Senior Attorney

About the Role

The Walt Disney Company (TWDC), Middle East is hiring a Senior Attorney to support the Principal Counsel in providing day-to-day strategic and commercial legal advice to multiple business lines in the Middle East and North Africa. The Senior Attorney will be an integral part of the team, ensuring that all lines of business operating in the region comply with all applicable laws, regulatory requirements and internal company compliance policies.

The businesses that the Senior Attorney will support in the Middle East and North Africa include content acquisitions, National Geographic branded partnerships, ad sales, Disney+, Disney Consumer Products as well as managing corporate governance for all operational entities in the region. This role requires cross function collaboration with the commercial, finance and controllership, tax, technical and marketing teams located in the region.

For certain businesses and specialised areas of law the Senior Attorney will work closely with and support other members of the EMEA Legal team, including the Disney Consumer Products (DCP), EMEA Legal team.

The Senior Attorney will draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements, provide commercial advice and support all areas within scope of and under supervision of their Line Manager. This position requires a candidate with exposure to general contract and commercial law, established drafting skills and the ability to handle multiple competing matters with a commercial mind set.

What You Will Do: 

• Manage corporate governance for all legal entities in the region, including managing board meetings, preparing resolutions and updating the company directors of upcoming legislative changes that impact the companies in the region.

• Negotiate and draft commercial agreements and corresponding amendments for all lines of businesses that are supported in the region.

• Review and support all advertising, marketing and PR activities undertaken in the region.

• Provide legal advice on any ongoing activities and any new initiatives being explored by the commercial teams.

• Proactively research and advise on upcoming legislation impacting the region and business activities undertaken by Disney.

• Participate in meetings with the teams in region.

• Support in the creation and be responsible for updates to the contract templates to be used across all lines of businesses.

• Maintain clear and up to date folders and databases in respect of templates and transactions both locally and on any regional databases.

• Refer and discuss matters with specialists across the business including the music, intellectual property and data protection teams.

• Instruct external counsel where necessary and manage outside counsel budgets.

Required Qualifications & Skills: 

• Qualified as a member of the UK or other applicably relevant Bar.

• LLB or Degree.

• Proven experience in similar level role and ideally covering at least some of the substantive areas of responsibility.

• Advertising and marketing law experience, including rules and regulations on running competitions.

• Consumer products licensing experience

• Some experience of Direct-To-Consumer (DTC) / Digital/ Over-The-Top (OTT) services preferable, ideally with an understanding of data privacy and consumer marketing concerns

• Ability to draft from scratch to address new and challenging issues

• Good organisational skills with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage a portfolio of contracts

• Understanding of different contractual types and structures.

• Able to communicate legal matters to non-legal audience.

• Experience of working in or with the Middle East, preferred but not essential.

• Arabic-speaking, preferred but not essential.

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave.

• Private medical insurance & dental care.

• Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free.

• Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing.

• Excellent parental and guardian leave.

• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided the necessary accommodations to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive all benefits of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.