Director, Legal – Unscripted

Warner Bros. Discovery

. Provide strategic legal guidance across the development, production, distribution, and exploitation of unscripted programming .

Posted 9/21/2026full-timeBurbank • California • United StatesLead💰 $154,000 - $286,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates extensive legal expertise in the entertainment industry, particularly in drafting and negotiating contracts, providing strategic legal guidance, and ensuring compliance with corporate policies and regulations. Capable of building strong relationships with internal clients and advising senior executives on legal implications and risk assessments.

Highest-signal resume keywords

7+ Years Legal ExperienceJuris Doctorate DegreeCA State Bar MembershipContract Drafting and NegotiationEntertainment Industry Legal Knowledge

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Contract AnalysisLegal ResearchRisk AssessmentProduction Legal SupportNegotiation of AgreementsCompliance with Legal PoliciesRights ResearchLegal Document DraftingUnion and Nonunion Guild ObligationsMarketing and Advertising Restrictions

Soft Skills

Exceptional Interpersonal SkillsEffective CommunicationStrategic ThinkingTeam-Oriented AttitudeStrong Client Relationship Building

Certifications & Qualifications

CA State Bar Membership

Industry Keywords

Unscripted ProgrammingProduction AgreementsDistribution AgreementsNetwork LicensingBranded PartnershipsContent ClearanceFilming RegulationsEntertainment LawCorporate Legal ComplianceTalent Representation

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide strategic legal guidance across the development, production, distribution, and exploitation of unscripted programming
Partner with creative executives, production teams, business stakeholders, and talent representatives
Negotiate, draft, and analyze development, production, and distribution agreements
Serve as a trusted advisor to the Warner Bros. Television Unscripted Business & Legal Affairs organization
Negotiate business and legal terms and advise on contractual matters
Support programming across multiple platforms and distribution models
Negotiate and draft agreements including network licensing, rights, shopping, above-the-line talent, options, purchase, format, production services, contestant and participant, release, trade out and branded partnership, contingent compensation, composer, music license, and location agreements
Advise company and production personnel on production, distribution, and marketing of original content
Advise on union and nonunion guild obligations
Research and provide legal advice for filming in the U.S. and internationally
Clear content and conduct rights research
Provide general production legal support
Advise on marketing and advertising restrictions
Negotiate with networks and licensees
Ensure compliance with Warner Bros. Discovery and corporate legal policies and 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

What you’ll need

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
Knowledge of law and legal environment of entertainment industry sufficient to draft and negotiate legal documents and counsel management on legal implications
Ability to analyze, draft and negotiate contracts
Ability to research legal questions and communicate responses effectively to all levels of corporate and production staff
Ability to write in a well-organized, concise and precise manner
Ability to supervise paralegal and clerical subordinates engaged in legal-related tasks
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to build strong internal client relationships, advise senior-level executives, and produce strong client and partner satisfaction through practical and strategic thinking
Agile, proactive, highly motivated, team-oriented attitude, excellent judgment, ability to handle high volume of work with minimal supervision, assess risk, make decisions, and prioritize multiple projects with competing deadlines

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual bonuses
Short- and long-term incentives
Program-specific awards
Health insurance coverage
Employee wellness program
Life and disability insurance
Retirement savings plan
Paid holidays
Sick time
Vacation
Accessibility adjustments or accommodations during the job application and/or recruitment process