Call for applications: Universal Music SA head of legal, business affairs and synchronisation

Main purpose of role

The head of legal is tasked with analysing and identifying the legal risks and implications of all of the business transactions as well as keeping the senior management in all departments of the business informed of developments in laws and regulations that potentially affect the business.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic counsel and advice to enable growth.
• Anticipate unique legal issues and “blind spots” that could have a material impact on the company’s compliance and risk management.
• Manage and advise on corporate governance, global expansion, compliance, IP, insurance, commercial agreements, employment law, regulatory matters, risk management, and general contract management.
• Own and manage all outside counsel relationships and legal budget.
• Build the risk management and compliance functions.
• Draft and negotiate client agreements.
• Draft and negotiate agreements with content providers for the licensing of proprietary content.
• Negotiating, drafting and arranging signatures of all artists, licence, joint venture, producer, featured artist recording, remix, override, P&D, e-P&D, and other relevant company-business agreements.
• Preparing any legal/advisory letters/notices/emails to customers, artists, licensee or business partners etc.
• Preparing and sending of cease-and-desist letters when required.
• Reviewing all external contracts, trading terms, documents etc. before signing off by company directors and arranging signatures if all is in order.
• Overseeing work and mentoring of the legal and business affairs assistant.
• Loading of contracts and linking repertoire on GRS.
• Clearance of international sample requests, drawing up agreements once approved and any function that is directly or indirectly related to local sample requests.
• Maintaining the Global Clearance System with respect to clearance of third-party compilations.
• Actively seeking sync opportunities and clients with the focus in South Africa and meeting annual targets.
• Maintaining relationships with ad agencies, sampling companies with products that can potentially be used for synchronisations and any and all activity that would secure synchronisation deals.
• Clearance of TV breaks.
• Engaging agencies for exclusive sync relationships including but not limited to attending networking sessions.
• Maintaining a sync database and ensuring the sync schedules are always updated.
• Supervising and managing the synchronisation department, ensuring the timeous and efficient clearance of synchronisation requests and meeting of revenue targets.

Person specification

• Understanding of the technological variants of digital asset ecosystems and frameworks strongly preferred.
• Proven track record in building, attracting and developing talent to their fullest potential.
• Strong ability to inspire and foster an inclusive and diverse culture.
• Flexibility and creativity in dealing with complex legal issues on a domestic and cross-border basis;
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communications skills.
• Excellent project management skills, well organised, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced work environment and manage numerous projects simultaneously under deadline pressure.
• A high-level of intellectual, professional and interpersonal agility and flexibility, combined with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with business clients and other legal department members.
• Team oriented, unquestioned ethics and integrity, sound judgement and high tolerance for ambiguity.
• Ability to cherish innovation, embrace change, and believe that there is always room for improvement. Environment and manage numerous projects simultaneously under deadline pressure.
• Having worked in the entertainment related industry.
• Proven capability to work autonomously, demonstrating the ability to make decisions.
• Ability to deal with difficult situations with tact and diplomacy.

Education

• More than eight years of experience practising IP law, entertainment law and compliance work.
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree and specialisation in IP or post graduate degree in IP or entertainment law.
• Admitted Attorney.

Interested applicants should apply here.

View the original call here.