Legal Counsel - Immigration, Minors and Diligence

London, United Kingdom
Legal and Public Policy

It’s an amazing time to be joining Netflix as we continue to transform entertainment globally. Netflix is the world's leading internet entertainment service with over 231 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, and feature films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.
The UK & EMEA is the largest market outside the US and where we are determined to increase our offer of great content to more and more members. It’s an incredibly exciting time to work at Netflix.
Netflix seeks a qualified lawyer or someone with other relevant qualifications/experience to be part of the Minors, Immigration & Diligence (MInD) team.
The MInD team is unique to Netflix and handles a niche, yet important aspect of Netflix productions. It’s responsible for setting and implementing global and local practices across our productions and to help them be thoughtful and innovative with respect to global immigration requirements for cast and crew, the protection/safeguarding of minors involved in our productions, compliance with child employment laws and regulations as well as diligence (contributor care). The latter can include background checks, psychological evaluations, medical testing as well as other checks and/or support for individuals taking part in our non-scripted content.
The successful candidate is likely to be a qualified lawyer, have a minimum of 5 years PQE immigration law experience and will, in addition, have the ambition, enthusiasm and ability to expand their horizons into the other aspect of the role, that is, minors and diligence.
The position is based in our London office and will help provide support to our productions in the UK and across the EMEA region. The role will report into the Senior Manager, MInD (EMEA), who is also based in London. In addition, you will be working closely with the global Director who is based in Los Angeles, California, and the rest of the global team.
EMEA is already a strong market, but the size, complexity and growth opportunities in the region means there is much to do. The ideal candidate will welcome the opportunity to be part of a fast-paced and entrepreneurial company. Your Responsibilities:

• To work with internal business partners to assess and recommend strategic approaches regarding immigration, child employment/minor protection, and diligence during the planning and production phases for Netflix projects.
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  To provide immigration support for Netflix productions, including liaising with outside counsel, external production partners, talent and their representatives; review and, in some cases, prepare immigration documents; and advise key internal stakeholders throughout the visa journey.
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  To provide end-to-end diligence oversight for our unscripted productions in region, including reviewing the creative, assessing the diligence needs on projects and making recommendations to creative execs and production; review diligence reports (eg background checks, psychological evaluations etc.); manage and source local vendors; maintain databases to help keep all teams aligned; and maintain constant and clear communication with internal and external stakeholders.
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  To provide oversight and advice in relation to child employment for all Netflix productions involving minors, including advising on applicable child employment law/regulations and union/guild rules; and to work with outside counsel and vendors in close partnership with other internal teams.
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  To provide advice and support to internal Business and Legal Affairs partners regarding minor court affirmation, including guidance on which countries allow minors to disaffirm, which countries have provisions by which employers can affirm or ratify contracts, and to provide support throughout the process of affirmation/ratification.
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  We are on an exciting growth journey that involves a varied slate of international productions. The team is focused on efficiency and serving the needs of production. Part of that means evolving with the business as it grows, which will require you to identify areas for improvement and to establish innovative processes and workflows as the landscape/needs of the business change.

You are the right person for this role if:

• You will thrive in our culture and you are excited by Who We Are as a company.
• You have a deep knowledge of UK immigration law, ideally within the TV/Film/Entertainment industry, and some experience advising on global immigration issues more widely.
• You ideally have experience of advising in relation to diligence/compliance and/or child employment safeguards for a network/broadcaster/studio (this is preferred but not essential as we will provide the necessary onboarding and training in these practice areas to the right candidate).
• You are able to work proactively, independently and reliably under tight timeframes and in a fast-paced environment
• You are a strong team player, able to work effectively and collaboratively with a range of stakeholders
• You have a demonstrable ability to identify, assess and balance risk and to offer creative, practical and business-oriented solutions in partnership with stakeholders
• You are solution-oriented, and keep a cool head in high-stress situations.
• You consistently exercise great judgment without agonizing, resulting in fast action and smart decisions and can articulate sound reasoning for your decisions.
• You are effective and concise in your communications.
• You possess excellent organisational, multi-tasking and time management skills,
• You pay strong attention to detail.
• You source and use/manage outside vendors effectively.
• You are open-minded and able to pivot if the business needs change.
• You are, most likely, legally qualified and have a minimum of 5 years PQE experience
• You are fluent in English. Fluency in other European and Middle Eastern languages is not essential but desirable.