Head of Legal – UK, NE, ANZ

Job Title: Head of Legal UK NE ANZ
Reports To: Managing Director Operations (Functional dotted line to Group CLO)
Career Path: Managerial
Location: London / Hybrid
Team Structure: Standalone role (No Direct Reports at present)

Role Overview

As Head of Legal UK NE & ANZ you will serve as the senior legal lead for the regional business of a music company operating across digital and physical distribution artist services and sync licensing.

This is a standalone high-impact role with full responsibility for all legal regulatory contentious and risk matters across the UK Northern Europe and Australia & New Zealand requiring strategic oversight commercial acumen and hands-on operational execution. You will act as the principal legal advisor to the regional business while ensuring alignment with Group legal strategy and frameworks in a complex international matrix organisation.

The role requires autonomy sound judgement and the ability to drive matters forward efficiently across multiple internal stakeholders and approval layers.

The role reports directly to the Managing Director Operations with a functional dotted line to the Group Chief Legal Officer. You will have clear escalation protocols to Group Legal for material disputes regulatory investigations precedent-setting matters. You will operate within defined delegated authority thresholds for contractual approvals and dispute resolution with mandatory escalation to Group Legal for matters exceeding agreed financial precedent or regulatory risk thresholds.

Type of Person We Are Looking For

We are seeking a commercially astute highly autonomous legal leader who thrives in a complex and fast-moving international environment. The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• A proactive solutions-driven mindset someone who identifies paths forward rather than obstacles

• The ability to work with minimal supervision taking full ownership of matters from instruction to completion

• A can do attitude with a strong problem-solving capability combined with sound commercial judgement

• Confidence in navigating a sophisticated multi-layered organisation and securing alignment across functions

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Very strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and credibility at all levels across sales teams senior leadership operational teams and Group stakeholders

• Resilience and composure when managing competing priorities in a fast paced high pressured environment

• Deep commercial fluency in the music ecosystem; someone who understands artist/manager dynamics maintains strong credibility with external music lawyers and approaches legal frameworks as a tool to win and secure competitive deals.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial:

• Serve as the primary legal advisor for the region across music distribution (digital and physical) artist services and sync/licensing activities.

• Lead the drafting review negotiation and structuring of agreements including:

  • Artist distribution agreements (digital and physical)

  • Label services agreements

  • Artist services and revenue-share arrangements (for the UK Business and our Joint Ventures)

  • Sync licensing agreements (film TV advertising gaming digital platforms)

  • Content exploitation and platform agreements

  • Marketing branding merchandising and promotional partnerships

• Advise on copyright neighbouring rights publishing royalty structures and rights ownership issues.

• Oversight of copyright enforcement strategy across the region including digital infringement matters takedown processes and coordination with Group anti-piracy functions.

• Ensure contractual frameworks are commercially robust operationally workable and compliant with Group standards.

• Partner closely with A&R Sales and Business Development to proactively structure competitive forward-thinking deals to help attract high-profile talent and high-value label partners.

Governance Risk & Compliance

• Act as the sole lead for the Regional legal function with full ownership of legal risk management.

• Implement and adapt Group-level legal guidelines templates and approval processes to the UK legal and regulatory framework.

• Work closely with the Groups Contract Administration team navigating multi-layered approval workflows and ensuring contracts progress efficiently through internal governance channels.

• Operate effectively within a complex matrix structure understanding how to secure approvals and drive outcomes across multiple stakeholders.

• Advise on contractual breaches disputes and pre-litigation matters managing external counsel where required.

• Proactively partner with department heads to anticipate and mitigate legal exposure.

M&A/Growth

• Support and lead legal aspects of any local M&A activity joint ventures acquisitions strategic investments in coordination with Group Legal and executive stakeholders.

• Conduct legal due diligence support transaction structuring manage transaction documentation and assist with post-acquisition integration from a legal perspective.

• Contribute to broader regional growth strategies identifying legal pathways for catalog acquisitions strategic joint ventures and new business models that expand the companys market share across the UK NE and ANZ.

Disputes & Litigation

• Full ownership of all pre-litigation litigation arbitration regulatory investigations and enforcement matters across the region.

• Development and execution of dispute resolution strategy including early case assessment and settlement frameworks.

• Supervision and management of external counsel including budget oversight and performance management.

