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 theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

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.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Universal Pictures Content Group (UPCG) is a distinct business unit within Universal Pictures Filmed Entertainment Group, part, of NBCUniversal. With offices around the world, UPCG acquires, develops and produces a diverse range of quality content across a multitude of genres (film, anime, TV drama, music, sports, documentary, family entertainment, events & special interest) for global distribution.

We are seeking an experienced business affairs executive with legal experience to oversee the Legal & Business Affairs function in our Tokyo office.  

Overview (Purpose of the Position)

• Principal Legal & Business affairs advisor to company and senior management team on all company activities including development and production of scripted dramas and anime, acquisition and distribution of films and TV programs, and exploitation of film and TV rights, music recording rights, music publishing rights including all ancillary rights.
• Overseeing Legal & Business affairs team in Tokyo office.
• Minimization of the company risk in conducting external transactions and maximization of profits.
• Improvement of efficiency of the organization and activities.
• Ensuring company is compliant with all relevant laws and internal compliance policies.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Production Development/production work: Providing business affairs advice on all aspects of scripted drama and anime developments and productions. Negotiating, drafting and advising on a full range of development and production agreements including in relation to writers, onscreen talent, other key production personnel etc. Ensuring that all production activities are in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations in all territories and with the company's compliance policies and best practice procedures.
• Production financing and commissioning arrangements: Advising MD and senior management team on arrangements and documentation in connection with the structure and financing of developments and productions including internal production services and licensing agreements as well as third party production services agreements including security arrangements.
• Distribution & Rights Exploitation: Negotiating, drafting, and advising on film & TV distribution licenses and rights exploitation agreements (including ancillary rights).
• Team Management: Managing Legal & Business Affairs team, ensuring that company is adequately supported on all Legal & Business affairs matters and overseeing team training and development.
• External Legal Counsel: Engaging and managing external legal counsel ensuring delivery of cost efficient and timely advice.
• Storage and Management of Contract documents / Provision of Contract Information: Ensure proper storage and administration of contract documents. Provide contract information to internal staff as needed.
• General: Lead team in
  • Risk management ensuring minimization of legal risk in contracts and business transactions. Provide input to senior management team in determining contract rules and policies for the purpose of risk management and maximization of profit.
  • Implementing and maintaining policies regarding business management, issuance of internal reminders, and employee training for the purpose of prevention of legal issues.
  • Implementing and managing policies to protect company's intellectual property.
  • ensuring company is fully compliant with all applicable laws and internal compliance policies including leading business affairs team in providing training to employees for risk management and compliance related training.
  • Working with the London office (including the Legal and Business Affairs function in London) to ensure consistency in approach across the business and Universal's group requirements are met.

主な職務内容

制作開発/制作業務

脚本ドラマおよびアニメの開発・制作に関するあらゆる側面において、ビジネス面の助言を提供します。脚本家、出演者、その他主要な制作スタッフに関する契約を含む、開発・制作契約全般の交渉、作成、助言を行います。すべての制作活動が、各地域の適用法令および社内のコンプライアンスポリシー・ベストプラクティスに完全に準拠していることを保証します。

制作資金調達および委託契約

開発・制作の構造および資金調達に関する契約・文書について、マネージングディレクターおよび経営陣に助言を行います。社内制作サービス契約やライセンス契約、第三者との制作サービス契約(担保契約を含む)などが対象です。

配信および権利活用

映画・テレビ番組の配信ライセンスおよび権利活用契約(副次的権利を含む)の交渉、作成、助言を行います。

チームマネジメント

法務・ビジネスアフェアーズチームを管理し、会社が法務・ビジネス関連業務に十分に対応できるよう支援します。チームの研修・育成も監督します。

外部法律顧問の管理

外部法律顧問を選定・管理し、コスト効率が高く、タイムリーな助言が得られるようにします。

契約書の保管・管理/契約情報の提供

契約書類の適切な保管・管理を行い、必要に応じて社内スタッフに契約情報を提供します。

その他業務

• 契約および取引における法的リスクを最小限に抑えるリスク管理を主導します。経営陣に対し、リスク管理と利益最大化の観点から契約ルール・ポリシーの策定に関する助言を行います。
• 法的問題の予防を目的とした業務管理ポリシーの実施、社内通知の発行、社員研修の実施を行います。
• 会社の知的財産を保護するためのポリシーを実施・管理します。
• 適用法令および社内コンプライアンスポリシーに完全に準拠していることを保証し、リスク管理およびコンプライアンス研修を通じて社員教育を行います。
• ロンドンオフィス(法務・ビジネスアフェアーズ部門を含む)と連携し、事業全体で一貫した方針を維持し、ユニバーサルグループの要件を満たすよう努めます。

Qualifications

Qualification:

Basic Requirements:

• At least 10 years' experience in providing commercially focused business affairs and legal support within a media company or studio including structuring, negotiating and drafting film and television agreements.
• Experience with negotiating and contracting with broadcasters and other distribution platforms.
• Detailed knowledge of exploitation and protection of Intellectual Property rights.
• Strong drafting skills in Japanese and English.
• Good industry knowledge of film and television development, production, acquisition and/or distribution.
• Experience in managing a Legal & Business Affairs team.
• Experience with recruitment and management of external legal counsel.

Desirable:

• Legal qualification in Japan, US or UK.

 Desired Characteristics: 

• Ability to work as a proactive, collaborative team member with a constructive and flexible approach in both a creative environment as well as a legal and commercial environment.
• Strong communication skills including within a diverse internal and international legal team as well as with a range of internal and external stakeholders, broadcaster and content distribution platforms, creative and production personnel and talent agents.
• Ability to operate in a transparent and cooperative manner in the context of a highly matrixed organization with a variety of stakeholders and interconnected functions.
• Holistic approach so that the candidate gives full consideration at all times to the range of issues and stakeholders which need to be taken into account as well as the wider strategy of the group.
• Resourceful, collaborative, outgoing, intellectually curious, ethical, respectful and eager to take on new challenges in a demanding environment including innovative solutions and ways of working.

基本的な要件:

必須条件:

• メディア企業またはスタジオにおいて、映画・テレビ契約の構築、交渉、作成を含む、商業的観点に基づいた法務・ビジネスアフェアーズの支援経験が10年以上あること
• 放送局やその他の配信プラットフォームとの契約交渉・締結の経験
• 知的財産権の活用および保護に関する詳細な知識
• 日本語および英語での契約書作成スキル
• 映画・テレビの開発、制作、買収、配信に関する業界知識
• 法務・ビジネスアフェアーズチームの管理経験
• 外部法律顧問の採用・管理経験

望ましい資格:

• 日本、米国、または英国での法的資格

求める人物像:

• クリエイティブな環境と法務・商業的な環境の両方において、積極的かつ協調的な姿勢で柔軟に対応できるチームプレイヤー
• 多様な社内外の関係者、放送局、配信プラットフォーム、クリエイティブ・制作スタッフ、タレントエージェントとの間で円滑にコミュニケーションできる能力
• 多様な関係者や機能が絡み合うマトリックス型組織の中で、透明性と協調性を持って業務を遂行できる能力
• 常に幅広い課題や関係者、グループ全体の戦略を考慮した包括的な視点を持って行動できること
• 資源活用力があり、協調性が高く、社交的で知的好奇心が旺盛、倫理的で敬意を持ち、要求の高い環境でも革新的な解決策や働き方に挑戦する意欲がある方

This position has been designated as hybrid, which currently requires contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week. Beginning January 5, 2026, hybrid employees will be required to work from the office a minimum of four days per week. The Company reserves the right to change in-office requirements at any time. 

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].