Associate Legal Counsel, Content Protection

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks and experiences around the world through Universal Destinations & Experiences, including Universal Orlando Resort, home to Universal Epic Universe, and Universal Studios Hollywood. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit www.nbcuniversal.com for more information.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Job Description

We are seeking a talented and motivated Associate Counsel to join our Global IP Protection team comprising both content protection and anti-counterfeiting practices. This role offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of intellectual property law, technology, investigations, and enforcement, protecting some of the world's most valuable films, television series, sports, consumer products, and entertainment.

You will be a key member of a cross-disciplinary team and will support the company’s global efforts to combat digital piracy and counterfeiting. You will work closely with business stakeholders, investigators, trade associations, technology, data science and communications teams, law enforcement agencies, external counsel, government bodies and public policy specialists.  You will help develop and implement strategies to safeguard content and brands across physical and digital environments. The focus regions of the role are EMEA and Latin America, while also coordinating with colleagues focusing on North America and Asia-Pacific.

Areas of Responsibility: 

Anti-counterfeiting

• Supporting management and operation of the anti-counterfeiting and enforcement programme in EMEA and LATAM, including criminal, administrative, and civil legal procedures to address counterfeiting online and on the ground, researching IP rights and investigating infringements, drafting cease and desist letters and witness statements, and providing training to law enforcement authorities
• Supervising and managing outside counsel and investigators in multiple countries; and ensuring an integrated approach to worldwide IP enforcement issues while serving local needs  
• Partnering with business stakeholders ensuring priorities for legitimate distribution are protected
• Liaising with the LA-based Operations team on anti-counterfeiting enforcement
• Identifying emerging counterfeiting business models and threats and establishing appropriate solutions.

Content protection

• Assisting content protection initiatives across EMEA and LATAM, including supervising civil litigation and criminal prosecutions against piracy services and associated infrastructure, coordinating the work of the trade association and outside counsel, and collaborating with co-litigants, including reviewing legal filings, gathering rights information, reviewing evidentiary materials, investigative reports, and legal opinions from multiple jurisdictions
• Supporting incident response efforts relating to content leaks and unauthorised disclosure in EMEA and LATAM including engaging with cyber, content security, technology security teams
• Drafting correspondence and documentation, including cease and desist letters, affidavits/declarations, agreements, powers of attorney, chain-of-title documents
• Researching the legal, policy, and technology landscape and the emerging pirate threats to ensure compliance and best-in-class, timely solutions.

General

• Drafting briefing notes prior to business meetings and events, providing call and meeting memoranda to other members of the team
• Providing timely, practical and commercial advice to internal clients/business groups on copyright and trademark law, including the company’s enforcement strategies, and providing ongoing support by advising on both individual cases and broader programme initiatives, advising and drafting on contractual provisions relating to intellectual property protection, enforcement rights, anti-piracy, and content security
• Developing and supporting the delivery of IP enforcement training and awareness initiatives internally and preparing internal and external comms and newsletters
• Developing relationships with internal and external partners
• Assisting the team with other projects, as required.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements: 

• Qualified to practice law in the UK, NQ – 2yrs PQE, further to a Law degree from an accredited law school
• Spanish working proficiency, additional language a nice to have
• Demonstrates diplomacy and high interpersonal skills, strong communication with the ability to discuss legal issues in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner with both lawyers and non-lawyers, strategic decision-making, meticulous attention to detail, and organisational and time-management skills, consistently delivers impactful results across multiple high-priority, high-volume projects
• Has a positive, “can-do” attitude and is willing to go the extra mile
• Experience adapting and analysing legal issues arising from new technologies
• Experience handling confidential and sensitive material.

Desired Characteristics: 

• Demonstrates an interest in the creative industries
• Familiarity with online platforms, e-commerce marketplaces, digital ecosystems, or emerging technologies
• Knowledge and experience with laws governing the enforcement of intellectual property rights, in particular copyright and trademark, and legal and technological issues relating to enforcement and internet investigations. International intellectual property frameworks, and IP enforcement by border forces and law enforcement agencies would be a plus.   
• Excellent ability with Powerpoint for presentation purposes, providing engaging and informative advice
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively as a team player
• Willingness to learn and develop skills to enhance practice.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].