Director, Business & Legal Affairs, APAC

Universal Products & Experiences (UP&E) globally drives expansion of the company's intellectual properties, franchises, characters and stories through innovative physical and digital products, content, and consumer experiences. Games, fashion, and toys only scratch the surface of ways we take Universal stories and characters from the screen and put them into fans' daily lives around the globe. Along with franchise brand management, UP&E’s core businesses include Consumer Products and Games and Digital Platforms. We take properties such as Jurassic World, Minions, Back to the Future, and Gabby’s Dollhouse from our creative content engines like Universal Pictures, Illumination and DreamWorks Animation, and partner with best-in-class category leaders to create amazing products for our fans. Universal Products & Experiences is part of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. https://www.universalproductsexperiences.com/

Universal Products & Experiences is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce of the highest calibre. We are committed to fostering equitable and inclusive environments that honour the experiences, perspectives, and uniqueness of each colleague. 

The UP&E Business & Legal Affairs team is seeking an experienced, motivated, and collaborative in-house lawyer to support the Consumer Products business across the Asia Pacific region (APAC).  The role will look after contract needs related to IP consumer product and publishing licensing agreements, retail/marketing campaigns, design asset creation and other services arrangements and provide business & legal affairs support to commercial/category and creative teams across UP&E APAC offices in Sydney, Tokyo & Seoul. You will work closely with cross-functional partners in compliance, tax, IP enforcement, accounting/finance and other business and legal stakeholders located in Universal’s APAC, Los Angeles and London offices as you work across a range of licensing and legal issues.  This role will report to the VP, Business & Legal Affairs based in London.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise and coordinate with category management, marketing, product development, creative, and finance executives at all levels of seniority to identify and resolve business and legal issues (including issues relating to contract interpretation), mitigate risk, and provide ongoing counsel, advice and support.
• Draft, manage and negotiate a high volume of intellectual property license and service agreements associated with the licensing, distribution, promotion and marketing of toys, apparel, books and other consumer goods.
• Management of junior staff, fostering training and development whilst concurringly managing an independent workload.
• Supervise and review contracts and related legal work product generated by the Business & Legal Affairs team, aligning priorities and ensuring deadlines are met.
• Collaborate with NBCUniversal tax, compliance, IP/trademark, controllership/finance, litigation and other internal teams on a range of issues.
• Advise internal stakeholders on new business propositions, undertake research and identify potential issues and risks.
• Create ad-hoc contracts and legal documents as business requirements dictate.
• Assist with royalty audits, interpreting contractual language and finalising settlement agreements.
• Perform additional duties and manage special projects as needed.

• Eligible to work in Australia
• Qualified to practice law in Australia with 8+ years’ PQE or equivalent (US and UK qualifications will also be considered).
• Significant post-qualification commercial/transactional business & legal affairs experience (with IP licensing experience preferred); ideally as an in-house lawyer advising commercial stakeholders at an entertainment studio, media or production company, or within a multinational toy, gaming, apparel or consumer goods organisation.
• Excellent drafting skills with meticulous attention to detail.
• Exceptional time management and organisational skills.
• Reliable and responsive team-player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Solid understanding of intellectual property, contract and commercial law with ability to advise on a range of issue, anticipating risks and possible outcomes.
• Strong leadership qualities with a track record of successfully supervising and/or mentoring lawyers/legal professionals.
• Sound independent judgement with ability to provide practical, accurate and timely legal advice.
• Persuasive influencing skills and able to establish strong working relationships with colleagues and business/legal stakeholders across various functions and countries.
• Sharp commercial acumen with ability to problem solve and find consensus.
• Adaptable, resilient and able to work collaboratively and proactively, often within tight timeframes in a fast-paced environment.

Additional Requirements:

• Hybrid Working: This role will generally be contributing from the Sydney office a minimum of three (3) days per week.
• This role requires occasional evening work to accommodate time zone differences and engage effectively with stakeholders in London.  Flexibility in working patterns for this role will be essential to ensure seamless collaboration amongst the teams.

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].