Deputy Chief Counsel - Consumer Products Licensing

Disney Consumer Products (DCP) is the division of Disney Experiences that brings beloved brands and franchises into the daily lives of families and fans through products – from toys to t-shirts, apps, books, console games and more – and experiences that can be found around the world, including on the Disney Store e-commerce platform and at Disney Parks, local and international retailers, as well as Disney Store locations globally. The business is home to world-class teams of product, licensing and retail experts, artists and storytellers, and technologists who inspire imaginations around the world.

DCP Legal is seeking a Deputy Chief Counsel to lead. manage, and inspire the legal team supporting and advising DCP’s Global Brand Commercialization business and coordinating the legal team handling rights clearance matters for merchandise, games and publishing activations.  This position also leads the legal support for DCP’s Business Affairs team and may be called upon to support other DCP businesses and functions.

This role will be based in Glendale, California.

Responsibilities

DCP is the world’s leading consumer products licensor and DCP’s Global Brand Commercialization business plays a critically important role in that distinction.  Its growth and ability to adapt to changing consumer behaviors is vital to DCP’s future success. 

Therefore, the leader of this important legal support function requires a talented, experienced candidate with a broad set of high-functioning skills, including:

• Executive leadership and management experience;

• Regularly and independently making pivotal decisions for the business in a complex business environment that carry substantial risk, and providing expert and strategic level advice on highly sensitive matters;

• Operating largely autonomously while knowing when to consult with DCP business and legal leadership and Disney Legal subject-matter experts;

• Directly advising and interacting with senior business and legal leaders;

• Leading, structuring, negotiating, and drafting (or overseeing the structuring, negotiating, and drafting of) a wide variety of complex commercial transactions;

• Finding creative solutions to complex legal issues while appropriately mitigating the associated risks;

• Anticipating issues and proactively developing creative business-oriented and brand-consistent solutions to mitigate legal risks encompassing a wide range of practice areas, including product development, transactional matters, IP, and other related areas;

• Managing outside counsel and outside counsel legal budgets;

• Autonomously managing and motivating the members of the legal team who support Global Brand Commercialization, Business Affairs and Rights clearances while also working collaboratively within and across DCP Legal and, more broadly, Disney Legal;

• Quickly making strategic risk-based decisions and elevate to senior legal and business leadership as necessary; and

• Attracting, developing, mentoring, directing, motivating and driving performance from the Licensing and Clearances teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• An attorney with a minimum of 15 years sophisticated business transactions experience, with an emphasis on drafting and negotiating complex commercial transactions (experience with licensees across all categories of consumer products, including those that involve a digital component is a plus).

• Excellent attention to detail, written and verbal communication skills, and judgment.

• Demonstrated ability to evaluate risk and exercise sound legal judgment. 

• Strong work ethic and commitment to professionalism and integrity

• A collaborative, solutions-oriented approach with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with colleagues at all levels of the organization and the many disciplines within the consumer products business (for example: Creative, Licensing Category Management, Brand/Franchise Management, Finance, Business Affairs and Controllership (including the Audit function).

• Ability to multi-task and work quickly under tight deadlines.

• Ability to distill complex legal issues and succinctly communicate those issues to business clients.

• Proven client relationship skills.

• Ability to work independently, take ownership of projects, and proactively develop solutions.

• Leadership of other attorney personnel as well as paralegals.

• Exceptional business acumen and ability to creatively develop business-oriented solutions to complex legal problems in a fast paced, consumer-facing environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in intellectual property law and licensing, as well as rights clearance matters.

• Experience with high level talent agreements in connection with promotional campaigns.

Required Education

• Law degree from an accredited law school.

• Admission to the California State Bar in good standing or willingness and qualification to be Registered In-House Counsel in California.

#legalaffairs

The hiring range for this position in Glendale, CA is $281,500 - $377,500 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience among other factors. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to the full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.