Principal Counsel – Distribution

Job Description

• Work closely with senior attorneys and directly with business units on drafting, negotiating and closing distribution agreements for Company content, including first-run series, off-network series, motion pictures and first-run syndicated content to US and Canadian linear programming services and non-transactional on-demand platforms.
• Work with the Canadian sales team and TWDC distribution business operations and strategy group to structure, draft and negotiate channel carriage agreements with Canadian licensees.
• Work independently and manage deals with minimal supervision while ensuring Company’s policies, procedures, intellectual property rights and other key concepts are properly addressed.
• Maintain a clear understanding of and manage various rights issues related to the dissemination of content over multiple distribution platforms, including both traditional and emerging media distribution platforms.
• Ensure compliance with existing agreements, including exclusivities and windowing restrictions.
• Coordinate with Company subject matter experts (e.g., tax, music, IP, content protection, litigation, participations, and government relations) to address issues arising from distribution deals.
• Establish, update and maintain processes and templates to create and maintain efficiencies.
• Minimum 6 years of work as an attorney at a law firm or in a media company;
• Law degree from a top-tier, accredited law school;
• Admission to California State Bar Association or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House;
• Exposure to and an understanding of matters relating to television and motion picture content distribution;
• Exposure to and an understanding of matters relating to intellectual property, particularly copyright law;
• Exposure to drafting complex content distribution agreements for both linear and on-demand platforms is preferred but not required;
• Ability to work independently or under limited supervision;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Proven client relationship skills;
• Must be team-oriented and have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a solution oriented approach to legal issues;
• Self-motivated, with outstanding interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate complex concepts and issues effectively with colleagues, counterparts and management at all levels;
• Ability to multi-task and work quickly and collaboratively under tight deadlines
• Prefer working knowledge of Canadian laws and regulations relevant to content distribution via various media, including those pertaining to the distribution of US-originating content.
• Law degree from an accredited law school
• Admission to California State Bar Association or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel

legalaffairs The Walt Disney Company is a diversified, international family entertainment and media organization whose operations include theme parks and resorts, filmed entertainment including motion pictures and television shows, home video products, records, consumer products, a cruise line, radio and television stations, broadcast and cable networks, Internet offerings, and publishing activities.
This Corporate Legal group directly supports the Direct To Consumer and International division of the Walt Disney Company in the distribution of The Walt Disney Studios and Walt Disney Television Group content via traditional and new media platforms and direct to consumer offerings.
Job overview:
The team is seeking an experienced attorney to work in a fast-paced environment on innovative, high-profile, industry leading content distribution matters, including long term licensing agreements for motion picture and television series to sophisticated licensees in North America. We are looking for a bright, energetic, self-motivated and reliable person who can work closely with senior attorneys and business executives and exercise discretion and the highest level of ethics in connection with confidential information. This role will be responsible for drafting, negotiating and closing license agreements for the distribution of the Company’s motion pictures and television content in the US and Canada which may include working on license agreements for basic cable programming services, broadcast networks and local broadcast stations, advertising supported and subscription based video on demand platforms in the United States and Canada as well as pay television services in Canada. In addition, the role will include providing legal support and advice to the distribution group and participate in other legal department initiatives. This person will ideally have experience in media distribution with proven ability to work independently.
Responsibilities :

• Law degree from an accredited law school
• Admission to California State Bar Association or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel

• Minimum 6 years of work as an attorney at a law firm or in a media company;
• Law degree from a top-tier, accredited law school;
• Admission to California State Bar Association or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House;
• Exposure to and an understanding of matters relating to television and motion picture content distribution;
• Exposure to and an understanding of matters relating to intellectual property, particularly copyright law;
• Exposure to drafting complex content distribution agreements for both linear and on-demand platforms is preferred but not required;
• Ability to work independently or under limited supervision;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Proven client relationship skills;
• Must be team-oriented and have the ability to work in a fast-paced environment with a solution oriented approach to legal issues;
• Self-motivated, with outstanding interpersonal skills, and ability to communicate complex concepts and issues effectively with colleagues, counterparts and management at all levels;
• Ability to multi-task and work quickly and collaboratively under tight deadlines