Senior Manager, Legal and Business Affairs

Business Area: Legal and Business Affairs

Contract Type: Perm Full time

Salary: £90,000 - £95,000

Workplace: White City, London + Hybrid

Closing Date: 16th August 2026

The team..

This role is part of the Legal & Business Affairs team within ITV Studios Global Partnerships who support the commercial teams responsible for distributing and monetising ITV’s intellectual property rights worldwide. Working at the centre of creative, commercial and legal decision-making, the team advises on a wide range of deals across content distribution, rights exploitation and brand partnerships.

Within Global Partnerships, the growing Studio 55 Brand Licensing team focuses on innovative brand-funded and brand licensing opportunities across digital content, merchandising, events, gaming and global brand integrations.

In this high-exposure role, you will support the Studio 55 team drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements while managing 1.5 direct reports. Working across brand-funded deals, merchandising, live events, brand integrations, and third-party distribution, you will balance rigorous legal risk management with a solutions-focused, commercial approach.

Some of your key day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Drafting, negotiating, and advising on agreements relating to brand sponsorship and brand funded content.
• Leading on agreements for global IP brand licensing, including merchandising, live events, immersive venues, brand integrations, gaming and gambling.
• Drafting and negotiating production and talent agreements relating to brand funded content production .
• Providing line management and development for direct reports, cultivating a collaborative and high-achieving team environment.
• Building strong working relationships with external licensees and internal commercial teams to deeply understand key commercial and legal priorities.

Skills you’ll need (minimum criteria)

• Qualified solicitor (extensive PQE experience) or equivalent professional experience.
• Solid background in commercial contracts, intellectual property, and media law.
• Strong technical commercial IP experience with a deep understanding of the value of IP rights in brand licensing and audiovisual exploitation.
• Proven experience negotiating contracts relating to brand funding, brand licensing, or content production (particularly for digital exploitation).
• Demonstrated ability to conclude complex deals successfully within tight commercial deadlines.
• Experience of line management and mentoring.

Other things we’re looking for (key criteria)

• In-house legal experience and/or experience working with brand agencies, influencers, or non-scripted production business affairs (especially for social media) is highly advantageous.
• Ability to manage, mentor, and develop direct reports while working collaboratively across a matrix organisation.
• A proportionate, solutions-focused approach with a natural motivation to learn and adapt to emerging areas of media law.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to establish rapport with commercial and legal colleagues quickly.
• Exceptional multi-tasking skills with the ability to prioritise a varied portfolio of deals under pressure.

Potential Challenges

• Due to the fast-paced nature of commercial deal-making, you may at times be required to work beyond standard contractual hours to close key deals.

Please note, on occasion we may receive a very large volume of applications which means applications for a role may close earlier than the referenced closing date. We’d encourage you to apply as soon as possible if interested.