ABOUT US

Zoe Hilden, PARTNER

Trusted legal partner to innovative business teams, with decades of experience leading high-stakes media, technology, trademark and other IP transactions.

Highlights of Zoe’s experience:

7 years as co-head of the NBA’s media legal team

  • Worked closely with cross-functional team of executives on the League’s multi-billion-dollar national media deals

  • Managed all legal work related to the NBA direct-to-consumer website and app, supervising or directly negotiating all inbound tech licenses

  • Negotiated agreements to distribute the NBA app on third party platforms including Xfinity, Xbox and Roku

  • Lead in-house counsel on the bankruptcy of Diamond Sports Group

  • Handled content-related aspects of cross-promotional agreements with marquee partners such as AT&T, FanDuel and Nike

  • Negotiated OpenAI agreement and advised on responsible AI principles

  • Lead counsel on VR partnership with Meta Senior in-house roles at Altice USA and Time Warner Cable

  • Led multi-year renewals of agreements with major network groups (e.g., Disney/ABC/ESPN, Viacom)

  • Successfully concluded agreements with all premium networks (HBO, Showtime, Starz, Epix), including structuring terms relating to programmer DTC platforms as a matter of first impression

  • Advised C-suite executives on new digital products and technologies

  • Provided strategic advice on M&A matters

Presently outside counsel to clients including a top-3 professional sports league, a top-3 MVPD and a national news network

RAINER SCARTON, PARTNER

Seasoned deal attorney with deep expertise in media and technology transactions, specializing in live sports and other television content distribution. Known for his personable, pragmatic negotiation style and ability to close complex, high-value deals efficiently, Rainer currently serves as outside counsel to clients including DIRECTV, DISH Network/Sling TV and Hemisphere Media Group.

Highlights of Rainer’s experience:

6 years as in-house counsel for DISH Network’s Legal Programming & Sling TV BD teams

  • Drafted and negotiated a wide range of agreements for the OTT and satellite distribution of linear, local broadcast station, VOD, TVOD (PPV, EST, DTR and PVOD) and AVOD content, including as lead attorney on high-stakes negotiations with Sinclair/Tennis Channel, Nexstar/WGN America, TelevisaUnivision, MGM+, Paramount Global/CBS, NESN, and beIN Sports

  • Managed deal priority and legal assignments for local broadcast station renewals and disputes across the 210 DMAs covered by DISH

  • Structured strategic partnerships with device manufacturers for Sling TV app integration

  • Provided product counseling in connection with the development and deployment of new television products and distribution technologies

  • Extensive private practice experience representing clients across a broad range of industries

  • Represented two of the top-5 MVPDs and a top-3 U.S. streaming service on a broad range of programming renewals and launches, including with Disney/ESPN/ABC, Warner Bros. Discovery, TelevisaUnivision, MGM+, NESN, SportsNet Pittsburgh, Texas Rangers Sports Network, Altitude Sports, and several FAST and SVOD providers

  • Represented top OTT and connected TV platform on a wide range of transactions, including as lead associate on the acquisition of a television production company and transactions licensing out international distribution rights for library content

  • Extensive experience handling IP/media issues for significant M&A transactions, including the PGA Tour Enterprises launch, acquisition of Pantaya streaming service, acquisition of MLBʼs Baltimore Orioles, and acquisition of NWSLʼs San Diego Wave FC

  • Extensive experience negotiating technology services, cloud services, hosting, SaaS and on-prem software license agreements for clients that have included a national newspaper of record, a leading global cloud provider, a multinational tire manufacturer, and a leading U.S. broadcast and cable network group

OUR CAPABILITIES

  • Carriage agreements for 24/7 networks, live sports, FAST channels, TVOD/AVOD content and other programming across all platforms

  • SVOD ingestion and resale agreements

  • App integration agreements with connected device manufacturers and TV platforms

  • Strategic advice to new entrants in the digital content marketplace (creators, start-up sports properties, new platforms)

  • Specialist services on M&A and other corporate transactions, bringing deep subject-matter expertise to deals in the sports and media spaces

  • Trademark licenses, marketing agreements and sponsorship agreements

  • SaaS and software licenses (ad tech, payment processing, chatbots, etc.)

  • AI guidance and implementation

  • Product counseling relating to new platforms and technologies

  • Retransmission consent agreements and private copyright licenses

  • Production-related agreements

  • Copyright and trademark clearance

  • Other transactions relating to copyright- and trademark-protected properties

  • General commercial transactions and guidance

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