Lionsgate
Attorney II
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Not listed
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Not specified
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- 5+ years
- Category
- Legal
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in the legal department of a studio or film production company.
- Film legal development and production experience required.
- Bachelors and Juris Doctor degree required.
- Extensive experience in reviewing and evaluating chain of title, including preparing analyses thereof.
- Experience researching rights issues both internally (via in-house legal files) and externally (including, without limitation, reviewing copyright research reports).
- Strong skillset in drafting and negotiating long-form agreements for above-the-line and below-the-line talent (e.g., writer, producer, director, actor, as well as all production department heads and v
- Working knowledge of the different types of deals and agreements that must be completed and in place prior to the commencement of development and/or production (as applicable).
- Working knowledge of copyright and contract law.
- Adroit in dealing with clearance issues, product placement, and other intellectual property matters.
- Very strong organizational skills and extreme attention to detail.
- Complete reliability handling confidential, often highly sensitive information.
- Sharp written and verbal communication skills.
- Desire to immerse yourself fully and learn all aspects of the studio business.
- Work well with other attorneys/paralegals/assistants in the department, as well as the other departments for which services will be provided.
- Ability to multi-task and prioritize deadlines/deliverables.
- Strong proficiency with all types of computers, phones and office equipment, as well as mastery of Microsoft Office programs (including Excel, Outlook and Word).
- Highly professional demeanor, positive outlook, and a can-do attitude.
Full description
Summary of Position
Lionsgate has an immediate opening for an Attorney to join the Company’s Legal Motion Picture Production department.
Responsibilities
- Negotiate and draft long-form agreements for above-the-line and below-the-line talent, incoming and outgoing rights agreements, and production-related agreements on MPG productions.
- Conduct comprehensive rights research and chain of title analysis for development, production, and library titles.
- Prepare detailed rights and obligations summaries to support internal decision-making across Creative, Physical Production, Marketing, and other departments.
- Evaluate payment requests and related contractual obligations, confirming whether amounts are due, payees are accurate, and documentation supports the requested payments.
- Develop, review, and refine departmental form agreements, practices, precedential issues, novel contract provisions, and rights documentation language to support MPG and the industry’s evolving needs.
- Research and advise Creative, Physical Production, and the General Counsel’s office on guild matters, including WGA, DGA, and/or SAG-AFTRA, to ensure compliance related to talent agreements, production practices, and contractual obligations.
- Coordinate insurance-related matters with internal stakeholders, insurance providers, and production teams to support timely and compliant production operations.
- Liaise with foreign counsel, as needed, to address territory-specific production questions, rights issues, and local documentation.
- Partner with departments across Lionsgate in connection with marketing, publicity, product placement, and litigation matters that arise in connection with productions.
- Collaborate with the Physical Production department in the lead-up to production to facilitate a smooth transition from development through principal photography.
- Oversee delivery of in-house productions with third-party domestic distribution, ensuring required legal and production materials are coordinated and delivered.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Qualifications and Skills
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in the legal department of a studio or film production company.
- Film legal development and production experience required.
- Bachelors and Juris Doctor degree required.
- Extensive experience in reviewing and evaluating chain of title, including preparing analyses thereof.
- Experience researching rights issues both internally (via in-house legal files) and externally (including, without limitation, reviewing copyright research reports).