Cases
Experience: In-House Experiences: General Counsel
Senior Vice President, Legal
Business Affairs, Turner Entertainment Group, Inc., Atlanta, GA, 1996-2001
Built
supervised lawyer group in excess of 20 lawyers.
Designed
negotiated production, financing
acquisition agreements for dramatic live action, documentary
animated programming in long form, short form
series formats for traditional networks as well as digital media. Both original programming for TNT Originals, TBS Originals, The Cartoon Network Originals as well as acquisition of theatrical films
off-network series from major studios including Disney, Sony, Universal, Warner Bros., New Line, Paramount
MGM.
Developed
implemented marketing guidelines for on-air, web site
offchannel advertising
sponsorship agreements, promotions, contests
sweepstakes.
Developed
implemented legal strategy for acquisition of broadb
, enhanced television, interactive television, Internet, wireless
other new
emerging media rights in licensed
original programming.
Supervised legal
business policies for entertainment
sports web sites including cartoonnetwork.com, tnt.turner.com, wcw.com, atlantabraves.com including production
acquisition agreements, suppliers agreements
regulatory oversight including privacy guidelines, Kid Vid, e-commerce
antipiracy.
Managed litigation including hiring
supervision of outside counsel.
Supervised intellectual property program including trademark
copyright registration
enforcement.
Oversight of labor
employment including executive employment agreements
guild relations with The Screen Actors Guild, The Directors Guild of America
The Writers Guild of America. Served as designate to the board of the Alliance of Motion Picture
Television Producers.
Oversight of legal services for the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Hawks, the Atlanta Thrashers, Turner Field, Philips Arena
Turner Sports, including relationships with Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association
NASCAR.
Deputy General Counsel, Entertainment
Distribution, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., Atlanta, GA, 1989-1996
Managed attorney
paralegal group responsible for worldwide home video, licensing
merch
ising, publishing, theatrical production
international television syndication businesses.
Designed
negotiated production, distribution
exhibition agreements for live action
animated properties.
Developed legal guidelines for the launch of The Cartoon Network, Turner Classic Movies
Turner Pictures.
Due diligence
negotiation
drafting merger related agreements for acquisition of Hana-Barbera, Castle Rock Entertainment
New Line Pictures.
Negotiated joint venture agreement for co-ownership
operation of Russian language television station in Moscow.
Vice President Legal 1988-1989
Senior Counsel 1988
Associate Counsel, Turner Entertainment Co., Los Angeles, CA, 1986-1988
Maintained rights management program of film
television libraries in excess of 5,000 titles including classic MGM, Warner Bros.
RKO libraries.
Developed
negotiated production/acquisition agreements associated with the TNT Original productions.
Designed
negotiated agreements for theatrical
television remakes
sequels
legitimate stage agreements.
Negotiated compilation, production, co-production
licensing agreements with PBS affiliates, BBC
other parties as well as direct production.
Previous Experiences: Principal, SOFTV Productions, Los Angeles, CA, 1984-1986
Developed, produced
marketed reality programming covering the personal computer industry, including The Famous Computer Cafe
On Line! America.
Associate, California-based Law Firm, 1980-1986
Business transactional
litigation practice including film
television production, general intellectual property
talent issues. Negotiated
drafted partnership, corporate, joint venture, production
licensing agreements. Representation included writers, directors as well as non-entertainment clients. Trial experience as well as motion practice.
