Legal & Business Affairs Advisor (Maternity Cover 12 Months FTC)
- Location: London, UK
- Duration: Temporary, Maternity Cover
- Department: Central Business Affairs
- Reports to: SVP and VP of Business Affairs
A Day in The Life
As a Legal & Business Affairs Advisor, you will provide crucial legal support to Universal Music’s Central Business Affairs team. Working closely with the Senior Vice President and Vice President of Business Affairs, you will help ensure the smooth running of the department by advising on a broad range of legal matters and managing essential legal processes. At Universal Music, we offer an exciting opportunity to be part of a globally recognised music company, working with some of the most influential names in the industry. You will play a key role in our legal and business affairs, gaining exposure to innovative new growth areas in the music business.
Key Responsibilities:
Negotiation & Documentation
- Negotiate, draft, and document a wide range of corporate and commercial agreements, including artist deals, brand agreements, producer contracts, licensing agreements, sale and purchase agreements, and other ancillary documents. You will work with precedents and standard form agreements to ensure accuracy and compliance.
Legal Advisory & Compliance
- Provide legal advice across departments, including marketing and promotions, particularly regarding the use of content for artwork, competitions, social media initiatives, and more. Ensure compliance with Universal Music Group legal directives and industry regulations.
Contract Management
- Maintain and manage the legal database (GRS) and Rights Hub, ensuring data accuracy and timely updates. Oversee the archiving of all signed contracts and amendments.
Rights & Restrictions
- Inform internal teams of key terms, particularly those related to the exploitation of recordings and videos, ensuring all business activities comply with contractual restrictions.
Liaison & Communication
- Act as a point of contact for managers and external lawyers, providing legal support and guidance. Respond to legal and business affairs queries from across Universal Music UK.
New Media & Growth Areas
- Advise on emerging industry areas such as digital media, virtual branding, apps, merchandising, D2C retail, branding, and sponsorship, ensuring legal requirements are adhered to.
Ad Hoc Projects
- Assist with project-based and ad hoc legal work, including research, drafting correspondence, and creating contracts as directed by the SVP and VP of Legal & Business Affairs.
Skills & Experience
Required:
- Qualified Solicitor with NQ – 2 years PQE
- Experience negotiating and documenting commercial agreements, ideally within the entertainment or music industry
- Ability to use legal precedents and standard contracts
- Strong organisational skills and attention to detail in managing databases and contracts
- Proficiency in providing legal advice across departments, particularly related to marketing, promotions, and digital media
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Proactive, highly organised, with strong time management skills
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment
Desirable:
- Previous experience working in the entertainment industry, either in a Legal & Business Affairs department or a law firm
- Familiarity with corporate law and M&A
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Excel, and legal database management systems
Person Specification:
- Proactive and articulate approach to work
- Strong interpersonal skills, with an approachable and confident manner
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet tight deadlines
- Lateral thinker with the ability to understand the bigger picture in legal projects
- High attention to detail and accuracy
- Self-motivated with an enthusiastic and energetic approach to problem-solving
Music is Universal
Our passionate and dedicated team at Universal Music UK help make us Britain’s leading music company. From A&R to Finance, Legal to Digital, Sales to Marketing, Universal Music is the place to grow and develop your career within a truly commercial and innovative business.
Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant receives less favourable treatment because of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy, or caring responsibilities. We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought within our teams and are fully committed to embracing the talents of people with neurocognitive variation.
Reward and 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)
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.