Counsel, Commercial Legal & Business Affairs, Americas

WPP is the transformation company. We use the power of creativity to build better futures for our people, planet, clients, and communities.

Working at WPP means being part of a global network of more than 100,000 accomplished people in 110 countries. We create transformative ideas and outcomes for its clients through an integrated offer of communications, experience, commerce, and technology. WPP and our award-winning agencies work with most of the world's biggest companies and organisations – from Ford, Unilever and P&G to Google, HSBC, and the UN. Our clients include 61 of the FTSE 100, 325 of the Fortune Global 500, all 30 of the Dow Jones 30 and 62 of the NASDAQ 100.

WPP has headquarters in New York, London and Singapore and a corporate presence in major markets worldwide. We are quoted on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Key performance indicators for WPP (2020) include Billings of £46.9bn and Revenue of £12bn.

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Why we're hiring:

WPP is seeking a talented, business-oriented attorney to join its Commercial Legal & Business Affairs team in New York. The Counsel should have enthusiasm for public relations, advertising law and contract negotiations. As a member of the broader legal team, the Counsel will have the opportunity to partner with other agency functions, including operations, business affairs, and finance to help implement best practices.

Critical skills include the ability to spot risk issues, effectively communicate (both verbally and in writing) various risk mitigation strategies to a non-legal audience, and draft and negotiate a high volume of agreements related to public relations and marketing services, including client and vendor agreements as well as influencer and talent agreements. The Counsel should possess excellent judgment and be confident in assessing risk and finding practical solutions. Knowledge of commercial negotiations is valued.

The Counsel will help ensure the business practices, policies, and activities of agencies they support meet not only legal and regulatory requirements, but also are consistent with WPP’s ethical and moral obligations to clients, shareholders, suppliers and all external stakeholders.

What you'll do:

• Identify | Proactively identify issues and offer solutions in areas of public relations legal matters, commercial contracts, rights of privacy and publicity, user generated content, endorsements and testimonials, and intellectual property. Will be accessible and credible to the legal team, management, and all colleagues.
• Support| Support the business by managing a lean team of legal professionals, FARA analyses, and drafting and negotiating client, influencer, and vendor agreements. Be willing to help as needed, across the legal team supporting multiple agencies.
• Interpret| Explain complex concepts efficiently and effectively. Foster the reputation of the legal team as positive team members and facilitators of business growth and transactions.
• Observe | Proactively monitor the relevant legal environment concerning current advertising laws and future trends that will impact the business and provide advice regarding the same.

What you'll need:

• A minimum of two – five years of experience as a qualified lawyer, ideally with a well-respected law firm or within a fast-paced company.
• Possess genuine enthusiasm for the public relations and advertising space, the ability to deal with ambiguity, a strong work ethic, a direct and candid style, and the ability to prioritize quickly.
• Experience negotiating contracts and helping to ensure compliance with federal and state laws, rules and regulations, as well as adherence to best industry practices.
• Comfort in advising agency personnel of potential advertising/ IP risks
• Preferred location is New York

Who you are:

A Connector| Ability to bring people together to advance a project.

Creative Bravery| Our team is close-knit and supportive and we’re working with a lot of unknowns – you must be a champion of team environments that are comfortable and encouraging, especially working cross-discipline.

Positive| Dig in and figure out how to work around problems. Provide a balance needed to maintain stamina and positivity.

In It Together| We all wear the hats that need wearing, it’s a mentality that makes the team successful.

What we'll give you:

Passionate, inspired people – We promote a culture of people that do extraordinary work.

Scale and opportunity – We offer the opportunity to create, influence and complete projects at a scale that is unparalleled in the industry.

Challenging and stimulating work – Unique work and the opportunity to join a group of creative problem solvers. Are you up for the challenge?

WPP is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability. We believe in creating a dynamic work environment that values diversity and inclusion and strives to recruit a diverse slate of candidates to help us achieve that goal.

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