Assistant Vice President, Legal

WHY JOIN US?

• We practice a vibrant & energetic office culture.

• We provide opportunities for career advancement within the company.

• Good performance is always rewarded accordingly.

“It's our people that make Astro Malaysia’s leading entertainment company. We are an inclusive employer, to enable everyone at Astro to be their best. We embrace differences – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products/services and our community. We also understand and appreciate that diversity is a driver of creativity and innovation, which will make our business more competitive, compelling and profitable.”

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

The lawyer in this role will lead in providing legal advice and managing legal risks across a broad range of matters to a few key business units including production, distribution,  licensing, investment, collaboration, merchandising and monetisation of tv, digital and radio content, movie, music, talent, intellectual property.

The person must demonstrate a strong understanding and keen interest in broadcast, streaming, audio network, media, film, music, talent, news, sports, advertising, digital publications commercial and intellectual property issues and also possess an ability to distil complex technical and legal issues into concise and accurate drafting.

What You’ll Do:

Content Acquisition and Licensing on Multi-Platform

• Draft, review and negotiate content acquisition and licensing agreements for TV, digital and radio platforms including high-value program license agreements with international Hollywood studios, sports rights holders, and independent distributors.
• Structure complex rights packages ensuring optimal utilization across traditional linear broadcast, Catch-Up, all forms of Video-on-Demand (VOD) including SVOD (Subscription VOD), AVOD (Advertising VOD), FVOD (Free VOD) and TVOD (Transactional VOD), Pay-Per-View.
• Advise on digital rights management (DRM) obligations, geo-filtering compliance, and platform security requirements to protect licensed content from piracy.

Content Investment, Production, Distribution and Monetisation

• Draft, review and negotiate end-to-end investment and/or production agreements for commissioning and commissioned content including original series, films, and variety shows, ensuring clear chain-of-title.

• Oversee agreements for scriptwriters, directors, showrunners, actors/actresses/contestants, and crew.

• Draft, review and negotiate Intellectual Property Exploitation agreements with all necessary ancillary exploitation rights, including merchandising, adaptation, format syndication, advertising and sponsorship, local, regional and international distribution rights, social media and clip rights.

• Draft, review and negotiate content distribution and monetisation agreements with third party licensees.

Regulatory, Content Compliance & Censorship

• Advise internal business units on copyright law, media regulations, communications and multimedia law, and data privacy, which includes adherence to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA), Content Code, and MCMC licensing conditions. It would also include navigating guidelines enforced by the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) and the Film Censorship Board (LPF) for traditional TV and cinematic releases.

Talent / Artiste Management

• Handle engagement agreements, talent management contracts, loan out and endorsement negotiations.

Music Rights Clearance

• Manage complex music synchronization, master rights clearances, public performance licences (e.g., with MACP, PPM, RPM, composer, lyricist) and handle music licensing negotiations.

Dispute Resolution

• Coordinate with external counsel and assist in managing content-related disputes, defamation or copyright infringement claims.

Others

• Able to assist the immediate supervisor/head of practice group/Director, Legal in managing piracy matters end-to-end including target identification, working with external counsel to obtain convictions in civil proceedings.
• Present medium complexity legal concepts in a manner that is easy to understand and aids decision making, showing an ability to distil complex issues into concise summaries.
• With strong communications skills, build effective relationships with colleagues within both the Legal department and the wider business, developing trust and rapport at all levels.
• Work with the rest of the Legal department in providing a legal and regulatory framework for the business to operate within, by developing and disseminating compliance policies, template and precedents and also by providing legal training sessions.
• Bring attention to detail coupled with strong analytical and commercial drafting skills.
• Prioritise and plan effectively, demonstrating proactive and good organisational skills.
• Demonstrate commitment, integrity and commercially minded judgment when presenting merits of transactions/risks exposure to Business Units.
• Adapt quickly, coordinate, prioritise and plan effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities under strict commercial deadlines.
• Demonstrate a passion for TV, digital, radio, movies, film, music, talent and technology to help bring the best content and innovation to Astro customers.
• Interpret and apply laws and regulations, formulate and issue legal opinions to ensure that the interests of the company are safeguarded at all times.

REQUIREMENTS:

Who You Are:

• Degree in Law.
• Professionally Qualified (CLP or equivalent) and/or called to the Malaysian Bar.
• Excellent up-to-date understanding of contract law, telecommunications law, and related media laws, corporate commercial laws, intellectual property laws, privacy laws, dispute and litigation process.
• Excellent drafting, analytical, legal and research skills.
• 7-12 years of legal practice experience in a highly regarded law firm or in-house equivalent (preferably in the field of media, film, broadcast related work).
• Ability to work under pressure and enjoys working in a high pressure and dynamic environment.
• Ability to negotiate contracts and find solutions in deadlocks.
• Good communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Excellent communication (both verbal and written) skills.
• Digital and AI tools savvy, eagerness to learn, willingness to experiment, demonstrate intellectual curiosity, thirst for knowledge, adaptable, good understanding in the workings of social media.
• Familiar with and competent user of Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel and Powerpoint.

Other Competencies:

Time Management and Organisation

• To ensure files under portfolio are organised in an orderly manner and impart expertise to the business units in a timely manner.

Planning

• Understanding and prioritising ‘business as usual’ matters with ‘critical matters’ without compromising the business unit’s expectations.
• Ability to adapt quickly, coordinate, prioritise and plan effectively in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities. 

Problem Solving

• Positive and pro-active attitude, with focus on creatively solving issues and problems for positive outcome all round. 

Communication

• A team player with strong communications skills, build effective relationships with colleagues within both the Legal department and the wider business, developing trust and rapport at all levels.

Strategic Thinking

• To assist immediate supervisor/head of practice group/Director, Legal in complex deals.
• Offer customer focused advice and solutions that add value and meet the company’s objectives.

It's our people that make Astro Malaysia’s leading entertainment company. We are an inclusive employer, to enable everyone at Astro to be their best. We embrace differences – we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products/services and our community. We also understand and appreciate that diversity is a driver of creativity and innovation, which will make our business more competitive, compelling and profitable.