senior team members are kept across matters when required.
- Assist senior members of Legal Team/Head of Legal in managing resolution of litigation and commercial disputes (i.e. Drafting C&D Letters, research).
- Assist other members of the European team when at capacity
- Developing relationships across the Legal and Business Affairs teams of the Fremantle Group and RTL group as applicable.
- Research and analysis of programmes or legal topics on a case by case basis.
- Keeping up to date with changes and developments in relevant laws and distribution practices in a fast moving media sales environment.
- Maintaining efficient filing in line with department's filing policies for all contracts and correspondence.
- Other ad-hoc duties as required by the department.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Qualified lawyer or legal/ business affairs executive.
- Commercial experience in a media environment, ideally for a distributor or broadcaster/platform.
- Pro-active and a problem-solver able to offer effective solutions to legal and commercial issues.
- Collaborative team player who can also work autonomously and use initiative.
- Ability to work well under pressure and to meet tight deadlines.
- Good (level appropriate) drafting and negotiation skills.
- Highly organised administrator with strong time management skills.
- Excellent attention to detail.
- Good communication and interpersonal skills, resilient.
- Flexibility.
- International and cultural awareness and sensitivity.
- Computer Literate (MS Office, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.)
Desirable Skills & Experience
- Knowledge of the global TV distribution and format licensing business including digital distribution and home entertainment.
- Data Rights Management System experience
Our benefits include: generous company pension, summer Fridays, audience tickets, hybrid working, employee assistance programme, access to free courses and training, local discounts, cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan, and volunteer days.
Fremantle is part of RTL Group, a global leader across broadcast, content and digital, itself a division of the international media giant Bertelsmann.
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