AVP, Legal Counsel

Role Overview

• Serve as a senior legal advisor across various business teams, including procurement, sales, customer service, engineering, and operations.
• Partner to shape legal strategy, policies, and priorities aligned with DIRECTV’s objectives.
• Provide mentorship and guidance to junior legal staff and paralegals within the legal department.
• Lead and manage outside counsel relationships, including oversight of legal spending, billing, and performance.
• Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of complex, high-value agreements, including application and distribution agreements, affiliate agreements, technology and SaaS agreements, vendor and supplier contracts, and strategic partnership agreements.
• Develop and implement contract templates, legal playbooks, best practices, and standardized processes to improve efficiency and consistency across the legal function.
• Advise senior leadership on regulatory and compliance matters specific to the pay-TV industry, including FCC regulations and consumer protection laws.
• Monitor and assess legislative and regulatory developments affecting the satellite television and streaming industries and proactively communicate implications to executive leadership.
• Ensure DIRECTV’s transactional activities remain in full compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Collaborate closely with business units including content acquisition, product development, engineering, operations, sales, marketing, technology, finance, ad sales, customer service, and government affairs on strategic corporate initiatives.
• Act as a key liaison between the legal department and senior business leadership to ensure legal considerations and business risks are integrated into business decision-making at the highest levels.
• Protect DIRECTV’s valuable Intellectual Property with respect to licensing and development agreements.
• Support and contribute to enterprise-wide risk management and corporate governance initiatives.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active bar admission in good standing.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive transactional legal experience, with a combination of law firm and in-house experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in complex negotiations of high-value, strategic transactions.
• Strong background in commercial contract drafting and negotiations within the media, entertainment, IP, app distribution, and/or technology sectors.
• Familiarity with FCC regulations and pay-TV industry compliance is a strong advantage.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, collaborate with teams, and prioritize multiple high-stakes matters in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present complex legal and business issues clearly to executive audiences.
• Strong business acumen, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach to legal and business issues.
• High level of integrity, sound judgment, teamwork, and the ability to influence and build consensus at all levels of the organization.

Benefits

• Competitive executive compensation and comprehensive benefits package.
• A seat at the table with senior leadership and executive decision-makers.
• Opportunity to lead high-impact transactions within a premier media and entertainment company.
• Flexible, work from home opportunity.
• Exposure to cutting-edge developments in streaming and media technologies.
• A collaborative, inclusive, and high-performing legal team culture.
• Significant opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
• May require a background check due to job duties requiring routine access to DIRECTV and DIRECTV customer’s proprietary data.