SVP, Business & Legal Affairs

Wonder Project•Beverly Hills, CA

About The Position

This role requires a sophisticated understanding of independent and studio film and television finance structures, distribution models, and the legal framework that underpins the foregoing. The ideal candidate will be equally comfortable negotiating complex multi-party agreements, structuring production financing, negotiating and drafting distribution licensing and acquisition agreements, and providing strategic counsel on business matters. This role will be responsible for independently guiding all business and legal affairs aspects of scripted and unscripted television, from development through delivery and distribution, including advising on production and guild issues as well as providing business and legal support to the broader Wonder Project studio and streaming service (e.g., working with marketing, finance, product, HR, and other departments to provide information and advice on a regular basis). This role will report to the EVP, Business & Legal Affairs and Corporate.

Requirements

12+ years’ experience in the feature and television business affairs at a film and television production company or motion picture and television studio.
Experience with international co-productions and financing structures, relationships with sales agents, distributors, and financiers, and familiarity with streaming distribution models and evolving digital platforms are all valued assets.
Strong and effective negotiating skills, excellent drafting skills, and solid relationships within the talent community.
Ability to handle all aspects of feature business and legal affairs with minimal supervision, including day-to-day production operations.
Working knowledge of the SAG, WGA and DGA basic agreements and the AFTRA Code.
Significant experience drafting and negotiating general business contracts.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Strong analytical capabilities and judgment.
Ability to work proactively, independently and reliably under tight timeframes in a fast-paced environment.
Curiosity and willingness to tackle matters outside area of expertise.
JD and bar admission in CA.

Responsibilities

Negotiate and draft agreements for the development, finance, production, delivery, distribution, acquisition and licensing for the studio and Wonder’s streaming service, production agreements, talent deals, financing documents, and distribution arrangements.
Structure and negotiate co-production agreements, pre-sales, gap financing, tax incentive transactions, and other financing mechanisms critical to film and television production and distribution.
Negotiate and draft all aspects of entertainment agreements with talent agents, lawyers, and other parties (including profit participation, rights agreements, co-production, and overall/first look deals) in direct liaison with the relevant stakeholders within the studio.
Interface with the following departments on a day-to-day basis: Creative, production, post-production and delivery, channel, product, marketing, finance, and contract administration.
Review budgets and other financial data associated with the development and production of film and television programming.
Work closely with internal business and creative executives to implement best practices, formulate new processes, maintain accurate project tracking, retain project documentation, and create and revise agreement templates.
Oversee production legal and clearance issues during production and delivery.
Review chain-of-title, underlying rights, and clearances.
Work with production teams to ensure legal paperwork is in compliance with corporate requirements and assisting in any production related queries that arise.
Work alongside and directly communicate with third party production companies.
Managing relationships with sales agents, distributors, financiers, and production partners while advising on rights acquisitions, chain of title issues, and clearance matters.
Provide strategic guidance on distribution strategy across theatrical, streaming, and ancillary markets, ensure compliance with guild agreements and industry standards, and supervise outside counsel when necessary.
Partner with the EVP, Business & Legal Affairs and Corporate and outside counsel on complex legal matters arising from transactions.
Collaborate with the Finance and Business Development teams on deal economics, participation structures, and profit definitions.
Oversee contract administration processes and ensure compliance with contractual obligations across the content portfolio.
Identify and mitigate business and legal risk across the studio's transactional activity.
Support M&A, joint venture, and strategic partnership activity as needed.