Senior Manager, Business & Legal Affairs

About the Role & Team 

The Disney+ Original Productions Team works across the development and commissioning of original content for the Disney+ streaming service. We have an opportunity available to join our team and are looking for a counsel with significant experience within a broadcaster, studio or production company working on television and film production.   

The role spans both scripted and non-scripted content, working with award winning producers and quality talent and will primarily focus on ensuring that the development and production of content aligns with Disney’s legal and policy requirements.  

Collaboration is key, and you will be working closely with Finance, Production Management and the Creative team as well as Business & legal Affairs counterparts across EMEA, to ensure commercially sound, legally compliant and operationally effective productions. 

In addition, you will establish relationships and liaise with lawyers across the Business including certain specialist areas of Disney, such as music, intellectual property, employment, property and labour relations. 

What You Will Do 

Negotiation & Deal-Making 

• Lead negotiations of development, production, co-production, acquisition, talent and underlying rights agreements (including book option/purchase, format license and other rights acquisition agreements) 

• Represent Disney in negotiations with producers, studios, talent representatives, distributors and licensors 

• Structure complex commercial arrangements balancing creative, legal, financial and operational considerations; develop negotiation strategies and deal frameworks aligned with business objectives 

• Review, draft and negotiate contractual documentation and commercial terms 

Legal & Risk Management 

• Provide legal advice on development and production matters, including chain of title, intellectual property, production policies and relevant Guild/Union agreements 

• Conduct contractual risk assessment and recommend mitigation strategies 

• Ensure compliance with Disney policies, legal standards and approved precedents 

• Apply strong commercial and legal judgment throughout 

Stakeholder Partnership 

• Serve as primary business/legal affairs partner to Creative and Production Management teams;  

• Partner closely with Legal Affairs throughout drafting, negotiation and execution 

• Contract with and manage relationships with third-party production companies 

• Liaise with Programme Compliance teams as required 

• Collaborate with Business/Legal Affairs, Finance, Production Management, Creative and DTC teams 

• Work alongside UK, US and EMEA counterparts to align processes and practices 

• Refer and discuss matters with specialist teams (music, IP, employment, disputes, tax, production incentives, property and labour relations) as needed 

Process, Governance & Compliance 

• Advise on and review contracting templates and procedures with production companies 

• Oversee chain-of-title, talent agreements and other production-related contractual matters, including supervising third-party contractual activity (writers, talent, production agreements) 

• Manage deal tracking, approvals, reporting and information management, maintaining the integrity of deal management systems and records 

• Drive process improvements and adoption of best practices across the region; ensure policies and procedures are reviewed regularly and remain fit for purpose 

• Proactively monitor legal, regulatory and industry developments in Poland and, where relevant, EMEA; share updates with the business and advise on their impact 

• Perform other related business and administrative duties as assigned 

Required Qualifications & Skills  

• Admitted as a solicitor in Poland. (5+ years PQE) 

• Proficient in Polish and English (written and spoken)

• Prior industry experience within a media law firm, production company, broadcaster and/ or studio, ideally working on various genres of programming.  

• Experience across all contract negotiations in relation to television and/ or film development and production. 

• Capable of advising on and negotiating different commissioning structures and programme financing models. 

• Strong prior experience of advising on clearance, intellectual property and media law matters.  

• Knowledge and/ or experience of Polish tax incentives, preferred. 

• Self-starter with positive can- do attitude who can work well within a close-knit team. 

• Collaborating with and managing multiple internal and external stakeholders, no matter the situation and working as One Disney.  

• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills. 

• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines. 

• Methodical and meticulous attention to detail. 

• Strong communication skills. 

• This role will require limited business travel.