Senior Legal Counsel, Global Studios

Job Description

Global has ambitious plans to become the most successful and influential podcast business in the UK and one of the leading players worldwide, building video and audio IP that lives across Global Player and other platforms both in the UK and internationally. To realise this, it has launched Global Studios - a cutting edge division offering creators a world class environment for the shows they develop and produce, with everything they need to succeed across production, hosting, distribution, marketing and monetisation, all backed by Global's scale and expertise. Having recently taken a majority stake in The Fellas Studios and The Overlap, Global is building from a position of strength and investing to supercharge the division's output.

This is an exciting role supporting Global Studios - the home of Global's market leading podcast network, including Global's owned and operated podcast brands (such as The News Agents) as well as The Fellas Studios' portfolio (such as The Fellas and Saving Grace) - alongside Global's wider presenter talent engagements and commercial activity. You will be the go to legal advisor for podcast on boarding, high profile presenter engagements, commercial deals, and the monetisation of both audio & video content across multiple platforms (including via DAX), playing a key role in helping Global deliver on its strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Podcast & Presenter Agreements (40%): Lead legal negotiations and draft, review and advise on agreements with agencies, podcast/presenter talent and production companies across Global's owned and operated podcasts, the Fellas Studios portfolio and Global's presenters, navigating related issues and disputes.
• Monetisation & Distribution (30%): Draft and advise on commercial deals for the monetisation, and distribution of Global's owned podcasts, the Fellas Studios podcasts and third party podcasts through Global's industry leading DAX platform and other streaming, broadcast and distribution partners. Advise on content and music licensing arrangements, TV option agreements for narrative podcasts and new product propositions, and work with the technology and commercial teams on emerging monetisation models.
• Talent & Commercial Support (20%): Support Global's broader commercial activity including supplier, sponsorship, IP and content licensing agreements, as well as consumer facing terms and conditions, and provide support with due diligence processes as well as post acquisition legal support as necessary. Provide clear, commercially focused advice on content campaigns and consumer propositions, ensuring compliance with relevant regulation (including consumer rights law) and protecting Global's reputation.
• Governance and ways of working (10%): Develop and maintain a suite of templates, guidance and training across the team's deal types to keep paperwork fit for purpose and to improve consistency, efficiency and risk management. Take ownership of your matters end to end and manage priorities effectively while aligning with the wider legal team's approach. Embrace and support the use of legal technology and AI tools to improve efficiency, consistency and quality of output, whilst applying appropriate judgement and governance.

What You'll Love About This Role

Think Big: Work with some of the UK's most prominent podcast and presenter talent, influencing high profile deals that reach millions across the UK and international markets.

Own It: Act as the go to legal expert for Global's podcast, talent, and monetisation strategy - leading complex contracts from concept to close.

Keep it Simple: Deliver commercially savvy, clear legal advice to stakeholders across Global.

Better Together: Collaborate closely with creative, commercial and operational teams across Global Studios, Broadcasting & Content and DAX - becoming a trusted advisor in key business decisions as Global Studios scales in the UK and internationally.

What Success Looks Like

In your first few months, you'll have:

• Built strong relationships with key stakeholders across Global Studios, the Fellas Studios team, the wider podcast and presenter community and the DAX commercial team.
• Developed a clear understanding of Global Studios' commercial model, priorities and risk profile, and taken the legal lead on new podcast and high profile presenter deals.
• Delivered practical, solutions focused advice that enables campaigns, partnerships and monetisation deals to move forward confidently.
• Contributed to improving templates, processes and ways of working to drive efficiency and consistency across the team.

What You'll Need

• Legal Expertise: 6+ years' PQE as a qualified solicitor (flexible depending on experience) with strong experience in podcasting, media, talent, IP, digital content distribution, advertising and commercial agreements, gained in private practice and/or in house. Experience in music licensing, technology and digital agreements is preferable, but not essential.
• Commercial & media expertise: A commercial mindset with deep understanding of the media, entertainment and digital audio industries, and the ability to draft and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements. Experience of consumer facing terms and consumer rights law is desirable.
• Strong drafting skills: Excellent drafting and negotiation skills across commercial agreements, with the ability to balance legal risk and commercial objectives.
• Pragmatic, solutions led approach: Able to provide clear, concise and commercial advice in a fast paced environment, and to step into unfamiliar legal territory when needed.
• Stakeholder influence: Confident working with senior stakeholders, able to explain risk clearly and support decision making without blocking progress.
• Organisation & Prioritisation: Strong matter management skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects and competing priorities.
• Drive & Versatility: Energy and enthusiasm for working in a fast paced, creative environment, with a willingness to embrace legal technology and AI tools to improve efficiency and consistency of output.
• Corporate & transactional experience: Experience supporting corporate deals - including due diligence, post completion workstreams and integration activity - is desirable but not essential.