Description
The Walt Disney Company (Japan) Ltd. is seeking an experienced attorney to join Disney’s Legal team. As a Counsel or Senior Counsel, you will be primarily responsible for legal matters related to the development, production, and acquisition of Japanese content for Disney’s streaming services and television channels.
Responsibilities:
- Provide legal support for the expansion and growth of Disney’s businesses in Japan, focusing on media content acquisition, production, channels, and direct-to-consumer areas.
- Prepare, negotiate, review, and interpret various agreements and documents related to content development, production, acquisition, distribution, marketing, and exploitation.
- Conduct legal analysis on chain of title, intellectual property rights, and other rights management matters.
- Draft, negotiate, and evaluate talent contracts related to development and production services.
- Provide counsel on structuring development and production engagements and other production-related matters.
- Review and draft documents related to government approvals and licenses for channels.
- Offer advice and training to creative teams on production clearance matters.
- Instruct, oversee, and manage outside counsel.
- Negotiate with counterparties to agreements related to Disney businesses in Japan.
- Advise and counsel Disney Japan business executives on legal and regulatory issues affecting the Japan market.
- Coordinate with other members of Disney’s Legal Department to provide legal support and advice to Disney businesses in Japan and support for Asia-Pacific and other global projects.
Requirements:
- J.D., LL.B., LL.M., or equivalent degree.
- Admitted to practice law, preferably in Japan, although experience in US and other English-speaking jurisdictions is also considered.
- Solid experience and understanding of Japanese corporate/commercial law and Japanese intellectual property law, particularly copyright, trademark, and unfair competition.
- Keen analytical insight and strong legal capability.
- Understanding of the legal and business customs and practices of a US-based multinational enterprise.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity and experience with business practices of the Japanese entertainment, publishing, television, and digital media industries.
- Ability to evaluate and reconcile issues from the business unit and enterprise level perspective.
- Exceptional organizational, prioritization, and time management skills.
Work Experience:
- A minimum of 5 years (for Counsel) or 10 years (for Sr. Counsel) of legal experience in a law firm and/or multinational corporate legal department, focused on IP and licensing practice, ideally in an entertainment context.
Language Skills:
- Fluent Japanese and English language ability with dual language proficiency in negotiating, drafting, and reading.