Legal Counsel, Business Affairs

Job Summary

Create Music Group’s Legal and Business Affairs team is expanding. We are seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to support the company’s growing music, publishing, and digital media operations. This role is designed for a seasoned attorney with strong music industry experience who can independently handle complex matters, provide senior-level legal judgment, and support deal execution at scale.

The ideal candidate brings significant prior law firm experience, has worked extensively with record labels, music publishers, and digital media companies, and is comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy. Experience in music is required. This role will partner closely with internal business teams and senior legal leadership to ensure efficient deal execution, risk mitigation, and legal process consistency across the organization. 

Responsibilities

Agreement Drafting, Negotiation & Execution

• Independently draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of complex music and digital media agreements, including, without limitation:
• • Distribution and content monetization agreements
  • Recording, administration, and co-publishing agreements
  • Master use, synchronization, and mechanical license agreements
  • Channel partnership, marketing, and promotional agreements
  • Employment, contractor, and consulting agreements
  • Acquisition, joint venture, and other strategic agreements
  • Producer, side artist, sample, and other clearance agreements
  • DSP and other licensing agreements  
  • Production agreements
  • Network / MCN Agreements
  • Talent Agreements
  • Creator & Influencer Agreements
  • Brand Partnership Agreements
  • Sponsorship & Advertising Agreements
  • Advertising Sales Representation Agreements
  • Technology Agreements
  • Vendor & Professional Services Agreements
  • Marketing & Promotion Agreements
  • Confidentiality / Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
  • Data Protection & Information Security Agreements
  • Transition Services Agreements
  • Termination & Wind-Down Agreements
• Review and respond to counterparty comments and redlines with minimal oversight.
• Manage negotiations from initial draft through execution, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and alignment with company standards.

Deal Flow & Business Support

• Manage and take ownership of deal flow across multiple business units.
• Serve as a primary legal partner to internal teams, including Accounting, Finance, Culture, A&R, Distribution, Publishing, Marketing, Data, and Digital.
• Coordinate final deal points with internal stakeholders and external counsel.
• Track deal status and proactively follow up on open items to ensure timely execution.
• Help manage and partner with outside counsel.

Risk Management & Legal Advisory

• Identify legal risks and provide practical, business-focused guidance to mitigate exposure.
• Advise internal teams on deal structure, rights, and obligations.
• Escalate novel, high-risk, or enterprise-level issues to senior legal leadership as appropriate.
• Support dispute prevention through clear drafting, early issue spotting, and proactive guidance.
• Provide legal support, including managing conflicts and claims, and handling pre-litigation matters.

Team Leadership & Process Support

• Review and provide feedback on agreement drafts prepared by other attorneys and legal team members.
• Serve as a senior resource within the Business Affairs team.
• Assist in developing, maintaining, and improving legal templates, playbooks, and internal processes.
• Support implementation of legal systems and tools to improve efficiency and visibility.

Administrative & Operational Support

• Organize and manage deal terms, client information, and legal documentation.
• Coordinate execution of agreements, including use of electronic signature platforms.
• Assist with termination, takedown, and clearance requests as needed.
• Maintain accurate records within internal tracking systems and databases.

Qualifications 

• Minimum Qualifications:
• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to at least one U.S. state bar (active and in good standing).
• Minimum eight (8) years of experience practicing law.
• Required prior strong law firm experience, including significant experience drafting and negotiating music related agreements.
• Demonstrated experience working with record labels, music publishers, and/or digital media companies.
• Strong working knowledge of music industry practices and copyright principles.
• Ability to independently manage complex matters and high-volume deal flow.
• Excellent legal writing, negotiation, and analytical skills.
• Experience mentoring junior attorneys or legal staff and reviewing work product.
• Strong experience with Google Suite, Word, Adobe DC, Excel, Formstack, and CRMs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior in-house experience at a music, media, or technology company.
• Experience supporting fast-paced, high-growth organizations and managing competing priorities.
• Comfort advising senior business stakeholders and translating legal concepts into practical guidance.

Skills & Attributes:

• Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Solution-oriented with sound judgment.
• Clear and effective communicator, both written and verbal.
• Self-starter capable of operating independently.
• Comfortable handling sensitive matters with discretion.
• Able to manage a high volume of projects without sacrificing quality.

Pay Scale

• $180,000 – $220,000 USD per year 
• The final compensation within this range will be determined based on the candidate’s experience, skills, and overall fit for the role.

Fair Chance Policy

In accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with criminal histories. We evaluate candidates based on their qualifications and the nature of the offense in relation to the job for which they are applying.