Shaun C. Clark

Shaun Clark is a partner in the Entertainment and Media Practice Group in the firm's Century City office.

Areas of Practice

Shaun Clark represents major motion picture studios, publishing and entertainment conglomerates, advertising agencies, independent producers, and other entertainment and advertising-related entities in the acquisition of intellectual property rights and the development, finance, production, distribution, and ancillary exploitation of entertainment content.

Mr. Clark also has significant experience representing producers, agencies, and brand managers in structuring and negotiating agreements respecting "branded entertainment" and the agreements governing the related live events, and online and field marketing promotional campaigns.

Mr. Clark has represented numerous institutional clients in their capacity as lenders, guarantors, and borrowers, in the negotiation and documentation of complex financing deals and intercreditor relationships, in negotiations with assignees for the benefit of creditors and trustees, and in foreclosure proceedings.

He also has drafted and negotiated numerous split rights deals, including co-development and co-production agreements for series television and motion pictures, and collection account and custodial agreements in connection with the administration of proceeds from multiple sources.

Mr. Clark also represents investors, purchasers of companies, assets, and entertainment properties in the identification of and diligence of intellectual property issues and complex chain of title issues.

Mr. Clark has also represented investors, tax funds, studios, and independent producers in connection with German tax fund financings.

Mr. Clark represents or has represented such companies as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Ogilvy & Mather, Playboy Enterprises, Sony Pictures, Focus Features, WPT Enterprises (World Poker Tour), Commerzleasing, Bunim-Murray Productions, Inform Ventures, Rainforest Films, Kolberg Kravis Roberts & Co., Longneedle Entertainment, Alta Loma Entertainment, Tamar Geller/The Loved Dog, Interbrew, SBS Broadcasting, Universal Television, Exxon Mobil, Permira, XPLR Productions, Paramount International Television, Mighty Oak Entertainment, Gymboree, United Artists, The Walt Disney Company, Children of the Night (non-profit),  J. Walter Thompson, and Yahoo!.

Education

• J.D., Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, 1996
• B.B.A., University of Texas at Arlington, 1992

Admissions

• California
• U.S. District Court, Central District of California

Honors

• “Rising Star” - Named as a “rising star” by the publishers of Super Lawyers for 2006, 2007 and 2008
• “Fast Track Partner” - Recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the five “fast track” partners in 2005, in the article titled “Fast Track Partners”, National Law Journal, Page 1, October 31, 2005.
• “Top 20 Lawyers under 40 in California” - Recognized as one of the Top 20 Lawyers under 40 in the state of California in the article titled “Young Guns”, Daily Journal Extra, March 21, 2005, page 16
• “Top 35 Entertainment Executives 35 and Under” - Selected by the Hollywood Reporter as one of the Top 35 entertainment executives 35 years old and under in their annual “Next Generation Special Edition”, Hollywood Reporter Article (Nov. 9-15, 2004, page S-1), Fall, 2004

Articles

• "Shaun Clark Enjoys the Variety and Challenge of Being a Top Entertainment Attorney", January 10, 2007
• "How to Win at Poker and Never Play a Hand", Southern California Super Lawyers 2007,  July 2007
• "Sprint's Killer Marketing App? Jack Bauer", Advertising Age, March 29, 2007
• "Brand Wranglers – Attorneys Broker Placing Products in Productions", Daily Journal, P. 7, October 12, 2006.
• "Brand New World", Page 1, Hollywood Reporter, Esq., September 5, 2006.
• "Ask A Rising Star . . . How has TiVo changed entertainment law?", P. S-23, Southern California Super Lawyers 2006, July 2006
• "Getting in on a Gaming Law Practice Is a Fail-Safe Bet", Of Counsel, Vol. 25, No.3, March 2006.
• "Fast Track Partners", National Law Journal, Page 1, October 31, 2005.
• "Young Guns", March 21, 2005
• "Ad Giant in Position for Global Grab", Daily Variety, Page 42, January 21, 2005
• "Producers Find that Reality Bites, So Lawyers Take Key Role in Production", Los Angeles Business Journal, May 5, 2003.
• "Taking Steps Toward Post Modification Comfort" - Commercial Lender, 2nd Qtr., 1999.
• "Just How Negative Towards a Negative Pickup Can a Court Get?" - Co-Author Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section Newsletter of the L.A. County Bar Association, Winter 1998.
• New Media Symposium: The Internet and Beyond, Spring 1996, 16 Loy. L.A. Ent L.J. 541

Speeches

• “Sports Branding: Hat Tricks, Home Runs, and Touchdowns” – USC and BHBA 2007 Institute on Entertainment and Business Law, Los Angeles, California, October 27, 2007.
• “Branding Hollywood and Beyond – How Major Brands and Retailers are Harnessing Opportunities and How to Profit from this Space” – American Conference Institute’s 2nd Annual Maximizing Branded Entertainment Deals, New York, New York, March 27-28, 2007.
• “Tackling the Unique Issues in Television Financing” - National Investment Community’s Forum on Entertainment Finance, October 24-25, 2006, New York, New York.
• “And Now A Word From Our Sponsors – Branded Entertainment in the 21st Century” – Beverly Hills Bar Association, Los Angeles, California, August 9, 2006.
• “Structuring & Negotiating Win/Win Brand Integration Deals” – American Conference Institute’s 1st Annual Maximizing Branded Entertainment Deals, Los Angeles, California, January 30-31, 2006.
• “Going All In: Poker and the Law” – Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts, February 24, 2005.
• “Independent Film Finance” – California Lawyers for the Arts/Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, California, October 29, 2001.
• “Copyright Basics” – Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California, October 2000.