Counsel

Culver City, CA

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 Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics.

As part of our commitment to health and safety, all U.S. non-union and O.P.E.I.U. Local 174 applicants and employees must submit proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or request and obtain approval of a reasonable accommodation based on disability or a sincerely held religious belief, practice or observance. To request an accommodation for purposes of participating in the hiring process, you may contact us at SPE_Accommodation_Assistance@spe.sony.com.