Black Bear · 19 hours ago
Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs
Santa Monica, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$180K/yr - $230K/yr
7+ years expBlack Bear is seeking a Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs to manage legal matters primarily related to film distribution, licensing, and rights acquisition. The role involves leading negotiations, drafting contracts, and ensuring compliance with legal standards while collaborating with various teams within the company.
Film ProductionMedia and EntertainmentTV Production
Hiring Manager
Stefanie Wilkes
Responsibilities
Support the EVP, Business & Legal Affairs and other company executives in managing legal matters mainly related to film distribution, licensing, and rights acquisition
Lead negotiations for select distribution agreements, licensing agreements, and partnerships under the guidance of senior leadership
Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts, ensuring alignment with the company’s interests and compliance with legal standards
Analyze legal risks, ensure compliance with industry regulations, and develop solutions to mitigate potential challenges
Liaise with the company’s creative marketing and publicity teams and review picture related marketing materials for clearance, talent, guild, and credit issues
Review and draft legal delivery elements and supervise timely outgoing delivery to downstream distributors
Work in concert with administrative support staff to ensure that the BA department efficiently and effectively addresses the company’s legal needs
Collaborate on operational strategies to improve efficiency, resource management, and project execution, working closely with cross-functional teams
Perform other day-to-day business and legal affairs as needed and assigned
Qualification
Required
7 - 10 years proven experience practicing law in the entertainment industry (studio, major indie production company, or entertainment law firm) with a focus on film distribution; direct experience in film finance, development, and production a plus
Core understanding of the ins and outs of independent film finance, production, and distribution, including key material business terms
Strong and effective negotiating ability, excellent drafting skills, business judgment, and unquestioned ethics
Ability to work under pressure, juggle multiple assignments, and meet key deadlines with attention to detail
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
A team-driven mentality mixed with a self-motivated capability
BA/BS, JD, and bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state
Company
Black Bear
Black Bear is a global entertainment company representing singular artists, producing original content, and providing finance at each step of the creative process.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
Teddy Schwarzman
Chief Executive Officer
Courtney L. Cunniff
Senior Vice President of Film
Recent News
The Hollywood Reporter
2025-10-02
2025-09-12
2025-08-15
Company data provided by crunchbase