Senior Counsel - Labor Relations

Disney Entertainment Television Labor Relations is looking for Senior Counsel to provide critical support to the Labor Relations team. The position will report to the Managing Vice President, Labor Relations. The candidate must be highly organized, adept at managing time and competing priorities frequently with tight deadlines. The individual must be self-motivated, have strong interpersonal skills, and thrive in a cooperative, team environment. This position will support ABC Network News, the Owned Television Station Group, ABC Daytime, ABC Network operations, Sports events broadcast on the ABC Television Network, Nat Geo, and their related productions, operations and marketing and promotion activities throughout the United States. 
 

What You Will Do:

• Handling labor arbitrations or other legal proceedings such as NLRB matters.

• Leading and supporting the lead attorney in union grievance meetings, Arbitration Hearings and other legal proceedings.
  • Investigating and addressing grievances brought by unions and guilds.
  • Performing arbitration research
  • Preparing exhibits
  • Helping interview witnesses

• Leading and supporting the lead attorney in collective bargaining negotiations by:
  • Developing strategies
  • Preparing proposals
  • Responding to union information requests
  • Maintaining logs of union and Company proposals and counter proposals
  • Taking negotiation session notes
  • Coordinating negotiations logistics

• Support the team in contract administration after negotiations by:
  • Drafting memoranda of agreement and full contract
  • Advise production, finance, distribution, publicity/marketing, creative, and business/legal affairs colleagues on the application of collective bargaining agreements, devising and recommending problem solving solutions.
  • Provide training in the application of the new contract terms

• Monitoring implementation of negotiated contract terms (for example concerning wages, hours, and working conditions) to ensure compliance with terms of labor agreements.

• Establishing and maintaining effective relationships with the various industry labor organizations while effectively representing the company.

• Establishing and maintaining constructive engagements with union and guild representatives to effectively represent the company in negotiations, contract administration and grievance handling.

• Provide legal advice and draft responses to Taft Hartley Fund audit and reporting requests.

• The position may require occasional travel, as well as working evenings and weekends when necessary.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• 5+ years of arbitration, litigation, NLRB and labor relations experience strongly preferred.
• Must have strong analytical abilities, strategic thought, excellent written and communication skills, and the ability to work variable hours in a fast-paced environment and travel as required.
• Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills and ability to develop positive working relationships with clients and colleagues, including all levels of management, unions and guilds.
• Proven team orientation and ability to work independently and manage competing priorities and prioritize deadlines/deliverables, yet seek guidance when appropriate.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to multi-task
• Must be skilled in Excel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in entertainment and/or broadcast industry and interactions with industry unions and guilds preferred.

Education:

• Requires excellent academic credentials, a JD degree, and current State Bar membership. 

The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $176,400 to $236,600 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.