About the position

Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is seeking an experienced entertainment attorney to join the Warner Bros. Television Legal organization as Director, Legal, WBTV Unscripted. This role sits within the Warner Bros. Television Unscripted Business & Legal Affairs team, supporting one of the industry's leading producers of unscripted programming across broadcast, cable, streaming, and emerging media platforms. The position is based in Burbank, California, with a hybrid schedule requiring three days per week in office. As a key member of the team, you will provide strategic legal guidance across the development, production, distribution, and exploitation of unscripted programming. Partnering closely with creative executives, production teams, business stakeholders, and talent representatives, you will support a diverse slate of content from concept through distribution while helping advance business objectives and mitigate legal risk in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. This role requires substantial experience structuring and negotiating complex business arrangements and independently managing a wide range of transactional matters. You will negotiate, draft, and analyze development, production, and distribution agreements while providing practical, business-oriented legal advice that supports both creative and commercial priorities. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to balance competing priorities while delivering effective legal solutions. As Director, Legal, you will serve as a trusted advisor to the Warner Bros. Television Unscripted Business & Legal Affairs organization, working closely with internal stakeholders and external partners to facilitate the creation, production, and distribution of unscripted content. You will negotiate business and legal terms, advise on contractual matters, and collaborate with creative executives, production teams, and talent representatives to support programming across multiple platforms and distribution models. Success in this role requires the ability to operate independently while managing a high volume of work in a fast-paced production environment. The ideal candidate will be resourceful, organized, and proactive, with strong judgment and excellent communication skills. The ability to build strong working relationships across business, creative, and legal functions, while effectively navigating complex negotiations and evolving business needs, is essential. As a member of the Unscripted Legal team, you will help support a broad range of content initiatives spanning traditional and emerging media platforms. You will play a critical role in enabling the successful development and production of programming while ensuring legal and business considerations are thoughtfully addressed throughout the content lifecycle. This role offers the opportunity to work at the intersection of entertainment, production, and business strategy while supporting a globally recognized portfolio of unscripted programming. You will collaborate with industry-leading creative and business teams and contribute to the continued success and growth of Warner Bros. Television's unscripted content business.

Responsibilities

• Negotiate and draft agreements in connection with all aspects of content development, production, and distribution, including but not limited to network licensing agreements, rights agreements, shopping agreements, above-the-line talent agreements (e.g., producers, on-screen talent), options, purchase agreements, format deals, production services agreements, contestant and participant agreements, releases, trade out and branded partnership agreements, contingent compensation definitions, composer agreements, music licenses, and location agreements.
• Provide legal advice to company and production personnel on all matters relating to the production, distribution and marketing of original content. This includes, but is not limited to, advising on union and nonunion guild obligations, researching and providing legal advice for filming in the U.S. and internationally, clearing content, rights research, providing general production legal support, advising on marketing and advertising restrictions, and negotiating with networks/licensees.
• Ensure compliance with Warner Bros. Discovery and corporate legal policies and practices, as well as applicable laws and regulations; provide risk assessments to senior business and legal executives; engage and supervise outside counsel, clearance coordinator, and outside music licensing services.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 7+ years of practicing law with a national law firm, a major film or television studio, or major online service or platform preferred.
• BA/BS degree required.
• Juris Doctorate degree.
• Must be a CA state bar member and bar membership must be in good standing.
• Must have knowledge of law and legal environment of entertainment industry sufficient to draft and negotiate legal documents and counsel management on legal implications of their actions.
• Must be able to analyze, draft and negotiate contracts.
• Must be able to research legal questions and communicate responses effectively to all levels of corporate and production staff.
• Must be able to write in a well-organized, concise and precise manner.
• Must be able to supervise paralegal and clerical subordinates engaged in performance of legal-related tasks.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to build strong internal client relationships with personnel of all levels, effectively advise senior-level executives, and produce strong client and partner satisfaction through practical and strategic thinking.
• Must be agile, proactive, and highly motivated; must have positive, team-oriented attitude, excellent judgment, ability to handle high volume of work with minimal supervision and to assess risk, make decisions and prioritize multiple projects with competing deadlines.

Benefits

• health insurance coverage
• an employee wellness program
• life and disability insurance
• a retirement savings plan
• paid holidays and sick time and vacation