Senior Director, Legal - Product Counsel

Why Sony Interactive Entertainment?

Sony Interactive Entertainment isn’t just the Best Place to Play — it’s also the Best Place to Work. Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) is the company behind the PlayStation brand. As a subsidiary of Sony Group Corporation, we’re part of a proud legacy of innovation and excellence. SIE is a dynamic technology company, delivering cutting-edge hardware and network services to more than 100 million people and an entertainment leader, home to some of the most beloved and recognizable intellectual properties (IP) in the world. Our role at SIE is to create and nurture the experiences under the PlayStation brand, a name synonymous with entertainment excellence and creativity.

San Mateo, CA | Hybrid - 2+ days per week in our San Mateo office

Full relocation assistance available for qualified candidates

Role Summary

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE or PlayStation) seeks an experienced attorney to lead the Product Counsel function for SIE, spanning Hardware, Software, and Services.

As Senior Director, Product Counsel, you will work with a variety of teams across our global business, including product, design, engineering, hardware, software and services teams that are focused on the development and operations of our PlayStation platform, spanning console, software, and commerce services (PlayStation Store and PlayStation Subscription Services). You will also establish the model of product counsel teams engaging with Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in privacy, online safety, competition, product compliance, and other SME legal teams.

You must have excellent judgment in balancing legal risks with business strategy and a proven ability to act as an effective product counsel leader. The best candidates will have broad legal knowledge of the international laws and regulations impacting PlayStations products and the ability to leverage subject matter expertise and senior leaders within the Legal Department to provide nuanced and informed legal advice to key elements of SIE’s business. You will use your drive and experience to make a big impact on a major segment of SIE’s global business.

What You’ll Be Doing

Lead the Product Counsel function, managing and leading a team of legal professionals who provide product counsel legal support to all of PlayStation’s product teams.

Collaborate with and advise multiple stakeholders across product, engineering, product management, security, privacy, and legal departments throughout the product development cycle (from the initial stages of product development, through launch, to market strategy) on all of the regulatory, legal and compliance issues impacting PlayStation products.

Understand and stay up-to-date on U.S. and international laws and regulations related to product issues, including privacy, safety, online safety, hardware regulatory compliance, etc.

Work to formulate global legal advice collaborating closely with legal department members in Europe and Asia.

Strong ability to explain complex legal issues in basic terms for the non-legal stakeholders across the company.

Provide pragmatic day-to-day and strategic advice to minimize legal risks while advancing business goals and initiatives.

Comfort with technology generally and business-to-consumer user experience interfaces and consumer electronics devices and connected platforms.

Ability to draft clear and concise communications, including public and client facing materials.

Transactional experience and strong skills in that area.

Manage internal projects, provide training, processes and procedures, and drive cross-functional efforts to successful completion.

What We’re Looking For

At least 18 years of progressive experience, particularly working as product counsel in a technology company with experience working as a global lead across an organization.

JD or LLM degree from top law school; being a member of a U.S. state bar is required, and California State Bar membership is preferred. At a minimum, the candidate must be qualified for and quickly obtain Registered In-House Counsel status in California and maintain that status during employment.

Experience counseling product development, technical, business and support teams and working closely with designers, engineers, and product management.

Experience leading the formulation of legal advice across global markets.

Experience leading and managing teams of legal professionals.

Legal expertise in several of the following areas: consumer protections laws and regulations, FTC or DPA regulatory actions, consumer online account issues, e-commerce and digital entertainment distribution, intellectual property, privacy, data security, social media law, content regulation, FCC regulations and legal issues impacting consumer hardware products.

Enthusiasm and passion for technology, law, and business. Experience in the video game industry is a strong plus.

Ability to thrive in a team environment.

Superior organizational skills, attention to detail.

Superior ability to influence and persuade across business, technical and support functions within a large, multi-national corporation.

Eagerness and drive to continue learning.

#LI-SF1

At SIE, we consider several factors when setting each role’s base pay range, including the competitive benchmarking data for the market and geographic location.

Please note that the base pay range may vary in line with our hybrid working policy and individual base pay will be determined based on job-related factors which may include knowledge, skills, experience, and location.

In addition, this role is eligible for SIE’s top-tier benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, matching 401(k), paid time off, wellness program and coveted employee discounts for Sony products. This role also may be eligible for a bonus package. Click here to learn more.

The estimated base pay range for this role is listed below.

$302,400—$453,600 USD

Please note, Sony Interactive Entertainment conducts background checks at the offer stage for all new employees (which may include criminal background checks for some roles) and will need to process personal information to support these checks.

Please refer to our Candidate Privacy Notice for more information about what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your data protection rights.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Sony is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All persons will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender (including gender identity, gender expression and gender reassignment), race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin), religion or belief, marital or civil partnership status, disability, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, maternity or parental status, trade union membership or membership in any other legally protected category.

We strive to create an inclusive environment, empower employees and embrace diversity. We encourage everyone to respond.

Sony Interactive Entertainment is a Fair Chance employer and qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records will be considered for employment.