LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, a multidisciplinary, integrated national professional services firm, announced today that Neil Sacker has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as partner in the entertainment and media practice. Sacker brings 25 years of experience as an entertainment lawyer and senior executive at leading film and production companies as well as outside counsel to many fast-growing entertainment companies throughout the world.
Sacker started his legal career as senior theatrical counsel of Warner Bros., where he negotiated employment agreements and oversaw production legal issues. During his time at Miramax Films, he was involved in the acquisition of rights to the “Lord of the Rings” franchise, as well as the agreements of more than 75 films, including “Scream,” “Good Will Hunting” and “The English Patient.” Sacker also has experience producing and financing the Academy Award-winning films “Crash,” “The Illusionist,” “The Painted Veil” and “Prime.”
“Over the past two and a half years, I’ve witnessed the rapid growth of Neil’s group of clients in both the United States and China. Neil demonstrates an unswerving commitment to helping his entertainment clients achieve their goals through both his legal representation and business advice,” said Lindsay Conner, co-chair of the Manatt entertainment and media practice. “We are excited for Neil to expand and strengthen our entertainment practice, as we continue to evolve Manatt’s legal and business services for our clients.”
Prior to joining Manatt, Sacker served as of counsel at Skadden, where he advised clients in all areas of entertainment, including film, television, location-based entertainment and other new media innovations. He was also special counsel of the entertainment group at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and president of Big Air Studios, an innovative new motion picture marketing and distribution company.
“I’ve worked with Lindsay Conner over the years and was always impressed that he is incredibly effective while also demonstrating class in a way that few attorneys do,” said Sacker. “Recently, I got to know the team at Manatt and found that Lindsay is surrounded by many like-minded and extremely talented attorneys. I believe that Manatt is the perfect home for me to continue to grow my business and provide my existing clients with the best representation.”
Sacker earned his J.D. from Yale Law School and his B.A. in political science and government from Cornell University.
About Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is one of the nation’s leading law and consulting firms, with offices strategically located in California (Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto, San Francisco and Sacramento), New York (New York City and Albany), Chicago and Washington, D.C. The firm represents a sophisticated client base—including Fortune 500, middle-market and emerging companies—across a range of practice areas and industry sectors. For more information, visit www.manatt.com.
