Job Description
COUNSEL, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The Intellectual Property team's TRA©K-IP Group is hiring a Counsel who will be responsible for researching, performing legal analysis, and providing advice to SPE's many divisions regarding the company's rights in its properties, including but not limited to remake/sequel rights, live stage rights, and ancillary rights. The analyses will require knowledge of applicable copyright concepts and interpretation of numerous types of entertainment agreements, including acquisition, co-financing, co-production, multi-picture, and talent agreements. The Counsel will be responsible for drafting legal memos and emails and researching, entering, updating and managing data in various systems used by the department.
The TRA©K-IP Group serves clients across SPE's divisions around the world, including: motion picture and television production and acquisitions; local language productions and acquisitions; Consumer Products and Brand Strategy and Global Partnerships; and the domestic and international sales/distribution groups.
Responsibilities
Research and determine the company's remake/sequel and ancillary rights and associated restrictions and obligations in its currently owned properties:
• Research and locate all relevant agreements
• Review, analyze, and prepare summaries of relevant agreements, including literary rights acquisition, co-production, finance, distribution, network license, digital rights, and talent agreements
• Apply all relevant copyright and collective bargaining (e.g., Writer's Guild of America) principles to the analysis
• Draft memos and emails to clients
• Enter information, as needed, into relevant company databases
As needed, the Counsel also may be responsible for analyses and advice regarding a broad range of other rights, including distribution rights, the right to collect copyright royalties, and chain of title issues.
The Counsel must learn business practices and legal issues relevant to this work and proactively communicate with supervisors and clients to resolve issues.
Qualifications
• Law Degree (e.g., JD)
• Member in Good Standing of the California Bar (including as registered in-house counsel)
• Experience with entertainment industry contracts strongly preferred, including experience evaluating chain of title, underlying rights, distribution rights, and talent rights and restrictions
• Basic understanding of copyright rights strongly preferred (through course work and/or experience)
• Ability to analyze, interpret and summarize complex contract language and communicate complex issues to business, legal, and creative executives in a succinct and clear manner
• Excellent analytical and issue-spotting skills
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to pay attention to detail
• Excellent judgment and common sense
• Strong organizational skills, ability to manage project flow and work processes, and attendant follow-up and follow-through
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work cohesively in a collaborative environment
• Ability to work independently, prioritize work, and meet deadlines
• Ability to be flexible and work well in a fast-paced environment where priorities are subject to revision based on business needs
• Skill in the use of various databases for research, data entry and data management
* Sony Pictures - CA - Culver City Area & Studios
Jobcode: Reference SBJ-rbezqk-3-237-87-69-42 in your application.