Associate Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs

NEON is expanding its Business and Legal Affairs team with the addition of a new attorney to manage agreements related to marketing, publicity, and merchandising for our film productions. This person will be based in either the New York or Los Angeles office and will report to our General Counsel, President of Business & Legal Affairs.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate closely with NEON Marketing, Publicity and Merchandising teams to provide comprehensive legal support across all marketing and publicity campaigns and merchandising activities, while anticipating and meeting key deadlines on short turnarounds.
• Advising on wide range of industry related issues, including influencer & partnership FTC disclosures, sweepstakes and contests, fair use, MPAA rules and regulations, etc.
• Drafting, reviewing and negotiating all marketing, publicity and merchandising related agreements, including content/artwork licenses, campaign/trailer music licenses and footage clearances, influencer agreement, events & screenings venue agreements, and merchandising related  agreements.
• Consulting with publicity team on contractual obligations for talent T&E, publicity appearances, etc.
• Reviewing marketing materials to ensure compliance with all contractual obligations and obligations to the relevant guilds.
• Providing additional support to the Legal & Business Affairs team as needed outside of marketing and publicity verticals, including reviewing and populating materials for submission to credit facility, quarterly reporting, soundtrack agreements, publishing agreements, and second cycle distribution agreements. 
• Support the Senior Business and Legal Affairs executives as needed with various projects and administrative tasks.

Education + Work Experience:

• JD or LLM from an accredited law school and a member in good standing of New York or California state bar.
• 2 years’ experience as a lawyer in a law firm and/or in-house legal department of entertainment, media/technology, intellectual property, or other relevant industry. Film distribution company is strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with contracts, copyright, and intellectual property law.
• Strong analytical and negotiation skills, with a keen attention to detail.
• Prior experience in marketing, advertising and promotions is a plus
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to convey complex legal concepts effectively.

Desired Characteristics

• Outstanding analytical, communication and organizational skills, including excellent drafting, negotiation and strategic thinking ability
• Collaborative, team-oriented approach
• Sound business judgment, and flexibility/adaptability to manage multiple, wide-ranging matters, conflicting deadlines, and new areas of expertise as business needs change
• Proactively identify, prioritize and resolve legal issues quickly and effectively
• Demonstrated ability, in a positive and practical manner, to approach complex legal scenarios in a thoughtful and analytic fashion
• Ability to explain complex legal concepts to business and creative executives, build consensus across business units, think creatively, and collaborate with other executives to address business needs
• Ability to work independently and interact with legal and business personnel of all levels
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with other members of the team, clients, agents, managers, and other outside counsel.
• Ability to manage and operationalize priorities among multiple clients in an efficient, effective, and proactive manner.

Compensation:

This position has a target annual pay range of $90,000 - $125,000. Compensation may vary based on factors including experience, education, and internal equity.

Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the NYC or LA office a minimum of three days per week.

NEON offers all of its full-time employees a robust range of benefits

• Get peace of mind with our comprehensive Health Care Plan, covering medical, dental, and vision expenses.
• Secure your future with our Retirement Savings Plan, offering options like 401k and IRA.
• Stay protected with our Life Insurance Coverage, including both Basic and Voluntary plans, as well as AD&D.
• Enjoy a healthy work-life balance with our Unlimited Vacation policy, sick days, public holidays, and office closure for winter break.
• Take care of your loved ones with our Family Leave Options, including Parental and Caregiver Leaves.
• Invest in your wellbeing through our Wellness Programs and Resources.

NEON is an equal opportunity employer committed to an inclusive environment that attracts diverse talent. We do not discriminate in hiring based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected characteristics. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.

The job description serves as a guide and is not an exhaustive list of duties; requirements may evolve with business needs.

Applicants in the U.S. have rights under Federal Employment Laws including the Family & Medical Leave Act, Equal Opportunity Employment, and the Employee Polygraph Protection Act. NEON is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. If you need accommodations for the job application, interview, or to perform essential job functions, please inform your NEON contact/recruiter.