NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Law firm Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP announced today that Doug Jacobs, most recently Executive Vice President and Senior Counsel of A+E Television Networks, has joined the firm as a partner in its New York office. Mr. Jacobs’ practice will primarily focus on matters involving the cable television industry and the evolving digital media universe, building on his almost 20 years as General Counsel at several major cable networks.
“We are delighted to welcome Doug to the firm,” said partner Stephen Sheppard. “Doug’s vast experience with the legal issues affecting the cable industry is hard to match. Having participated in the extraordinary growth of cable over the past two decades, Doug is ideally positioned to counsel clients on the major issues now roiling the industry – including over-the-top content distribution, system consolidation, and international expansion. Given Doug’s broad range of experience, bringing him on board is a unique opportunity for the firm. And given the high regard in which he’s held in our profession and our industry, we are proud and excited to be announcing his arrival.”
“I’m very excited to be joining Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard,” said Mr. Jacobs. “The firm already possesses an impressive list of lawyers deeply versed in most every aspect of the entertainment practice – in fact, several of my new partners have themselves been General Counsel of substantial media companies. As General Counsel at Court TV and A+E, I had the pleasure of working with Cowan DeBaets as outside counsel on an ongoing basis, and have consistently been impressed by the high level of the firm’s expertise across a range of issues.”
Mr. Jacobs joins Cowan DeBaets following eight years at A+E Television Networks, where, during his seven years as general counsel, he managed AETN’s legal and business affairs team, and among other matters, oversaw the acquisition of the Lifetime branded channels. He previously served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Court TV, and also as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at CBS and Vice President of CBS Sports. In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Jacobs is an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University School of Law.
“Doug was an enormous asset to us at A+E Networks. He had a superb understanding of the legal and business issues we faced, and was an extremely practical and effective counsel,” said Abbe Raven, Chairman, A+E Networks.
“Doug Jacobs knows the cable business -- and all of the myriad issues and players involved. He is an industry insider with a can-do approach. I would expect Doug to do very well in private practice,” said Henry Schleiff, a Group President at Discovery Communications.
Susan Bodine, one of the partners at Cowan DeBaets who has worked closely with Doug and his staff at A+E, noted, “Working as outside counsel to A+E, we’ve had a highly productive and enjoyable relationship with Doug. The challenge always lies in the need to invent new business models that take advantage of the technology opportunities facing a fluid industry. We believe that Doug’s broad experience in assessing these opportunities and advising networks on the most productive responses make this association a great fit.”
About Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP
For more than 25 years Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard LLP has provided legal counsel to leading media and entertainment clients, from individual creators, to corporations, associations and non-profit organizations.
The firm provides transactional services for clients in connection with feature film, documentaries, cable, broadcast television, theatre, music, publishing, dance, photography, visual arts, fashion, software, advertising, licensing and online technologies. It counsels in copyright, trademark and other intellectual property rights as well as manages clients’ trademark portfolios. The firm’s litigators handle all forms of media and digital rights disputes including copyrights, trademarks, advertising, domain name, media defense, publicity rights and commercial cases. The firm understands its clients’ businesses and is committed to offering them individual attention that includes in-depth industry knowledge, as well as focused legal advice.
