Head of Legal and Business Affairs

What You'll Do

Draft and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including production services agreements, co-production and IP rights deals, ‘above the line’ talent deals, project equity and debt finance agreements, partnership and sponsorship deals, and content licensing/distribution arrangements Advise on employment and contractor matters - including UK & US worker classification, talent agreements, guild issues (particularly in the US and UK), equity documentation, and employment agency regulations where relevant Support corporate matters including fundraising, equity management, cap table maintenance, option grants, and board governance - working alongside external counsel where needed Manage global privacy compliance across the UK, EU, and US Build and own contract templates, playbooks, and internal legal infrastructure Keep across developments in AI regulation, copyright law, and the UK and EU platform economy Collaborate closely with internal stakeholders - production, IP & development, commercial, finance, and talent teams - to give practical, proportionate legal advice Supporting funding and financing rounds, including working with investors, managing due diligence processes, and reviewing and negotiating transaction documentation Manage, oversee and support IP acquisition - including asset purchases, standard rights in deals such as option, shopping and joint venture deals, licensing arrangements, and the diligence required to assess and clean title on third-party IP

What We're Looking For

A qualified solicitor (England & Wales) with 4-7 years of PQE, with in-house experience preferred or strong relevant private practice background Experience in commercial contracts, with strong drafting instincts and an eye for risk that doesn't tip into over-lawyering Deep familiarity with the media and entertainment space - ideally with experience on both the sell side (at a production company or similar) and the buy side (at a commissioner or financier) with exposure to the full ecosystem across development, financing, production, distribution and monetisation Comfort working across UK employment law and global privacy frameworks (UK GDPR, EU GDPR, and US state privacy laws) An interest in AI and its legal implications - you don't need to be a specialist, but you should be genuinely curious about the space Strong written communication skills and the ability to translate legal complexity into plain, accessible language A self-starter, start up mindset - able to manage your own workload, flag issues early, and get things done without a lot of process overhead Ability to manage matters across both UK and US jurisdictions - comfortable navigating the differences between the two systems and knowing when to bring in local counsel

Nice to Have

Experience in independent feature film financing and navigating tax credit/rebate regimes in the UK, EU and USA Exposure to equity documentation or early-stage company work Familiarity with cross-border commercial arrangements, including EU/UK divergence post-Brexit Prior in-house experience

What We Offer

Full ownership of the legal function at a well-backed, early-stage AI company Broad remit across commercial, IP, employment, regulatory, and emerging AI legal matters Direct access to and influence over senior leadership and founders Hybrid working from London with flexibility Competitive salary and equity participation

Wonder Studios is an equal opportunities employer. We're building a diverse and inclusive team and welcome applications from all backgrounds.