Legal Counsel

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the worlds leading brands.
We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.
We have been building the worlds most valuable brands for 50 years and have global reach across 100+ markets, with deep local expertise.
Our people are the key to our success. Were committed to fostering a culture of creativity, belonging and continuous learning, attracting and developing the brightest talent, and providing exciting career opportunities that help our people grow.
For more information, visit WPP.com.
Why were hiring:
The role is to act as in-house legal counsel to the WPP Media business supporting their commercial and client teams and to support the Global General Counsel as part of the wider WPP Media Legal Team.
The successful candidate will not only provide the expected legal expertise in drafting and negotiating contracts and policy, but to also understand how to support commercial negotiations in line with best practice and group guidance and be keen to understand and learn in a fast-paced environment.
The ideal candidate will be legally astute and be a qualified lawyer who has worked inhouse, preferably with Media experience. They should have significant experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts ideally in a media and/or technology context. Knowledge of intellectual property and/or data privacy desirable
Travel may be required from time to time.
What youll be doing:
As well as working closely with the commercial & finance teams, the key areas of responsibility for this role are:

• Drafting, negotiating and closure of various media services, creative content, IT supplier agreements, technology licences, data processing agreements, SAAS Agreement and non-disclosure agreements
• Draft legal notices and Reply
• Drafting and negotiating talent/influencer agreements
• Advising on regulatory and policy compliance
• Supporting the business on deal making in relation to complex and innovative projects
• Keeping abreast of industry regulation, providing legal advice on governance and law change developments across social, media, ecommerce, data privacy and security issues, the transfer, use and storage of data and ePrivacy
• Training and advising the business on risk, compliance, protection matters and relevant aspects of law
• Working with other key stakeholders in the business to set strategy and policies for managing risk in new and emerging products and services
• 
  Helping to create a high profile of the legal resource throughout the business and encouraging active legal involvement in operational decision making
• Managing relationships with internal group counsel (WPP/WPP Media) & external law firms and other professional advisors (notably auditors)
• Development of user-friendly contract templates that can be utilised across the business
• Managing capture and storage of contracts(Contract handlining)
• Coordinating the implementation of WPP Media legal initiatives
• Implementing data privacy good practice and assisting the business with data privacy compliance issues
• Managing & preventing client litigation (creating trackers and preparing summary)
• Advising on reputation management
• IP and copyright
  

What youll need:
Essential criteria:

• 5 years post qualification experience
• Excellent communicator - ability to explain legal issues clearly without jargon to commercial teams and clients
• Ability to draft from precedent and from scratch
• Agility & Adaptability to prioritize, solve problems and provide business solutions to legal issues in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to manage fast-paced workload and escalate issues as appropriate
• Commercial thinker – ability to understand the tensions between commercial objectives and legal requirements, and resolve those tensions
• Operational / commercial experience, must be able to add-value, support / enable / facilitate change
• Collaborative team player, relationship builder with a can-do attitude, lots of energy and drive required with a well-structured and precise way of working
• Fluency in English
  

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Desirable criteria:

• Media / advertising contract experience desirable but not essential
  

Who you are:
Youre open:We are inclusive and collaborative; we encourage the free exchange of ideas; we respect and celebrate diverse views. We are open-minded: to new ideas, new partnerships, new ways of working.
Youre optimistic: We believe in the power of creativity, technology and talent to create brighter futures or our people, our clients and our communities. We approach all that we do with conviction: to try the new and to seek the unexpected.
Youre extraordinary: we are stronger together: through collaboration we achieve the amazing. We are creative leaders and pioneers of our industry; we provide extraordinary every day.
What well give you:
Passionate, inspired people – We aim to create a culture in which people can do extraordinary work.
Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.
Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge
We believe the best work happens when were together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. Thats why weve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office around four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
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