Manatt associate Sophia K. Yen was profiled in Variety's "Hollywood's New Leaders" feature for 2012. Yen is one of only seven lawyers recognized by the publication, which included agents, studio executives, managers and creatives, 36 years of age and younger, "who will be steering this industry in the years ahead."
Under the headline "Legal Eagles Soar," Variety says of Yen:
"Yen's expertise in - and love of - all matters financial helped Sony close its $140 million film slate deal with Hemisphere Capital Management, which provided co-financing for 'The Smurfs,' 'The Adventures of Tintin,' and 'Men in Black III,' and the subsequent $100 million ultimates-based debt financing deal. With a background in indie financing, Yen admits the Sony deal, 'was pretty different, as there's no defined market way of doing this type of deal. It's all about negotiation and leverage.' For Yen, 33, the biggest challenge ahead is 'being able to tell who's for real and who can really bring the money they've promised to the table' as she positions herself to deal with the burgeoning influx of Chinese investors looking to get involved with Hollywood - 'and vice versa.' Conversant in Mandarin, Yen adds that she's, 'trying to help both sides, though historically both have hidden behind a lot of smoke and mirrors. So it's a long, slow dance, but exciting.'"
Read Variety's "Hollywood's New Leaders" here.