Legal and Business Affairs Manager

Job Description

Def Jam is the new frontline label under UMG, based in the UK. We do things differently. We pride ourselves on quality artists, a deep understanding of the culture that drives artist brands and a service of excellence. Our executives are best in class, through their expertise and relationships with their artists, managers and key stakeholders throughout the business both in the UK and internationally. We encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and proactive working style. We seek out the future leaders of tomorrow, with everyone connected working towards a shared vision.

Skills & Experience

Reporting to the MD , it is the responsibility of the Legal and Business Affairs Manager to work alongside all departments of the label to ensure they are providing legal guidance across all aspects of decision making within the business.

It is their responsibility to ensure that any process of decision making includes legal analysis. Alongside this they will be negotiating artist deals and visual deals.

Document Amendments & Artist Agreements
• To negotiate and document amendments to Artist agreements
• To use precedents and standard form agreements
• To notify relevant Company personnel on all pertinent terms of such agreements, in particular, any restrictions relating to the exploitation of recordings/videos

Be Administrative
• To manage the legal database (GRS), ensuring the data is accurate and up to date at all times and sending all signed contracts to archive
• To ensure compliance with all Group legal directives
• To negotiate and implement all other necessary agreements with third parties of whatever nature relevant to the Company
• To initiate, supervise and complete sample deals and featured artist arrangements
• To undertake any project and ad hoc work as directed by the Senior Director, Legal & Business Affairs including the research and drafting of legal correspondence and contracts

Be Collaborative
• To provide day to day business point of contact to managers and lawyers on behalf of the company
• To notify the Royalties Department and keep accurate records of all contracts entered into and any amendments made, supplying copies to them at all times
• To respond to the Royalties Department on any queries
• To supervise all arrangements with Producers, mixers and remixers in conjunction with outside legal counsel

Be Vigilant
• To refer any instances of alleged piracy or parallel imports to the BPI Audit Piracy Unit
• To draft and issue witness statements for piracy actions

Be Advisory
• To provide general legal advice to marketing, digital, video and promotions departments, for example, the viability and risk of the use of certain content for artwork, fan prize and competitions, social media channels and initiatives
• To provide legal and general business support on the new growth areas of the industry such as new technology/digital media (e.g. “virtual branding”, apps etc.), merchandising, “D2C” retail, branding and sponsorship

Personal Specification

Necessary
• Post qualification experience
• Proactive and articulate approach to work
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with an approachable manner
• Excellent time management skills
• Lateral thinking with the ability to grasp the overall picture of legal projects
• Highly organised and self-motivated, with an energetic and enthusiastic approach
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet tight deadlines
• Ability to work as part of a team and alone
• Ability to work on own initiative
• High attention to detail.
• Culturally Curious

Desirable
• Experience of working in a Legal & Business Affairs department or music solicitor’s company
• Experience in commercial, contracts and copyright work
• Excellent word, excel and other Microsoft packages and databases skills

Your Benefits
• Group Personal Pension Scheme (between 3% and 9%)
• Private Medical Insurance
• 25 paid days of annual leave
• Interest Free Season Ticket Loan available
• Holiday Purchase scheme
• Dental and Travel Insurance options
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Salary Sacrifice Cars
• Subsidised Gym Membership
• Employee Discounts (Reward Gateway)

Just So You Know…

The company presents this job description as a guide to the major areas and duties for which the jobholder is accountable. However, the business operates in an environment that demands change and the jobholder's specific responsibilities and activities will vary and develop. Therefore, the job description should be seen as indicative and not as a permanent, definitive and exhaustive statement.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-d23mmm-3-145-178-240-42 in your application.