She returned to Los Angeles without snow and to film finance at O`Melveny & Myers, where she worked with major studios such as Disney and HBO, the latter becoming her employer for more than a decade. Prior to joining MGM, Freeman spent nearly a decade at Home Box Office, Inc. as Senior Vice President, Legal Affairs, where she was responsible for overseeing all legal matters related to film programming, home entertainment/digital program distribution, domestic joint ventures/strategic investments, and mergers and acquisitions. Previously, Freeman served as senior counsel in the entertainment industry. Sports and Media Department at O`Melveny & Myers LLP in Los Angeles, where she has represented major studios, independent production companies, television broadcasters and financial institutions in the entertainment industry. Freeman began his legal career as a commercial finance and real estate partner at Goldberg, Kohn, Bell, Black, Rosenbloom & Moritz, Ltd. in Chicago. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University and a J.D. from UCLA Law School. In 2016, she was chosen as general counsel for one of the city`s oldest studios, MGM, which is responsible for a library that includes Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, James Bond and Rocky. Freeman now oversees a team of 85 employees during a major transition after the studio ended bankruptcy and acquired UAMG from Mark Burnett, who began his foray into television. «It`s one thing to be an outside consultant and close the deal, but once you`re in an in-house company, you have to deal with the consequences,» says Freeman, who, shortly after joining MGM, led the acquisition of Epix, the purchase of Paramount and Lionsgate, and later helped revive the acclaimed studio label Orion.
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. («MGM») is seeking an experienced Senior Counsel to join the Theatrical Business and Legal team to negotiate and draft various development and production agreements. (MGM), Lesley Freeman is a key member of the team responsible for leading MGM`s significant business and financial transactions, including the studio`s full acquisition of premium pay TV network EPIX; the closure of MGM`s $2.6 billion corporate credit facilities; the expansion of MGM`s television division with the acquisitions of Evolution Media and Big Fish Entertainment, two of today`s most innovative producers of unscripted television content; the revival of Orion Pictures, the famous film label founded in the early 1980s and now focusing exclusively on underrepresented voices and inclusive storytelling in film; MGM`s return to theatrical distribution in the United States by United Artists Releasing, a joint venture with Annapurna Pictures; and the relaunch of American International Pictures (AIP). Freeman also oversees all of the company`s business and legal departments, including theater, scripted television, alternative television, music, sales, marketing, EPIX and LightWorkers, and oversees all legal departments and departments within the company, including litigation, intellectual property, privacy, technology, labor relations, and library rights management. Be part of one of the world`s most dynamic and iconic entertainment studios. Enjoy a collegial family work environment full of enthusiasm, growth and success. Our team is made up of forward-looking, open-minded and enthusiastic employees who continually nurture our growing company. We strive to attract the most talented, passionate and creative people who want to succeed in a company that fosters organic growth and fosters opportunities for those who are passionate about growth alongside that company. Help us make statutory salaries more transparent.
Get exclusive access to anonymized legal salary data. When viewing an ad, consider the government advertising restrictions that lawyers and law firms must comply with, as well as our legal directory disclaimer FindLaw.com. Some lawyers publish comparative information about the services they offer, which may be subject to specific comparative disclosure restrictions. Even though the pandemic paralyzed production and exposure, Freeman and his team were busy backing up recently installed director Michael De Luca with a splashy slate that includes Lady Gaga star House of Gucci and Ryan Gosling`s space epic. She also helped guide 007 through COVID-19 and adjust the release strategy for the Bond film No Time to Die. She says, «The first priority was to do what was in the best interest of the film and the franchise.» And as Hollywood extricates itself from the struggles of the pandemic, things are unlikely to slow down — especially with a high-profile sale to Amazon on the horizon that the lawyer couldn`t discuss. In the midst of a complicated film production deal in 2007, Lesley Freeman walked the streets of Midtown Manhattan, where she worked at the time, in a rickshaw at rush hour on a Friday afternoon to pick up her 5-year-old daughter from daycare. «There were no taxis,» Freeman laughs.
She negotiated a deal with Fox for her employer at the time, HBO. When she returned to the office, her colleagues and boss took turns babysitting the children, ordering food deliveries and turning a sofa into a makeshift bed for her daughter. The contract was signed the next morning at 9 a.m., and Freeman gained important knowledge about a key factor in career success. She says, «People have supported me and helped me succeed in what I was trying to do all my life, both at work and as a mother. How would you rate your overall experience with this company? So, while Freeman didn`t pursue a career in the entertainment industry, she certainly found her place there. «You don`t always need to take a direct route to reach your goal,» she says. «You just have to keep going.» Originally from Chicago, Glen Ellyn attended UCLA Law School and graduated in 1995 with little interest in entertainment («I knew I didn`t want to go to court») and a diminished tolerance for cold climates. «I survived a winter,» Freeman says of returning to Chicago after law school.
Working there in corporate transaction law and helping companies obtain credit was to prove to be a valuable experience for their move to Hollywood, although their clients couldn`t have been more different. «One of them that was memorable was a meat-packing plant,» she recalls. «It was the Midwest.» It`s always a good idea to research your lawyer before hiring them. Each state has a disciplinary organization that oversees attorneys, their licenses, and consumer complaints. When researching the legal discipline, you can: Use the up and down arrows to increase or decrease the rating Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. («MGM») is seeking an experienced Senior Counsel to join the Theatrical Business and Legal team to negotiate and draft various development and production agreements. The winner of The Hollywood Reporter`s 2021 Raising the Bar Award guided the studio through acquisitions, expansions and pandemic pivots. MGM Studios IncBeverly Hills, CaliforniaFull-time Remote We have opened the original job posting in a new tab. Having trouble finding the tab? Open it here.
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