Headquartered in Dubai Media City, MBC is the leading digital television and radio network operating in the Middle East and North Africa region with approximately 2,000 employees from more than 60 nationalities and a global audience of over 150 million viewers. As part of its ambitious expansion plans, MBC launched MBC Studios with the goal of becoming a global player in the production of Hollywood films and big-budget TV series often with a Middle Eastern theme suitable for a global audience in English and Arabic. MBC works with leading American and British law firms in California, New York and London, and numerous producers, directors, actors and writers in Hollywood and the United Kingdom.
MBC is looking to appoint a film and television attorney to work exclusively at MBC Studios specializing in Arabic language contracts, reporting to the MBC Studios Director of Legal Affairs and working in a team of 7. You will be responsible for negotiating, drafting and reviewing a file. A wide range of legal documents needed to produce feature films and big-budget TV series, advising on legal and commercial matters and supporting MBC Studios and Director of Legal Affairs to support its creativity, innovation, new talent, and ‘cutting edge’ film and television production.
You will be a qualified film and television attorney, with demonstrated experience in acquiring substantive rights, production, and co-production deals, ideally with also experience working under USAF terms (including SAG, IATSE, WGA and DGA). Knowing about distribution deals is helpful if not necessary. You will have the ability to meet deadlines in a commercial and dynamic environment and handle a wide range of projects across a range of activities with a fast paced turnaround. The work is mostly high-budget drama, but it also includes documentaries, so the permit and compliance experience is very helpful as well.
You will have excellent drafting skills and relevant PQE in Commerce and Entertainment Law. Sound knowledge of copyright and contract law is essential. Strong and demonstrable negotiation skills and sound business acumen are essential. A bilingual (English/Arabic) language skill set is essential for this role.
Benefits will include a competitive tax-free salary and private health insurance.
Basic tasks:
Drafting and negotiating in Arabic (and assisting with English language contracts as required by the department) for major HOD and BTL contracts, including experience with US union requirements such as SAG, DGA, etc.
Assist the Legal Director with major production financing agreements, co-production agreements and development agreements as required, including engaging external producers under production sharing agreements when needed.
Drafting and negotiating with writer and other talent agreements and familiarity with WGA requirements. Knowledge of the PACT/WGGB convention is helpful.
Assist the Legal Director in drafting and advising on security financing agreements and assisting with required tax agreements and other discount agreements (including incentive and discount schemes in UK, Canada, Romania and Abu Dhabi) as required.
Solid experience with fundamental rights documentation (options, book rights and intellectual property agreements, form agreements, book agreements, development agreements, etc.).
Review and create key staff and crew agreements, prepare reports and advise on these documents to MBC.
Review and suggest improvements to the Arabic language template agreements to ensure good practice and alignment with the English language template agreements.
Be an active participant in MBC Studios meetings, planning, development and team building events, including working directly with MBC Studios producers and development executives.
Working closely with MBC Studios’ financial teams.
To be an ambassador for MBC Studios by maintaining a professional approach at all times.
Carrying out all responsibilities in a way that supports the values of MBC and promotes equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion within MBC.
A lawyer with at least 3-4 years of relevant post-qualification experience in a television or film production environment, with a specialization focusing on Arabic language conventions.
A track record specializing in commercial and entertainment law, with a focus in film and television financing, basic rights acquisition, production and distribution, contract law and copyright.
The successful candidate will ideally have “in-house” legal experience in a production company or broadcaster production legal department.
Strong interpersonal skills are essential (team player, diplomat) as well as a desire to work abroad and across multiple regions.
A team player with the skills to motivate and develop junior lawyers and paralegals.
Excellent administrative/organizational skills.
Excellent negotiation skills and strong business acumen/commercial judgment.
Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to deal effectively and quickly with people at all levels.
A love of film and television productions and the processes involved from the first idea to the red carpet premiere.
A clear commitment to the principles of diversity and inclusion, their practical application and integration into the work environment.
MBC GROUP is the largest media company in the Middle East and North Africa region that enriches people’s lives through information, interaction and entertainment. In 2002, nearly a decade after the launch of MBC1 in London, in 1991, MBC GROUP moved its headquarters to Dubai Media City, United Arab Emirates.
Today the MBC group includes more than 17 leading television channels: MBC1 (General Family Entertainment); MBC2 and MBC MAX (24-hour Western movies); MBC3 (children’s edutainment with a mixture of local productions and Western collectibles); MBC4 (entertainment for young families with a female focus); MBC ACTION (an original, action-packed channel targeting young males with local and local productions); MBC VARIETY (Western films and general entertainment with continuous broadcasts); MBC DRAMA (a 24/7 Arabic drama) and MBC + DRAMA (a joint pay-TV channel between MBC and OSN); MBC PERSIA (General Family Entertainment dubbed and subtitled in Farsi); WANASAH (24-hour Arabic music channel); MBC MASR & MBC MASR2 (general family entertainment geared to the Egyptian family); MBC BOLLYWOOD (offering the latest region-oriented Bollywood content via an Arabic interface); MBC USA (on “Dish Network” in the US); MBC IRAQ (a premium channel targeting all members of the Iraqi family), MBC5 (a new satellite channel dedicated to the Maghreb); They each benefit from MBC STUDIOS, which produces the region’s most compelling premium content for film, television and on-demand platforms. The MBC group also includes two FM radio stations: MBC FM (Gulf music) and Panorama FM (Contemporary Arabic music).
Furthermore, a part of MBC GROUP is Shahid and its premium subscription-based service Shahid VIP, the world’s leading Arabic broadcasting platform, home to highly rated original productions from the Arab world, a wide range of exclusive movies and premieres, as well as the best watched live TV channels Arabia.