(April 19, 2010, Century City, Calif.) – Reed Smith LLP, a leading international law firm, today announced the addition of Michael S. Sherman as a partner in its Corporate & Securities Group, resident in the firm’s Century City office, effectively immediately.
Mr. Sherman was formerly chair of the Entertainment Industries Group at Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro LLP in Los Angeles. His practice focuses on entertainment (motion pictures, television, music, publishing and videogames), media, licensing, and advertising, as well as copyright and trademark counseling.
“Michael is an important addition to our entertainment practice,” said John M. Iino, Vice Chair of Reed Smith's Business & Finance Department. “His capabilities complement our strong media finance team in London, who have collaborated with Michael going back 20 years, working with mutual clients. His experience in representing the business and legal needs of talent in the industry, as well as his work with entrepreneurs in the entertainment space, are areas of growth for Reed Smith, and we are confident there is no one better to lead that effort for us.”
Mr. Sherman represents a diverse group of individual and institutional clients across the motion picture, television, Internet, music, theater, sports and other industries. His recent clients include a major independent production company in syndicated financings in excess of $500 million; institutional financiers of more than $1 billion of motion picture and television production; and the creators of some of the most successful television series produced.
“Entertainment finance has become a global business in the truest sense of the word, with backing for the development and production of motion pictures, television, and entertainment of all varieties increasingly coming from sources in China, the Middle East and Europe,” Mr. Sherman said. “Reed Smith provides an exceptional platform from which to advise and counsel entertainment and media producers, distributors, rights-owners, lenders, borrowers, and public and private investors around the world, as well as other capital providers and users throughout the entertainment industry.”
Mr. Sherman had been a partner at Jeffer Mangels since 1987. Prior to that, he was a partner at well-known entertainment firm Greenberg Glusker from 1972 to 1987.
Mr. Sherman is a 1970 graduate of Boalt Hall at the University of California Berkeley, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. He is a member of the Los Angeles Copyright Society and the Board of Directors of the Bogart Pediatric Cancer Research Program. He has served as co-chair of the industry-leading UCLA Entertainment Law Annual Symposium 10 times and, in 2008, was recognized as a “Power Lawyer” and one of “The 100 Most Influential Attorneys in Entertainment” by The Hollywood Reporter.
“We are thrilled Michael is joining us and we look forward to working with him to build and expand the firm’s entertainment practice,” said Stuart Shanus, Reed Smith’s Century City Managing Partner.
About Reed Smith
Reed Smith is a global relationship law firm with nearly 1,600 lawyers in 22 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises. Its lawyers provide litigation and other dispute resolution services in multi-jurisdictional and other high-stakes matters; deliver regulatory counsel; and execute the full range of strategic domestic and cross-border transactions. Reed Smith is a preeminent advisor to industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, advertising, technology and media, shipping, energy trade and commodities, real estate, manufacturing, and education. For more information, visit reedsmith.com.
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