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The Role
Leads legal and business affairs for Avalon's UK factual and non-scripted television slate. Responsibilities include negotiating and drafting development, financing, production, talent, distribution, and co-production agreements; advising on copyright, clearance, defamation, privacy, duty of care, and OFCOM compliance; supervising legal team members; maintaining production templates and protocols; and supporting talent management, live events, corporate, data protection, trademark, and intellectual property matters.
Summary Generated by Built In
Senior Legal Counsel,Non-Scripted (Maternity Cover)
Avalon is a multi-award-winning talent management, television production and live promotion group with offices in London, Los Angeles and New York. Avalon, Artists Rights Group and The Agency together represent a diverse and distinctive roster of artists including actors, comedians, writers and directors, among them Academy Award, BAFTA, Emmy, Tony and Olivier Award-winners.
Our core values help define our purpose and are at the essence of what we do and shape our culture.
We are always on the lookout for exceptional talent. Avalon is committed to creating a diverse environment and proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage applications from individuals from underrepresented groups. Regardless of your race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, or veteran status, you are welcome at Avalon.
THE TEAM
The Legal and Business Affairs team at Avalon support all of Avalon’s various divisions, including talent management, TV production, distribution and live promotions, as well as overseeing legal and regulatory compliance for the Avalon Group in the UK and the US.
The team consists of seven lawyers, and prides itself on being collaborative, commercially astute and effective, with a substantial combined knowledge of all areas of the entertainment industry and a passion for the same.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- To be the lead lawyer working across all facets of the UK factual & factual entertainment television business at Avalon, where you will be expected to look after the slate independently and with a high degree of autonomy in collaboration with the applicable senior management teams (whom you will be expected to advise, and form an effective team with – particularly in the negotiation of key deals);
- To provide legal and business affairs support to all internal clients in a timely and accurate manner, always taking into account business priorities and strategies;
- To supervise and oversee other members of the legal & business affairs team in respect of their work on the factual & factual entertainment television slate;
- To proactively collaborate with all departments within Avalon, including Development, Distribution, Talent Management, Publicity, Finance, Corporate, Digital & Marketing, Press and Production;
- Whilst this role will be focused on factual and factual entertainment television development, financing and production (including compliance) – all members of the legal & business affairs team are expected to be able to work across a wide range of matters in support of all the Avalon businesses (as further described below) as and where required; and
- When required, to provide legal and business affairs support and advice to all Avalon group companies in the UK, including in respect of the following: television production, distribution of content and ancillary rights, live tours and events, theatre, talent management, publishing, marketing and corporate.
SPECIFIC DUTIES
- The negotiation and drafting of all types of agreements in respect of the development, financing and production of factual & factual entertainment content - with a focus on production financing (with commissioning broadcasters, co-producers, third party financiers or otherwise) and key talent agreements (format originators, presenters, key contributors);
- To advise on and undertake programme clearance (including advising on copyright clearance and fair-dealing issues) and programme compliance work (including on a wide variety of factual television compliance issues – such as defamation, contempt, privacy, pre-litigation correspondence, right to reply, duty of care, OFCOM compliance, advising on relevant regulation and ensuring best practice is being followed in respect of the production of all non-scripted programming at Avalon (to include working closely with production in producing and refining all appropriate production protocols and processes);
- Negotiating and drafting all forms of agreements relating to the development, financing and production of stand-up comedy specials and scripted/un-scripted comedic entertainment content (including in respect of the commissioning and financing of international co-productions and key talent deals);
- Ensuring all production documentation, templates and processes for non-scripted production are up to the required standards, current and effective;
- Advising on distribution queries arising in respect of non-scripted programming relating to the exploitation of rights, holdbacks, clearances and onward reporting;
- Where required, supporting the talent management business with the negotiation of talent agreements on non-scripted shows and providing assistance with all matters relating to the management of our clients;
- Where required, providing legal and business affairs support in respect of live comedy tours, theatre and events promoted and produced by Avalon and/or corporate work undertaken by our clients;
- Where required, providing legal support on matters such as client reporting, debt recovery, data protection, trademarks and other forms of brand and IP protection, corporate compliance and general corporate and commercial work in support of all the various Avalon businesses.
ABOUT YOU
- Significant experience in non-scripted television legal and business affairs;
- A strong working knowledge of the various broadcaster terms of trade and excellent in-depth understanding of the key commercial elements involved when financing production;
- Expertise in all areas of programme compliance (including production protocols and processes);
- Effective negotiator;
- Expertise in contract and intellectual property law;
- Great attention to detail and technical drafting ability;
- Ability to work as a proactive and collaborative team member with a constructive and flexible approach in a creative as well as a legal and commercial environment;
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with ability to grow and maintain good working relationships both internally and externally;
- Ability to interpret and clearly and concisely explain complex legal and contractual issues to non-lawyers;
- Pro-active business orientated approach;
- Ability to deal with a variety of matters at once, managing and prioritising effectively in order to meet deadlines;
- Experience of effectively supervising and overseeing the work of other team members;
- Passion for non-scripted content.
WHAT WE OFFER
- Cycle to work scheme
- Income protection scheme
- Life assurance
- Pension scheme
- Employee assistance programme
- Competitive holiday allowance
- Season ticket loans
- Monthly staff drinks, seasonal parties, tickets for our Live gigs, Monday breakfasts and more
Skills Required
- Significant experience in non-scripted television legal and business affairs
- Strong working knowledge of broadcaster terms of trade
- In-depth understanding of commercial elements involved in financing production
- Expertise in programme compliance, including production protocols and processes
- Effective negotiation skills
- Expertise in contract and intellectual property law
- Strong attention to detail and technical drafting ability
- Proactive, collaborative, constructive, and flexible approach
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to explain complex legal and contractual issues to non-lawyers
- Proactive, business-oriented approach
- Ability to manage multiple matters, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines
- Experience supervising and overseeing other team members
- Passion for non-scripted content
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The Company
What We Do
Avalon is a global, integrated talent management and production company representing a diverse and distinctive client roster, including actors and writers. The company specializes in the production and distribution of comedic and dramatic television shows, operating as a brand management entity that manages talent in the entertainment industry while producing high-quality content for global audiences.
