Michael S. Hobel is Head of the Entertainment and Media Practice. Mr. Hobel has more than 25 years of experience representing media, entertainment and other companies in complex transactions involving valuable entertainment and other intellectual property rights and assets. His practice includes the representation of motion picture studios, networks, and distribution and production companies in developing, producing, acquiring and exploiting motion pictures, television programs, sporting events, video games, merchandising and other entertainment properties. Mr. Hobel represents companies and financial institutions in financing motion picture and television productions. He also represents companies acquiring, selling and investing in production, distribution and multimedia companies, as well as film and music libraries.
Mr. Hobel has considerable experience in domestic and international free, pay and cable television, home video and other media transactions, and his practice spans the theatrical motion picture as well as the scripted and reality television businesses. He is particularly interested in the convergence of entertainment and technology and has extensive experience in transactions involving the Internet and other digital media, including electronic sell-through and video-on-demand transactions. Mr. Hobel also counsels entertainment industry executives in connection with their employment contracts and individual talent agreements for film, television and music products and services.
Mr. Hobel’s knowledge and experience in intellectual property law, as well as the law of defamation, privacy and publicity, is extensive. He advises both entertainment and non-entertainment companies in the management and protection of their trademark, copyright and other intellectual property assets. He also has substantial experience in computer software and video game development, licensing and exploitation.
In 2009, Mr. Hobel was recognized as a "Power Lawyer" on the
Hollywood Reporter’s list of the 100 most influential entertainment lawyers in the United States, and was named as one of Los Angeles’ top 100 lawyers in the
Los Angeles Business Journal's "Who's Who in Law." Mr. Hobel has been recognized in
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2009–2011), as one of California’s Top 10 Entertainment IP Lawyers by the
Los Angeles Daily Journal, and as a California Super Lawyer. He is also listed in the 2010–2012 editions of
The Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Hobel earned his B.A. from Harvard University and his J.D. from the New York University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in California.
Representative Clients
- An international media company in many of its major entertainment and multimedia transactions and ventures in the United States, including a successful $500 million tender offer for a publicly held entertainment company and its sale of a Silicon Valley multimedia company.
- A major motion picture studio in theatrical motion picture and television series production and distribution matters.
- A video game company in its acquisition of a video game development company and the interactive games rights to a motion picture franchise property.
- A national pay television network in motion picture and series finance, production and licensing matters relating to a wide variety of projects.
- A video game company in video game development, production and exploitation matters.
- An owner of newspaper, magazine and media properties in entertainment and licensing matters.
- A diversified entertainment company in its proposed acquisition of a major motion picture studio.
- A leading reality television production company in the production of network reality television series.
- A major independent television production company in its television movie, mini-series and series businesses over the last 15 years.
- A leading sports organization in its acquisition and exploitation of exclusive broadcast rights to soccer World Cup in 2002 and 2006.
- A professional sports league and its licensing operation on motion picture and television projects.
- A Spanish language television network in joint venture and technology transactions, sports and other program licensing, and production matters.
- A national basic cable network in numerous development, production and licensing matters.
- A leading toy company in a variety of licensing and technology matters and with respect to the exploitation of its highly successful home video product based on its key properties.
- A major motion picture studio in a variety of matters, including a long-term international home video services agreement for its motion picture library.