Legal Counsel - Media Background

Role Overview

Legal Counsel – New Media Venture at Visioneers. The successful candidate will be the dedicated legal lead for a newly established media venture within the Group, reporting to the General Counsel and sitting within the Group's wider legal function.

Role Purpose

To handle all legal matters relating to the venture's operations, content and commercial activities. Build the venture's legal framework and processes from the ground up and deliver practical, business-focused advice to senior management.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Framework & Governance

• Set up the venture's legal processes, templates, approval workflows and internal policies in coordination with the General Counsel.
• Establish privacy policies and data handling procedures for audience, subscriber and campaign data in line with UAE and regional data protection laws.

Regulatory Compliance & Licensing

• Lead licensing and ongoing regulatory compliance with the UAE Media Council and other relevant authorities covering content standards, advertising codes and child protection requirements.
• Track regulatory developments across the region.
• Respond to requests from courts, prosecution offices and regulators, including takedown and blocking orders, in coordination with the General Counsel.

Content & Risk Review

• Review content, promotional material and advertising for legal risk before publication, managing defamation, privacy, intellectual property and regulatory exposure.
• Train content, editorial and production teams and talent on media law, defamation and content standards.

Commercial Agreements

• Draft and negotiate production, content acquisition and licensing, talent and presenter, advertising and sponsorship, and distribution agreements across relevant markets and platforms.
• Protect original content, formats and brand assets and ensure third-party rights are cleared, including music, archive footage and talent image rights.

Legal Claims & Dispute Management

• Manage legal claims and complaints made by or against the venture, negotiate settlements and oversee external counsel in litigation.

Advisory & Stakeholder Management

• Advise management and departments (content, production, marketing, finance and HR) on legal matters and escalate significant or Group-level issues to the General Counsel.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Law from a recognised university.
• At least 7 years of legal experience, including 3 or more years in media, broadcasting, publishing or entertainment.
• Proven experience in a media organisation of a similar nature, preferably in the MENA region.
• Experience setting up legal processes or supporting a business launch from the ground up is strongly preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of UAE media law, cybercrime and data protection legislation, and UAE Media Council regulations, with a regional view of media regulation.
• Solid experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial and content agreements.
• Master's degree in Media Law, Intellectual Property or Commercial Law is an advantage.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinking and the ability to build systems in an early-stage business.
• Sound judgement under tight deadlines and time-sensitive content decisions.
• Business-minded legal advice that balances risk against commercial and editorial goals.
• Discretion and integrity with sensitive information.
• Clear, persuasive communication with management, content teams and external parties.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating closely with the General Counsel.
• Excellent written and spoken English with strong legal drafting skills.
• Arabic language skills are an advantage.

Additional Information

Working Relationships

• Internal: General Counsel (direct reporting line), senior management, and the content, production, marketing, finance and HR teams.
• External: UAE Media Council, external law firms, production houses, distributors, talent agencies, advertisers, and regulators across the MENA region and beyond.