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  • Lindsay Conner

    Partner
    Co-Chair, Entertainment & Media
     lconner@manatt.com
    Download Contact (.vcf)

    Los Angeles
    Direct: 310.312.4229
    General: 310.312.4000
    Fax: 310.312.4224
    Education

    Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude.
    Editor, Harvard Law Review.

     

    Occidental College, M.A.

     

    University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., summa cum laude.
    UCLA Student Body President
    Bar Admissions
    California
    • Profile
    • Representative Matters
    • Honors & Awards
    • Publications
    • Memberships & Activities
    • Speaking Engagements

    Profile

    Lindsay Conner has spent his entire legal career in the entertainment and media industries. He has served as chief outside entertainment counsel for several major film studios and television networks and numerous film and television production and distribution companies, and as lead counsel in several large finance, distribution, and M&A transactions for one of America's largest financial institutions and a major Wall Street hedge fund.

    Mr. Conner advises clients through the entire life cycle of film, television and new media assets. He has restructured the production and distribution of a multibillion-dollar television franchise, closed half-billion-dollar feature film finance and distribution deals, and negotiated studio film slate financing deals and international television production and distribution deals, as well as deals for the acquisition of companies and film and television assets.

    Mr. Conner represents film and television industry clients, as well as financial institutions and hedge funds, in equity and debt finance deals, distribution and licensing deals, and agreements with major talent. He has served as production counsel for a wide variety of feature films, as well as television series, specials, and long-form productions.

    According to Chambers, one of the world's top attorney-ranking publications: "Lindsay Conner is a highly respected transactional lawyer who has impressed clients with his sophisticated approach and deep industry experience. 'He is exceedingly clever; the other side respects him - he can hold his own against anyone in the world.'"

    Representative Matters

    • Representation of a major film studio in the structuring and negotiation of a new multifilm slate co-finance agreement, an ultimates-based bank facility, as well as international distribution agreements related to the co-finance structure.
    • Representation of America's largest investment banking company in the structuring of its private equity division's joint ownership of the CSI television franchise, and the transfer of international distribution rights and operations for this industry-leading TV franchise.
    • Representation of a Swiss bank in negotiating and documenting a $50 million production loan for The Wolf of Wall Street, a feature film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Martin Scorsese.
    • Representation of a major television network in the structuring and negotiation of production and licensing agreements for the network's late-night programming lineup.
    • Representation of America's largest investment banking company in the structuring of its private equity division's sale of the entity owning international distribution rights to a 7,500-title film and television library, including the option and share purchase agreement, as well as the original letter of intent and term sheet for the transaction.
    • Representation of a Texas-based private equity group in its acquisition of a controlling interest in a film and television production and distribution company. The acquisition included a combination of multilayered debt and equity restructuring.
    • Representation of one of the world's five largest international independent film distributors in the negotiation of a 700-title film library distribution agreement, as well as a multiyear output and international distribution agreement.
    • Representation of a large film and television distribution company in the structuring of its investment in a film slate vehicle, its acquisition of important distribution rights in slate films, and the creation of a co-finance and co-distribution arrangement intended to cover a large and diverse assortment of feature films and television content.
    • Representation of a large hedge fund in the restructuring of its mezzanine debt position in a film production company, including rights in film collateral and profits waterfalls from the films.

    Honors & Awards

    Named as one of the Top-Ranked Attorneys in Media & Entertainment, Chambers USA, 2013.

    Named a "Southern California Super Lawyer," by Super Lawyers Magazine, 2013.

    Profiled in Variety's "2012 Dealmakers Impact Report." This report is a prestigious annual feature that indentified key Hollywood dealmakers—corporate strategists, financiers and attorneys-who are making things happen in the entertainment industry.

    Profiled in Variety's "2012 Legal Impact Report: 50 Game-changing Attorneys." This report is a prestigious annual feature that identified "50 attorneys whose recent deals and court battles have changed the shape of entertainment."

    Profiled in Variety's "2009 Dealmakers Impact Report." This report is a prestigious annual feature that identified 30 key dealmakers—studio executives, producers, managers, agents and attorneys—who are making things happen in the entertainment industry.

    Publications

    Interviewed, "'The Artist' Wins Best Picture, Director, Actor at the 84th Academy Awards," CNBC, February 27, 2012.

    Memberships & Activities

    Admitted to practice in California. 

    Former Member, Los Angeles Community College Board. 

    Former President, California Community College Trustees.

    Speaking Engagements