Representing clients in a variety of commercial sectors, Sophia Yen counsels both lenders and borrowers in debt financing transactions. She also advises entertainment industry clients on debt and equity finance deals, as well as other transactional matters.
As lender’s counsel, Sophia advises financial institutions in transactions that include single-lender and syndicated senior-secured, second-lien, mezzanine and unsecured acquisition and working capital loans; cross-border lending transactions; and loan portfolio purchases. She also assists lenders with problem loan workouts, restructurings and foreclosures. When borrower’s counsel, Sophia advises privately and publicly held companies on negotiating loans to finance a variety of corporate needs.
Sophia 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 branded entertainment matters. In this sphere, she drafts and negotiates loan agreements, interparty agreements, cofinance agreements, distribution agreements and other ancillary documents.
Sophia also advises independent production companies, high net worth individuals, producers, and other parties who operate in film and television development, production, financing and distribution. In addition, she has experience in film foreclosures, dispute settlements, purchasing distressed entertainment assets, negotiating with the guilds and counseling clients on copromotion deals. She is well-versed in the emerging fields of the entertainment industry and in recognizing for clients the strategic value of the digital media and China entertainment sectors.
Before becoming a lawyer, Sophia was a CPA and financial auditor at Ernst & Young LLP. There, she represented clients in the entertainment, insurance and financial services industries.