Working Title Films, co-chaired by Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, is one of the world’s leading British production companies, having created well-loved and critically acclaimed film and TV content for 40 years. The company is proud to have created over 130 films and TV programmes that have grossed over $8.5 billion worldwide and they continue to champion new talent through the London Screen Academy and NBC Universal Global Writers Programme.

Working Title projects have received a total of 10 Best Picture Nominations and have won 15 Academy Awards (including Joe Wright’s Darkest Hour, Tom Hooper’s The Danish Girl, James Marsh’s The Theory of Everything, Tom Hooper’s Les Misérables, Joe Wright’s Anna Karenina, Tim Robbins’ Dead Man Walking; Joel and Ethan Coen’s Fargo; Shekhar Kapur’s Elizabeth and Elizabeth: The Golden Age; and Joe Wright’s Atonement), 11 Golden Globes, over 40 BAFTA Awards and numerous prestigious prizes at the Cannes and Berlin International Film Festivals.

The company’s commercial and critical hits include My Beautiful Laundrette, Sid & Nancy, The Interpreter, About a Boy, Ali G, Notting Hill, Elizabeth, Fargo, Dead Man Walking, Bean, High Fidelity, Johnny English, Billy Elliot, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Bridget Jones’s Diary, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason, A Serious Man, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Love Actually, Shaun of the Dead, Pride & Prejudice, Nanny McPhee, United93, Mr. Bean’s Holiday, Hot Fuzz, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, Burn After Reading, Frost/Nixon, Atonement, Senna, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Contraband, Anna Karenina, Les Misérables, About Time, Rush, Trash, Everest, Legend, The Danish Girl, Hail Caesar!, Bridget Jones’s Baby, Victoria and Abdul, Baby Driver, Darkest Hour, Yesterday, Mary Queen of Scots, Rebecca, Emma, The High Note, Last Night in Soho and Cyrano, Ticket to Paradise, Matilda, The Swimmers, What’s Love got to do with it?, Polite Society, Blitz, as well as We Are Lady Parts and Everything I Know About Love for Working Title TV. 

Recent releases include Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy (Universal Pictures), The Substance (Mubi), Coralie Fargeat’s explosive feminist take on body horror starring Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley, Honey Don’t (Focus Features) starring Margaret Qualley, Aubrey Plaza and Chris Evans, and Lena Dunham's eagerly anticipated series, Too Much (Netflix), starring Megan Stalter and Will Sharpe, written and directed by Lena Dunham with original music from Luis Felber.

Working Title’s upcoming slate includes Sense and Sensibility (Focus Features), directed by Georgia Oakley and starring Daisy Edgar Jones, Crime 101 (Amazon MGM), an adaptation of the Don Winslow novella, directed by Bart Layton and starring Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry, historical drama Pressure (Studiocanal & Focus Features), directed by Anthony Maras, starring Andrew Scott, Kerry Condon and Brendan Fraser, Finding Emily (Focus Features), a romantic comedy set in Manchester, written by Rachel Hirons, directed by Alicia MacDonald and starring Angourie Rice and Spike Fearn, Three Bags Full (Amazon MGM), starring Hugh Jackman, Nicolas Braun, Nicolas Galitzine, Molly Gordon, Hong Chau and Emma Thompson, as well as Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole (Netflix) series adapted by leading crime-writer Jo Nesbø from his best-selling books, directed by Øystein Karlson, starring Tobias Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman. 

This programming exemplifies Working Title's commitment to pushing boundaries and embracing diverse narratives that resonate with contemporary audiences.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Development: Drafting option/purchase agreements (and option/quitclaim agreements), option extension letters/amendments, writer agreements, director agreements, producer agreements, copyright assignment agreements, novation agreements, turnaround letters, certificates of engagement, licence agreements, services agreements, publisher’s quitclaims, co-development and co-production agreements and acting agreements.
• Projects in pre-production/production/post-production: Drafting (or assisting outside production counsel in doing the same, if applicable), script consultation services agreements, production service agreements, HOD agreements, PACT/Equity cast forms of engagement, minor agreements, VFX agreements, composer agreements, consultancy agreements, location agreements, clearance documentation (including footage licence agreements, prop releases, likeness releases etc.) and any and all other contracts in connection with film/television production.
• Negotiating and finalising the terms of any of the above agreement documents with agents / lawyers in line with WT’s policies and practices.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Creating precedent agreements, drafting forms and legal templates for internal use and updating existing precedent agreements /drafting forms in line with policy changes as and when required by the department (or Universal) across both TV and Film.
• Conducting detailed chain of title reviews with respect to certain development projects.
• Conducting legal research using PLC and/or other legal databases and summarising the salient points.
• Preparing accurate and succinct deal summaries (or above the line budget charges) as required.
• Attending internal business-finance meetings with the Finance team and creating/following up on a list of action points.
• Liaising with the Contracts Executive where required (e.g., updating internal trackers).
• Consulting with other lawyers at Universal (e.g., in Labor Relations, IP or Litigation) where certain bespoke drafting may be required or specialist advice is needed.
• Attending PBAC meetings on behalf of WT and updating the team on any key developments across film and/or TV.
• Managing/liaising with the Contracts Executive regarding execution of agreements, including by way of DocuSign.
• Stay current on entertainment law developments, union/guild regulations (SAG-AFTRA, WGA, DGA, etc.), and industry best practices.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

• Academic Legal Qualification i.e. LLB or equivalent. Consideration will be given to candidates with equivalent qualifications from another common law jurisdiction.
• NQ-1 year qualified, ideally with background in film and/or TV and experience in drafting/negotiating the types of contracts referenced above or having completed a seat in IP.
• Strong educational background.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Highly organised and efficient - presents clearly and gets to the point.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to interact with a range of personalities and establish effective relationships internally and externally.
• Enjoys solving commercial and corporate problems - learns quickly and has clarity of thought.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, changing environment with a diverse and often heavy workload.
• Ability to identify, prioritise and manage urgent work assignments, and manage expectations in respect of other tasks.
• Computer expertise with proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint.

The candidate must be able to demonstrate as much of the above through her/his CV (both in respect of professional path and extra-curricular achievements) and in interview.

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].