Sr. Counsel, Commercial Transactions

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025. This is a Versant role.

NBCUniversal is seeking a talented and business-savvy Senior Counsel to join our legal team supporting Versant Media, a global media company at the forefront of content, technology, and innovation. This role will focus on high-impact commercial transactions, including complex technology and vendor agreements, and will serve as a legal subject matter expert on the use of generative AI and related technologies. You’ll play a critical role in advising on cutting-edge tools and products while helping us scale legal support for a growing and fast-evolving business.

You will report to the VP, Commercial Transactions and work closely with stakeholders across the company, including operations and technology, data, information security, privacy, procurement and finance.

Key Responsibilities

Technology & Vendor Contracting

• Support strategic vendor relationships and technology transactions that are critical to the company’s operations and growth.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of vendor agreements including complex commercial agreements, such as SaaS/cloud services, software licenses, professional services, consulting, hardware procurement, and data licensing agreements, and agreements supporting corporate operations such as facilities, events, equipment purchases, staffing agreements, sponsorship agreements and confidentiality agreements.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to align agreements with business objectives, compliance requirements, and legal risk tolerances.
• Drive continuous improvement of contract templates and playbooks in line with evolving business practices and legal frameworks.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure scalable contract management and procurement processes.

AI Legal Expertise

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor on transactions involving artificial intelligence, including the procurement and integration of generative AI tools and services.
• Negotiate AI-specific contractual terms such as data usage rights, model outputs, IP ownership, performance benchmarks, safety and compliance assurances, and ethical use provisions.
• Collaborate with operations and technology, data, privacy, and infosec teams to evaluate and mitigate legal risks associated with emerging AI technologies.
• Contribute to internal education and awareness-building around legal issues associated with AI technologies and vendor use cases.

General Legal Support

• Support the legal team on corporate transactions, including M&A, strategic partnerships, and public company compliance matters.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice and risk assessments on a broad range of commercial and product issues.
• Build strong relationships across the business and become a go-to partner for fast, thoughtful, and scalable legal solutions.
• Balance transactional execution with strategic initiatives to help mature the company’s commercial legal infrastructure.
• Step in to support cross-functional legal projects and new areas of need in a dynamic and collaborative legal team.

Qualifications

• J.D. and admission in good standing to at least one U.S. state bar.
• 7+ years of relevant legal experience in a law firm and in-house legal department, with a focus on commercial, technology and vendor transactions.
• Significant experience negotiating SaaS, software licensing, and technology procurement agreements.
• Experience drafting and negotiating a variety of procurement agreements, including those related to operations, events, and facilities.
• Deep curiosity and working familiarity with AI technologies, especially generative AI (e.g., knowledge of LLMs, embeddings, inference, agents, etc.).
• Experience supporting AI or other emerging tech transactions is strongly preferred.
• Excellent judgment, communication, and collaboration skills.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and independently managing multiple, competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with a solution-oriented mindset.
• Strategic thinker with ability to work independently through issues, evaluate risks and make sound judgment or escalate issues as necessary in a fast-moving environment

Additional Information: 

• Hybrid: This position has been designated as hybrid, generally contributing from the office a minimum of three days per week. Subject to change based on Manager discussion or business need.
• This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other benefits and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website. 
• Salary range: $165,000 - $200,000 (bonus and LTI eligible)

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].

Although you'll be hired as an NBCU employee, your employment and the responsibilities associated with this job likely will transition to Versant in the future. By joining at this pivotal time, you'll be a part of this exciting company as it takes shape.