Christopher O'Brien Email & Phone Number

Greater Los Angeles Area

A partner in Venable’s national Corporate Practice, Chris O’Brien focuses on a broad range of matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, and general outside counsel advice. He represents clients in the entertainment, consumer products, and media industries and advises early-stage companies in their growth. Chris has deep experience working for companies with intellectual property at their core. Chris is the co-founder and chair of the Blockchain and Digital Currencies Group.

Greater Los Angeles, California, United States

Greater Los Angeles Area

Focused on general corporate matters, M&A, corporate finance, emerging companies, private equity transactions, IP and entertainment transactional matters. Represented large talent agency, private equity firms, public entertainment company and early stage companies in corporate matters, including several M&A transactions, equity and debt financings and day-to-day legal matters.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Served as General Counsel of public $700 million revenue restaurant company with over 250 U.S. and international outlets and 15,000 employees. Proactively provided advice to senior management and Board, negotiated major transactions, supervised outside counsel and managed five employees. Developed, implemented and managed state of the art compliance and corporate governance practices. Provided legal advice in connection with securities matters, international franchise agreements, marketing, global trademark portfolio and Internet issues.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Responsible for all legal matters of mobile telecommunications and entertainment company. Counsel to Board of Directors that included members from venture funds, strategic investors and hedge funds. Raised over $120 million in equity and $60 million in debt financing. Areas of focus included corporate governance, securities matters, international operations, employment issues and telecommunications matters. Managed all aspects of company’s Chapter 11 reorganization process, including oversight of 25 employees in finance, collections, IT, marketing and legal.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Head of corporate and securities legal group of $5 billion revenue Fortune 500 toy company. Responsible for mergers and acquisitions, securities issuances, bank finance, stock option and employee benefit plans, customer bankruptcy matters and major strategic alliances. Drafted and reviewed public disclosures, including ’34 Act reports, annual report, earnings releases, major analyst presentations and Section 16 filings. Managed corporate governance issues, including board of directors matters, Sarbanes-Oxley Act and annual meeting. Counsel to Audit Committee. Oversaw $2 million budget and supervised staff of three. Selected and supervised numerous outside law firms. Promoted to lead M&A group as finance executive. Responsible for all M&A activity, including overall strategy, target selection and deal execution. Developed strategy that resulted in $250 million acquisition of handheld game device maker, Mattel’s first significant acquisition in seven years.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Responsible for corporate legal matters of largest U.S. Spanish-language television network. Negotiated and drafted co-¬production agreements, major software development agreement and new headquarters lease agreement. Drafted '34 Act reports.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Greater Los Angeles Area

Greater Los Angeles Area

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Bachelor’S Degree, International Relations