Counsel / Principal Counsel, Intellectual Property - EMEA

Netflix is one of the world’s leading entertainment services with 278 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

The Role

Netflix seeks an experienced intellectual property lawyer to provide legal support for its content and business across Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). 

This role will closely collaborate with the creative, business, and legal teams that create Netflix’s great content and includes advising film and television productions and executives on all matters related to intellectual property issues across EMEA. You will identify and manage IP-related risks in content, including trademark, copyright, defamation and similar, and communicate them to relevant stakeholders. You will work alongside the business and legal affairs teams to acquire and develop IP, guiding it through production and distribution, focusing on IP risks. This includes conducting a chain of title research, advising on title and production clearance, IP enforcement, pre-litigation claim defence, collaborating with our litigation team on IP litigation matters in EMEA, negotiating and drafting license agreements for a wide variety of production materials and conducting due diligence on complex rights acquisitions. 

Your experience enables you to work across any situation that may be encountered related to a production. You aren’t phased by the last-minute surprises that inevitably arise when shooting a film, series or documentary and can respond in a timely and pragmatic manner. You can navigate those situations while allowing your studio colleagues to fulfil their creative and business goals. You understand the dynamics among showrunners, executive producers, line producers, production departments, marketing and creative, and know when and how to align the appropriate teams when an IP issue arises. You have experience evaluating risk with imperfect information and have the confidence to make quick decisions. You are passionate about the entertainment industry and are excited to learn more.  

The role will report to the Sr. Director IP, Music & Legal Delivery - EMEA based in London. Travel throughout Europe and occasional travel to the US may be required.

Requirements

• Extensive experience as an IP lawyer in content or entertainment-related fields (e.g., sports, advertising, tech, gaming, production, music, theatre, broadcasting, or law firms specializing in these industries). 

• Production clearance experience in film and/or television and familiarity with OFCOM regulations is a plus.

• In-depth knowledge of IP law, media, and personality rights in the UK and/or the rest of EMEA, covering copyright, moral rights, trademarks, fair dealing, rights of publicity/privacy, defamation, and freedom of speech. 

• Strong relationships with top external counsel and vendors in the UK and EMEA IP legal space. 

• Proven ability to manage and resolve IP disputes, handle complex copyright transactions and chain of title review, providing concise and pragmatic analysis. 

• Demonstrated capability to manage heavy workflow independently and work proactively on multiple projects under tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 

• Strong communication skills, creative thinking, and high collaboration, with a positive response to change and new ideas. 

• Commitment to understanding diverse backgrounds and cultures, addressing implicit biases, and a good sense of humor. 

• Eagerness to tackle and learn new legal IP matters beyond current expertise. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity of thought and background builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, color, place of birth, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, military service status or disability status.