Senior Counsel, Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster • New York, NY

44d

About The Position

Simon & Schuster was named to Forbes magazine list of America's Best Mid-Size Employers 2022. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for readers of all ages, and in all printed, digital and audio formats. Its distinguished roster of authors includes many of the world's most popular and widely recognized writers, and winners of the most prestigious literary honors and awards. It is home to numerous well-known imprints and divisions such as Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria Books, Gallery Books, Pocket Books, Adams Media, Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing and Simon & Schuster Audio and international companies in Australia, Canada, India and the United Kingdom, and proudly brings the works of its authors to readers in more than 200 countries and territories. For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.
Simon & Schuster, a leading global publishing company, is seeking an experienced transactional attorney to join its Legal Department as Senior Counsel. This role is well suited for a commercially minded lawyer who enjoys partnering with business teams to structure practical agreements that support sales, operations, traditional publishing, and evolving digital initiatives/business models.
Position Overview
The Senior Counsel will serve as a key legal partner and will address the day-to-day needs of our Audio Division and Sales and Operations groups, and as needed will provide support to our international divisions. This role will focus on the drafting and negotiation of a wide range of commercial agreements that support the business and core publishing functions. The position will counsel clients on various legal and commercial risks related to contractual arrangements, and media, intellectual property, privacy, technology and digital issues and will partner strategically with the operations, sales and audio publishing teams and act as a general advisor and consulting resource from the Legal Department. This role will also handle pre-publication review of certain audiobooks.

Requirements

• Excellent drafting, negotiating and analytical skills and the ability to structure agreements for novel business arrangements.
• Sound business judgment and creative problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work with different client groups to provide guidance and make strategic recommendations.
• Effectively prioritize, execute and respond to a wide variety of inquiries.
• Ability to: work independently, seek guidance when necessary, shift gears quickly to respond to changing client needs and work collaboratively and collegially with clients at all levels of the organization.
• Minimum 6 years of relevant transactional experience, preferably in publishing, media, or technology businesses.
• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Strong understanding of intellectual property principles.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with digital media (eBooks, audiobooks, podcasts, or other digital media) arrangements preferred.
• Strong business judgment and the ability to provide practical, risk-based advice.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of commercial agreements, including:
• SaaS and other vendor agreements
• Digital and physical distribution agreements
• Master services agreements
• Manufacturing, warehouse, and logistics agreements
• Operational and facilities agreements
• Advise Sales, Operations and Audio teams on contract interpretation, risk allocation, and commercial strategy.
• Counsel on intellectual property matters, including copyright, trademark, and content licensing issues.
• Collaborate cross functionally (sales, publishing, marketing, operations, and technology stakeholders to support both established publishing models and evolving digital strategies.
• Assist with international publishing matters and in other legal areas as the need arises.

Benefits

• The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, tuition assistance program and PTO or, if applicable.
• Additionally, employees have access to our industry-first, Broad Based Ownership program, which makes all employees partners in our shared success.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed