Music Publishers Association

Legal Counsel – MPA Group of Companies

Job Title: Legal Counsel
Reporting to: The CEO
Employer: Music Publishers Association (MPA)
Status: Full time
Location: Holborn, London, WC1B 5AA
Salary: Dependent on qualifications and experience

Overview:  To provide general legal, corporate governance and public affairs advice and support to the MPA Group of Companies (MPA, Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) and Printed Music Licensing Limited (PMLL)) in its work on behalf of music publisher and writer members and the music publishing industry.  Handling all legal, governance and compliance issues across the three group companies, assisting with the legal aspects of public policy submissions, and general legal work.

This is an interesting and multi-faceted role that offers the successful applicant a unique opportunity to utilize and further develop a range of skills and experience within the music publishing industry at both a strategic and operational level.

Legal:

• Negotiation, drafting and review of the full range of commercial agreements entered by the MPA Group of Companies (including outsourced services agreements, membership mandate agreements, and licensing agreements).
• Advising the CEO and Boards in relation to key projects being undertaken by the MPA Group of Companies and any issues that may arise.
• Staying abreast of copyright law and advising on copyright issues, where required.
• Drafting and reviewing standard publishing industry templates recommended by MPA Group of Companies.
• Engaging and handling the relationship with outside lawyers, where required.
• Advising and assisting the CEO with complaints, disputes, and other contentious issues.
• Advise on any other legal issue arising (within the reasonable expectation of your experience).

Governance:

• Provide legal support and advice to the boards and committees of the MPA Group of Companies, preparing briefing papers for meetings on matters falling within the role.
• Provide advice and support for relevant corporate events, such as AGMs and annual rights holder meetings.
• Prepare documentation and manage the process of the election of directors to the boards of the MPA Group of Companies.
• Advise upon and maintain compliance of MPA Group of Companies with company law and other relevant legislation and standards.
• Maintain governance diary and initiate reviews of policies and other internal and external agreements and documents.
• Advising on conflict-of-interest issues relating to the staff and directors of the MPA Group of Companies and taking steps, pro-actively, to avoid and mitigate such conflicts.

MPA Group of Companies

• Working alongside external advisors, keep the CEO of the MPA Group of Companies and Boards abreast of any legislative or regulatory developments that have the potential to affect the MPA Group of Companies’ businesses.
• Attend, consider and represent the positions of the MPA Group of Companies within external forums such as UK Music and the British Copyright Council as required.
• Assist the Communications Officer as required with articles on public affairs, policy, research, or statistics for the MPA Group of Companies respective websites or contributions to other MPA Group of Companies publications.
• Attend meetings of the MPA Group of Companies’ respective boards and other committees as required, presenting items, or taking minutes if required.
• Run and provide secretariat services for the MPA Group of companies Public Affairs and Governance Committee.

 Public Affairs & Policy

• Working alongside the Chief Policy Officer and Copyright Consultant, monitor legislative, regulatory, parliamentary and industry developments in the UK, Europe and, as appropriate, rest of the World, and input into the work of the CPO to help ensure that the MPA Group of Companies and its members remain abreast of all developments affecting the sector.
• Formulate policy positions in collaboration with the CEO and Chief Policy Officer, and if applicable, the MPA Group of Companies’ respective boards and committees.
• Write, proof, edit, or otherwise contribute to policy papers and submissions.
• Represent the MPA Group of Companies and its members at, and report back on external meetings as required (e.g., ICMP, UK Music, PRS for Music, British Copyright Council).

External Events:

• Represent the MPA Group of Companies at external events, including occasional presentations, talks and panel appearances.

Other:

• Take an interest in what the MPA Group of Companies is doing for its members and keep abreast of developments as much as possible.
• Attend staff meetings as and when required.

Skills required:  Excellent legal and written and verbal communication skills, IT literate, numerate and proficient with Microsoft Office.  The intellectual agility to move easily between the strategic panorama and specific issues, and to ‘join the dots’ between the various issues affecting the MPA Group of Companies. Must be able to work under own initiative, disciplined, organized and a positive self-motivated team player.  A natural networker with the ability to build strong and effective relationships to convey the MPA Group of Companies’ vision.

Personal Qualities:  Organised, disciplined, hard-working and self-motivated.  A positive team player with a proactive creative and solutions-orientated approach.  An interest and awareness in music and developing technologies surrounding it.

Experience:   At least 5 years post qualified experience (PQE) highly desirable, copyright, or commercial experience, company law with excellent drafting skills. Experience working in or with collection societies and on international business, or a music publisher would be an added advantage.

Please direct all applications to Office Manager Lisa Portman at [email protected]