• Oversight of contractual enforcement actions and defence of claims.

• Strategic advice to senior leadership on litigation financial and reputational risk exposure.

• Reporting of material disputes and investigations to Group Legal and Executive stakeholders in line with escalation protocols.

Cross-Functional & International Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with local teams (Sales A&R Operations Finance) to improve contractual processes while balancing commercial objectives and risk management.

• Liaise regularly with the Group Legal Department on strategic matters escalations global templates and international initiatives.

• Maintain and leverage a strong network of relationships with music law firms advisors and relevant industry bodies. Actively engage with the legal community to stay abreast of industry developments and trends while representing Believe as a preferred partner for new artist and label signings talent referrals and strategic opportunities.

Qualifications :

Education

• Fully qualified lawyer with a comprehensive academic background in Law

Professional Experience

• Significant experience in senior legal roles (Head of Legal Legal Director or Senior Legal Counsel) within an international matrix organisation.

• Strong experience within the music entertainment media or digital content industry

Demonstrated Experience In:

• Leading a legal function and operating independently

• Negotiating complex music distribution artist licensing or content agreements

• Managing legal risk within a rights-driven business model

• Supporting corporate transactions and M&A processes

• Operating effectively within multi-layered approval environments

Assessment Criteria & Role Suitability

The following benchmarks will be used to assess suitability for this role as part of the consultation and interview process. The candidate will be expected to demonstrate how their current experience as a Business Affairs Solicitor maps to these senior-level requirements:

Commercial Deal Structuring

Ability to structure and negotiate complex agreements (distribution label services revenue-share sync platforms). Focus on leading negotiations and designing solutions rather than just reviewing.

Demonstrating a sharp commercial instinct for closing deals understanding how to balance legal risk with the companys need to win high-value signings in a highly competitive market

Rights & Copyright Expertise

Deep knowledge of master rights neighbouring rights publishing and royalties. Experience with distribution models (digital/physical) CMOs (PRS/PPL) and cross-border exploitation.

Commercial Problem Solving

Translating legal constraints into workable business outcomes. Ability to restructure deals under pressure while maintaining risk protection; acting as an enabler rather than a blocker.

Dispute & Risk Ownership

Managing pre-litigation/litigation strategy with head office. Oversight of external counsel and legal budgets. Assessing legal financial and reputational risk for senior leadership.

Matrix Leadership & Governance

Navigating an international matrix; balancing regional priorities with Group governance. Experience with global approval frameworks escalation protocols and central policy alignment.

Stakeholder Influence

Influencing senior stakeholders (A&R Sales HQ) and negotiating risk trade-offs. Maintaining relationships when commercial objectives and legal risks diverge.

Operational Autonomy

Operating as a sole legal lead across multiple jurisdictions. Prioritizing high-volume time-sensitive matters and delivering practical guidance in fast-moving environments.

Regulatory & Industry Awareness

Knowledge of music/digital regulations: copyright enforcement data protection CMO frameworks and consumer/competition law across relevant jurisdictions.

Additional Information :

SET THE TONE WITH US

Working at Believe means having individual and collective impact in a fast-growing company!

At all stages of their careers Believers are an important part of what we are doing: shaping the future of the music industry.

We need teams that truly reflect the diversity of our clients: our international presence is an inspiring and enriching work environment for each one of us with daily opportunities to connect with our colleagues all over the world.

We have two hearts at Believe - our People and our Artists.

We believe in THE POWER OF OUR PEOPLE who grow every day to develop their potential We aim to provide our Believers with the best environment to thrive.

ROCK THE JOB

Two remote working days per week

Private health care

Pension plan with matched contribution up to 10%

25 days annual leave (with 1 day for your birthday 1 moving house day up to 3 compassionate leave days)

Life assurance and income protection

Access to Eutelmed a digital mental health and well-being platform offering sessions with experienced psychologists

Tailor-made training and coaching programs

40% discount on gym membership and free sport classes

SING IN HARMONY

Ambassador program: an employee volunteering initiative dedicated to all Believers interested in having a positive impact on Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) wellbeing and the planet.

We are committed to having a workforce that is representative of the community it serves at all levels of the organisation. We therefore welcome applications from all backgrounds and all sections of the community regardless of age disability gender race religion and sexual orientation.

Remote Work :

No

Employment Type :

Full-time

Experience: years
Vacancy: 1