Experience

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  Pryor Cashman LLP

  • Of Counsel

    • 2007 - Present

    Focus: film and television finance, production, and distribution. Experience representing a wide variety of clients from major studios, cable networks, to high-profile independent producers and production companies, as well as individual writers, directors and producers. Recent transactions include: •Negotiating motion picture co-financing agreement with investor group on behalf of film division of major record label •Representing numerous independent motion picture production companies in their negotiations to option material, engage writers and directors, and finance and distribute motion pictures •Representing writers and directors in negotiations with major motion picture studios on numerous motion picture and television projects •Representing major international television producer and distributor in co-financing (with major U.S. studio) and international production of U.S. television series and in an agreement with major international producer and distributor of reality formats in co-production of reality programing •Representing family of author of extensive and well-known series of children’s books (in concert with licensee of trademarks and certain other rights) in option to major motion picture company to produce motion picture based on the books •Representing independent motion picture distributor in agreements to finance and produce motion pictures and to distribute or act as a sales agent in domestic and international territories •Representing producers of documentary in connection with financing and worldwide distribution•Representing producers and talent of various reality television projects

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  A&E Television Networks

  • Senior Vice President and General Counsel

    • 1996 - 2006

    Advised AETN senior management and managed 10 lawyers and 11 administrative personnel. Responsible for AETN’s legal and business affairs, including: • Dramatic, documentary, and reality programming development and production agreements• Affiliation agreements with distributors of networks• Transactions to establish and operate AETN’s international networks • Advertising and promotion (including integrated marketing) agreements• Licensing programming in new and traditional media• Management of trademark, copyright, and programming assets• Technology transactions for AETN’s websites, production, uplink, and computer facilities and systems• Investment and business development• Dispute resolution and litigation matters• Human resources and employee benefits matters• Monitoring of legislative and regulatory matters Standards & Practices. Supervised standards and practices and brand integrity of programming and promotion and related matters.

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  Werbel, McMillin & Carnelutti

  • Partner

    • 1992 - 1995

    Established the entertainment practice of the firm, consisting of international film and television finance, co-production agreements, related talent and underlying rights agreements, and related financial transactions. Served on the firm’s management committee in 1995.

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  Columbia Pictures

  • Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

    • 1978 - 1992

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  Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson

  • Associate

    • 1971 - 1978