Head of Legal at What Media Group (WMG)

What Media Group is a dynamic media conglomerate with a strategic emphasis on fostering growth in the media, sports, and entertainment industries across the African continent. Our mission is to be at the forefront of industry evolution, actively contributing to its sustainable growth and shaping its future.

We recognize the burgeoning opportunities within Africa's media sector and are dedicated to tapping into this potential. Our goal is to cultivate thriving businesses that not only succeed financially but also make significant social impacts. Through our initiatives, we aim to empower communities and drive positive change.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Head of Legal

Location: Lagos
Reports to: CEO
Direct Report: Legal Team

About the Role

• The head of legal will be a key leader responsible for providing strategic legal counsel and guidance to support the company's operations in the dynamic media industry.
• This role requires a seasoned legal professional with expertise in media law, intellectual property, contracts, and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement legal strategies aligned with the company's business goals.
• Ensure compliance with media laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Stay abreast of legal developments impacting the media sector and provide proactive guidance.
• Oversee the negotiation, drafting, and review of various contracts, including content licensing agreements, distribution agreements, talent contracts, and partnership agreements.
• Work collaboratively with business units to structure agreements that protect the company's interests.
• Safeguard and manage the company's intellectual property portfolio, including copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.
• Conduct due diligence on intellectual property matters related to acquisitions and partnerships.
• Ensure that all content produced or distributed by the company complies with relevant content regulations and guidelines.
• Interact with regulatory bodies and industry associations to stay informed on content-related regulations.
• Oversee and manage legal disputes or litigation matters involving the company.
• Collaborate with external counsel when necessary and work towards timely and cost-effective resolutions.
• Implement and maintain policies and procedures to ensure compliance with data protection and privacy laws.
• Advise on data privacy implications of various business initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with corporate governance requirements and maintain accurate corporate records.
• Provide legal advice to senior management and the board of directors on governance matters.
• Lead, mentor, and manage the legal team, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
• Conduct regular training sessions for other departments on legal issues relevant to their operations.

Additiontional Information:

• Works & Interacts With: The Legal team and other members of the WMG.
• Work Location: Corporate Office at Ikeja and Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, and any other project location, as may be required to complete work responsibilities.

Requirements
About You:

• Candidates should possess a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited law school.
• Active member of the bar in the relevant jurisdiction.
• Minimum of 9-12 years of legal experience, with a focus on media and entertainment law.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property, content regulations, and privacy laws.
• Proven experience in negotiating and drafting complex contracts.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Leadership experience, with the ability to manage and inspire a legal team.
• Membership of the Nigerian Bar Association (or other relevant professional body).

Ability to/Demonstrate:

• The ability to lead and manage a legal team effectively, providing guidance, mentorship, and fostering a collaborative working environment.
• Developing and implementing legal strategies aligned with the overall goals and objectives of the organization.
• Identifying and mitigating legal risks to protect the organization from potential legal challenges.
• Strong negotiation skills to handle complex legal transactions and agreements.
• Building and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders, both internal and external.
• Contributing to the development of organizational policies and ensuring legal compliance.
• Ability to handle legal crises and emergencies effectively.
• Keeping abreast of changes in laws and regulations that may impact the organization and advising leadership on compliance strategies.

Criteria for Success In This Role:

• 100% of media content complies with relevant regulations and industry standards.
• 0% number of regulatory violations and issues related to content minimized.
• Time taken to negotiate and finalize licensing and distribution agreements.
• Successful negotiation of favourable terms in licensing and distribution contracts.
• 95% of successful intellectual property registrations and renewals.
• Efficient handling and resolution of intellectual property disputes.
• 100% Adherence to media-specific regulations and guidelines.
• Successful management of regulatory inspections and audits.
• 95% of advertising and sponsorship activities compliant with regulatory standards.
• 100% successful resolution of legal issues related to advertising content.
• Time taken to review and finalize contracts, including talent agreements and production contracts.
• Reduction in contract negotiation times.
• 95% resolution of legal disputes and litigations.
• 0% reduction in the number of legal claims against the company.
• 100% Compliance with data protection and privacy laws in media operations.
• 100% Timely and effective response to data breaches and privacy concerns.
• Successful negotiation and execution of partnership and collaboration agreements.
• 95% of strategic partnerships formed and their impact on business.
• Identification and mitigation of legal risks specific to media operations.
• 100% Implementation of risk mitigation strategies to protect the company's interests.
• 95% implementation of legal training programs for media personnel.
• Improvement in overall legal awareness within the organization.
• Effectiveness in managing legal aspects during crises or reputation-threatening situations.
• 100% timely and successful resolution of crisis-related legal issues.

Benefits
Industry competitive package: Salary and performance-linked bonus.

Application Closing Date
Not Specified.

How to Apply 
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Application to: [email protected] using "Application for Head of Legal Role" as the subject of the email.