Legal Counsel

Role Overview

Legal Counsel at Sony Music, based in the Middle East region. This is an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated legal professional to make a meaningful impact in a fast-changing, creative, and collaborative environment within the global music and entertainment industry.

Role Purpose

Lead and manage legal matters across Sony Music Middle East while partnering with internal stakeholders to support a wide range of business activities. Ensure legal compliance and enable the business to navigate complex commercial, licensing, and intellectual property issues with clarity and confidence.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Agreements & Negotiation

• Negotiate, draft, and review a wide range of commercial agreements, including third-party relationships, license-in and license-out deals, and distribution agreements.
• Negotiate and review artist contracts and other key commercial transactions.
• Provide legal guidance and support to business teams during local artist signings and other contractual negotiations.
• Work independently and provide reliable, commercially savvy legal counsel with minimal supervision.

Deal Strategy & New Ventures

• Lead and advise on deal-making strategies for digital initiatives and new business ventures, such as concerts, live events, endorsements, and sponsorships.

Contract Management & Compliance

• Develop, maintain, and update standard form agreements and contractual provisions to align with evolving business models and legal and regulatory changes.
• Oversee internal contract databases and systems for managing artist rights and contractual obligations.
• Advise on and support the implementation of corporate compliance frameworks, including business affairs policies, law-compliance reporting, and statutory filings.

Corporate Transactions

• Provide legal support for internal corporate restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, and related transactional documentation.

Litigation & External Counsel

• Supervise litigation matters, including the engagement and management of external counsel.

Qualifications & Experience

• 8–10 years of post-qualification experience in law firms handling commercial, corporate, intellectual property, or merger and acquisition matters.
• Deep understanding of UAE commercial law.
• Demonstrated experience in independent contract negotiation and deal closure.
• Demonstrated experience in litigation management and counsel coordination.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leadership on legal and commercial risks.
• Experience in media, entertainment, digital, technology, or consumer-facing industries is preferred.
• Hands-on experience in maintaining local legal systems, following processes, and compliance.

Skills & Competencies

• Fluent in Arabic and English.

Additional Information

• Join a vibrant global community with the opportunity to channel your passion every day.
• Access to a modern office environment designed to empower you to bring your best.
• Investment in your professional growth and development enabling you to thrive in a vibrant community.
• The space to accelerate progress, positively disrupt, and create what happens next.
• Platform to champion positive change, with the opportunity to contribute to social impact, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Sony Music is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity. Employment, retention, promotion, and treatment of all employees and job applicants are based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent, without regard to sex, race, religion, origin, age, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, or disability.