Head of Legal and Business Affairs, The Garden Productions

Workplace: 4 days office-based (Farringdon)

FTC 18+ Months | 2026 Start

The Garden — the award-winning unscripted producer behind 24 Hours in A&E, 24 Hours in Police Custody, Squid Game: The Challenge, Critical: Between Life and Death and more — is looking for an experienced Head of Legal & Business Affairs to lead all legal and commercial activity across our growing slate of factual, documentary and entertainment programming.

This newly created senior role sits at the centre of a fast-moving, creatively ambitious company with a supportive, inclusive culture and a track record of delivering premium content to major UK broadcasters and global streamers.

The Role

You’ll lead the Legal & BA function, working closely with ITV Studios LBA and providing strategic legal and commercial guidance across development, production and exploitation of all Garden content.

What You’ll Do

• Negotiate and draft contributor, talent, access, rights and format agreements
• Support productions with day-to-day legal, compliance and editorial risk advice
• Oversee clearances, copyright, music licensing and third-party materials
• Manage co-production, financing, commissioning and distribution deals
• Ensure compliance with Ofcom, data protection, safeguarding and duty of care
• Oversee E&O insurance, claims and incident reporting
• Maintain chain-of-title and advise on IP, format protection and global exploitation

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified lawyer with strong PQE in media/entertainment (unscripted essential)
• Proven experience negotiating unscripted contributor, talent and commissioning deals
• Deep understanding of compliance, welfare and editorial risk
• Excellent drafting, communication and stakeholder-management skills
• Pragmatic, solutions-focused and confident working at pace across multiple productions

This is a rare opportunity to take on a pivotal leadership role within one of the UK’s most respected factual producers.

To apply, please email your CV to Melissa.Hameed@thegarden.tv