Senior Counsel, Legal, Warner Bros Pictures

Job Description

This role is part of a team accountable for production legal work on theatrical feature films produced in the UK and Europe for Warner Bros. Pictures, New Line Cinema, and DC Studios. You'll work closely with the Feature Film Legal Department in Burbank and production executives based at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden.
You'll assist with the legal needs of film productions, ensuring compliance with union agreements, immigration rules, and Warner Bros. Discovery's legal standards. This hybrid role requires part-time presence in the office to facilitate teamwork with clients, team members, and production personnel.
Your Role Accountabilities…
• Negotiate and draft UK film production agreements (e.g., talent, crew, locations, chain-of-title).
• Advise producers, casting directors, and production executives on structuring talent deals and union compliance.
• Liaise with agents and legal representatives to finalize contracts.
• Review and advise on deal terms for senior Heads of Department.
• Draft and negotiate commercial agreements required during production.
• Manage visa and sponsorship eligibility for non-UK personnel, including processing and coordination with immigration advisors.
• Conduct legal due diligence for funding incentives and compliance with anti-bribery regulations.
• Supervise and guide foreign counsel for productions outside the UK, ensuring local agreements align with company policies.
• Assist with legal documentation for rebate applications and international production compliance.
• Facilitate department projects including VFX, research, and general legal assistance across all stages of production.

Qualifications & Experience…
• Qualified Solicitor with a minimum of 5 years PQE in film or television drama production.
• Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to engage tactfully with executives and creative personnel.
• Proven negotiation skills with a flexible and adaptive approach.
• Ability to handle complex legal issues proactively and with a sense of ownership.
• Strong critical thinking and capability to work under tight deadlines.
• Team-focused mindset with cross-functional working experience.
• Willingness to engage with legal matters outside of core expertise.
Hybrid Working - This role is advertised as a Hybrid work model, that combines remote and in-office work, following our current company policy and to be agreed with your Line Manager. Subject to any applicable laws, WBD / your Line Manager reserves the right to change this working agreement where this is essential to business needs and upon reasonable notice to you.

Championing Inclusion at WBD
Warner Bros. Discovery embraces the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit, regardless of sex, gender identity, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, disability or any other category protected by law.
If you're a qualified candidate with a disability and you require adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process, please visit our accessibility page for instructions to submit your request.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-4k5x6z-35-215-184-102-42 in your application.