Entertainment and Media -- Finance and Restructuring
Our lawyers act at the forefront of the industry’s most sophisticated entertainment and media-related financing and restructuring transactions. Our interdisciplinary team is sought after by both domestic and international clients for our market-leading expertise in structuring and advising on both the legal and business aspects of major transactions throughout the world, including cutting-edge financing and distribution for motion pictures, television, music, and original programming direct to the Internet and other digital platforms.
“‘The team does a great job of helping us understand complex legal aspects and provides solid guidance where good judgment and paying attention to details is important. They are exceptionally diligent and have a unique understanding of the nuances of the entertainment business.’”
Chambers USA Entertainment & Media: Transactional – California
Client Successes
Representing Truist Bank (formerly SunTrust Bank) as agent for itself and a consortium of syndicated lenders in the U.S. and Canada, in the recent receivership and administration proceedings in the UK and Canada involving Kew Media Group, including representing Truist Bank and the receiver in selling the rights to Kew Media Distribution’s library of 1,000 titles to Quiver Entertainment and in connection with Imagine Entertainment’s substantial investment and ownership stake in Jigsaw Productions, co-owned by Kew.
Represented Vine Alternative Investments in multiple transactions, including significant restructuring work in connection with the emergence from French safeguard proceedings of EuropaCorp S.A., one of the leading independent film studios in Europe.
Represented CIT Bank in multiple transactions including in connection with a $2.5 billion credit facility loan to MGM and in the refinancing of a multi-year multiple-picture credit facility with STX Entertainment.
Represented MidCap Financial in multiple transactions including in connection with a loan to Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, one of the largest operators of streaming advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) networks, the proceeds of which were used to partly fund its acquisition of the film and television assets of Sonar Entertainment; in connection with a loan to New Wave Entertainment, a significant employee-owned production services company; and in connection with a loan to the leading action sports touring company Nitro Circus and its subsequent merger with Street League Skateboarding and Superjacket Productions to form Thrill One Sports & Entertainment.
Represented Comerica Bank in connection with a multi-million dollar facility involving significant television assets.
Representing investors in the films Rocketman and Men in Black: International.
Represented Sight Unseen Pictures in respect to the financing of its motion picture Bad Education, starring Hugh Jackman and Allison Janney.
Represented Huayi Brothers in multiple transactions, including its $350 million capitalization and financing of a multimedia entertainment joint venture with Joe and Anthony Russo.
Represented Tribune Entertainment in structuring the financing for the production of the recently announced Across The River And Into The Trees, one of the first movies to go into production after the industry shutdown.
Representing Truist Bank, Bank of America, First Republic Bank and CIT Bank in connection with highly publicized entertainment and media bankruptcies over the last several years.
Achieving Successful Outcomes for Clients
We represent major entertainment and new media companies, financial institutions, private equity funds, completion guarantors, distributors, strategic investors, and high-net-worth individuals globally in shaping and structuring debt and equity capital structures of all types.
Our lawyers negotiate and structure receivables-based and asset-based lines of credit and term-credit facilities in the senior and mezzanine markets based on various types of entertainment-related receivables pertaining to motion pictures, theater, live events, digital programming, and interactive products.
We advise on slate financing, other studio co-financing transactions, complex multi-distributor split-rights financings, and gap financings.
We represent companies in negative pick-up transactions as well as equity investments.
Our team works seamlessly across offices and practices, including our Corporate, Bankruptcy, Tax, and Capital Markets practices, to structure, negotiate, and close financing transactions for clients around the world.
