Senior Manager, Business & Legal Affairs

Job ID 10156201 Location Warsaw, Poland Business The Walt Disney Company (EMEA) Date posted Sep. 04, 2026

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Job Summary:

About the Role & Team

The Disney+ Original Productions Team works across the development and commissioning of original content for the Disney+ streaming service. We have an opportunity available to join our team and are looking for a counsel with significant experience within a broadcaster, studio or production company working on television and film production.

The role spans both scripted and non-scripted content, working with award winning producers and quality talent and will primarily focus on ensuring that the development and production of content aligns with Disney’s legal and policy requirements.

Collaboration is key, and you will be working closely with Finance, Production Management and the Creative team as well as Business & legal Affairs counterparts across EMEA, to ensure commercially sound, legally compliant and operationally effective productions.

In addition, you will establish relationships and liaise with lawyers across the Business including certain specialist areas of Disney, such as music, intellectual property, employment, property and labour relations.

This role will be based in our Warsaw office, 4 days a week, with either a Monday or Friday working from home.

Values

You’ll join a team grounded in our Disney values — acting with Integrity, welcoming everyone through Inclusion, embracing boundless Creativity, working together through Collaboration and caring deeply for our Community. These values shape how we work and how we support one another every day.

What You Will Do

Negotiation & Deal-Making

Lead negotiations of development, production, co-production, acquisition, talent and underlying rights agreements (including book option/purchase, format license and other rights acquisition agreements)

Represent Disney in negotiations with producers, studios, talent representatives, distributors and licensors

Structure complex commercial arrangements balancing creative, legal, financial and operational considerations; develop negotiation strategies and deal frameworks aligned with business objectives

Review, draft and negotiate contractual documentation and commercial terms

Legal & Risk Management

Provide legal advice on development and production matters, including chain of title, intellectual property, production policies and relevant Guild/Union agreements

Conduct contractual risk assessment and recommend mitigation strategies

Ensure compliance with Disney policies, legal standards and approved precedents

Apply strong commercial and legal judgment throughout

Stakeholder Partnership

Serve as primary business/legal affairs partner to Creative and Production Management teams;

Partner closely with Legal Affairs throughout drafting, negotiation and execution

Contract with and manage relationships with third-party production companies

Liaise with Programme Compliance teams as required

Collaborate with Business/Legal Affairs, Finance, Production Management, Creative and DTC teams

Work alongside UK, US and EMEA counterparts to align processes and practices

Refer and discuss matters with specialist teams (music, IP, employment, disputes, tax, production incentives, property and labour relations) as needed

Process, Governance & Compliance

Advise on and review contracting templates and procedures with production companies

Oversee chain-of-title, talent agreements and other production-related contractual matters, including supervising third-party contractual activity (writers, talent, production agreements)

Manage deal tracking, approvals, reporting and information management, maintaining the integrity of deal management systems and records

Drive process improvements and adoption of best practices across the region; ensure policies and procedures are reviewed regularly and remain fit for purpose

Proactively monitor legal, regulatory and industry developments in Poland and, where relevant, EMEA; share updates with the business and advise on their impact

Perform other related business and administrative duties as assigned

Required Qualifications & Skills

Admitted as a solicitor in Poland. (5+ years PQE)
Proficient in Polish and English (written and spoken)

Prior industry experience within a media law firm, production company, broadcaster and/ or studio, ideally working on various genres of programming.

Experience across all contract negotiations in relation to television and/ or film development and production.

Capable of advising on and negotiating different commissioning structures and programme financing models.

Strong prior experience of advising on clearance, intellectual property and media law matters.

Knowledge and/ or experience of Polish tax incentives, preferred.

Self-starter with positive can- do attitude who can work well within a close-knit team.

Collaborating with and managing multiple internal and external stakeholders, no matter the situation and working as One Disney.

Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.

Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.

Methodical and meticulous attention to detail.

Strong communication skills.

This role will require limited business travel.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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About The Walt Disney Company (EMEA):

Disney EMEA aims to drive growth, innovation and brand affinity across an extremely diverse collection of countries with a team of over 6,000 employees operating in 59 markets with offices in 29 countries.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with The Walt Disney Company Polska Sp.z o.o., which is part of a business we call The Walt Disney Company (EMEA).

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