With more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry, George Cooke advises clients on all aspects of financing, producing and distributing motion picture and television content, with a focus on new media. Previously senior vice president and chief counsel for film programming at HBO, he now structures, negotiates and drafts complex content financing and licensing transactions for major and independent studios, as well as for cable, satellite, Internet and mobile programmers and distribution platforms.

George’s work spans all major media and economic models. He has negotiated high-dollar-value output and library-license agreements with each of the major studios as well as distribution arrangements for leading television and Internet networks.

George advises clients on over-the-top Internet rights, international coproductions, channel and program service licensing, the purchase and sale of film libraries, audit issues, documentary and independent film production, contract litigation, and strategic counseling.

While at HBO, George played a key role in the company’s entry into home video, video-on-demand and original film production, as well as its launch of Comedy Central and expansion into Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe. He also helped establish content review and copyright filing procedures, implemented corporate restructurings, supervised litigation, and shaped state and federal legislation, including Uniform Commercial Code and Copyright Act reform.