Lawyers in the firm’s entertainment and media practice are active in all aspects of motion picture and television finance,
production, distribution, and licensing, as well as in diverse facets of internet, publishing, music, broadcast, television,
home video, cable, and merchandising transactions. In Europe, we advise on matters such as mergers and acquisitions, financing,
licensing, copyright and trademark and patents. We also have extensive experience of providing advice in connection with
the online activities of media companies, including matters related to the development and operation of websites, content
acquisition and licensing, content syndication, co-branding and co-marketing relationships, strategic alliances and software
development, licensing, and other transactions.
Representative Transactions
- Amana. Advising Amana, a leading Japanese stock photo company, in the $51 million sale of its EU and U.S. subsidiaries to Getty
Images, the world’s largest imagery company. The deal, which recently closed, will include post-closing image representation
and production facility arrangements overseas and in Japan between Amana and Getty Images.
- Bertelsmann AG. Acting for Bertelsmann, the German publishing and multimedia company, on a $500m private placement into the U.S. market.
The issue represented the biggest U.S. private placement at that date by a German Group.
- Capitol Records, Inc. Advising Capitol Records on a cross-border private placement of $180,000,000 senior notes guaranteed by EMI Group plc.
- EchoStar Satellite Corporation. Advising EchoStar on a strategic equity investment by a UK TV production company for the launch of a new TV channel in the
U.S.
- Representing the management and "newco" in the management buy-out of the print and online financial publishing and communications
business of Euromoney Institutional Investor plc. This business includes the Private Equity Online website and Private Equity
International magazine.
- MarketWatch.com. Advising MarketWatch.com in connection with the formation of the World Business New Alliance under which CBS MarketWatch,
AFX News and Xinhua Financial Network agreed to provide an aggregated news feed.
- Thomson S.A. Advising Thomson in its $2.065 billion acquisition of Technicolor from Carlton Communications PLC.
- Zone Vision Enterprises. Advising Zone Vision Enterprises, a UK TV production company, on broadcasting regulations.
- Zone Vision Networks Limited. Advising Zone Vision, a subsidiary of chellomedia, on the acquisition of Encore International, Liberty Media Corporation’s
subsidiary in China.
