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).
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 visual effects), incoming rights agreements (e.g., screenplay, book, life story, and other sources) and outgoing rights (e.g., quitclaims, turnarounds), as well as all production-related agreements (e.g., locations, rentals, leases, etc.). Must have the ability to address issues not expressly addressed in Business Affairs deal memos.
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.