Counsel

Overview

The Counsel will work with Business Affairs executives in the negotiation, structuring, and management of deals across the studio's scripted television content – spanning development, production, and distribution/licensing.This role focuses on negotiating deals and/or drafting agreements for the studio's projects, with a primary emphasis on content intended for sale and licensing to various third-party broadcasters, cable networks, and streaming platforms.

The Counsel will work closely with staff attorneys and cross-functional business teams. Strong transactional skills, a sophisticated understanding of the evolving content landscape, an ability to manage multiple high-stakes matters concurrently, and a great balance of legal expertise and business acumen are required. The role is critical in protecting the studio's interests, mitigating legal risk, and advising executives on strategic business and legal matters.

This is a full-time in-office role, reporting to the VP, Business Affairs.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to

Deal Negotiation & Structuring: Lead and/or assist the negotiating and structuring of a wide range of complex agreements essential to scripted television, including: Acquisitions: Rights/underlying property acquisitions (e.g., life rights, book options/purchases). Above-the-Line Talent: Writers, producers, directors, and principal cast, interfacing directly with talent representatives and agencies.Production & Co-Production: Domestic and international co-production agreements, financing, and production services agreements.Licensing & Distribution: Sale/license of studio-produced content to third-party platforms (e.g., streamers, networks) and international distributors

Relationship Management & Collaboration: Cultivate strong, communicative relationships with various internal business groups, outside counsel, studio executives, and talent reps

Strategic Business Counsel & Risk Management: Provide timely, practical, and strategic advice to Development, Production, and Finance teams regarding deal terms, legal risks, rights analysis, chain-of-title, intellectual property, clearances, and guild/union compliance (WGA, DGA, SAG-AFTRA)

Leverage broad, in-depth understanding of the entertainment industry to identify creative, win-win solutions that achieve business goals while mitigating risk

Policy & Procedure: Collaborate on foundational practices for the department, leading to more standardized, consistent practices around procedures, deal-making, and contracts

Rights Management & IP: Partner with internal IP and Rights Management teams, as well as outside counsel, on rights matters, copyright and trademark matters, and clearance issues

Capacity: Proven ability to manage a high volume of negotiations and transactions while prioritizing key deadlines across various business teams

Basic Qualifications

• 5+ years’ experience negotiating a wide range of deals and drafting agreements in scripted television development and production at a major production company, television studio, network, streamer, or top-tier entertainment law company
• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree from an accredited law school
• California Bar Membership (in good standing) or eligibility to register as in-house counsel in California
• Working knowledge of major WGA, DGA, and SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreements
• Meaningful experience with intellectual property law (copyright and trademark)
• Exemplary negotiation and drafting skills with a track record of structuring and closing complex, high-value deals

Additional Qualifications

Top-notch communication skills, judgment, and strategic analysis

Impressive interpersonal and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate skillfully and build trust with internal and external stakeholders at all levels

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent negotiations and projects concurrently

Ability to advise internal and external parties on business and legal affairs matters, resulting in collaborative, commercially sound outcomes

Founded in 1912, Paramount Pictures works with talented filmmakers to produce and distribute entertainment around the world. The film studio’s iconic logo has opened some of the most successful and beloved films in cinematic history, including timeless classics such as The Godfather, Chinatown, Forrest Gump and Titanic; and blockbuster franchises such as Star Trek, Transformers, Mission: Impossible and Sonic the Hedgehog.

Recent, innovative, break-out films such as The Wolf of Wall Street, Arrival, Rocketman, and A Quiet Place have added to Paramount’s film legacy. With a beautiful 65-acre lot in the heart of Hollywood, a worldwide network of offices and a culture of engagement, Paramount Pictures’ passionate employees ensure the studio continues to deliver creativity and innovation to a dynamic industry. Paramount Pictures controls a collection of some of the most powerful brands in filmed entertainment, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Animation, and Paramount Players.

PPC operations also include Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., and Paramount Studio Group. Paramount Pictures is a subsidiary of Paramount, which connects with billions of people worldwide through its global brands including MTV, CBS, Paramount Network, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET and streaming service Paramount+.

Paramount is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) including disability/vet.

At Paramount, the spirit of inclusion feeds into everything that we do, on-screen and off. From the programming and movies we create to employee benefits/programs and social impact outreach initiatives, we believe that opportunity, access, resources and rewards should be available to and for the benefit of all. Paramount is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, and Veteran status.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access https://www.paramount.com/careers as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by calling 212.846.5500 or by sending an email to [email protected]. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned.