David Harleston Email & Phone Number

Partnering with visionary creators to transform their independent media businesses into thriving, high-revenue franchises with resources for content creation and optimization, marketing, distribution and IP expansion. Our proprietary methodology identifies high-potential creators and our analytics-based process grows audience and revenue. And our creator partners retain ownership of their content.

New York, New York, United States

Advise and counsel narrative agency and content engine that is transforming the legacy model for copywriting into a multiplatform source and force for creative marketing.

New York | Los Angeles | Miami

Advise and counsel global digital and other media and entertainment entities in the design and execution of domestic and international commercial licensing, distribution, strategic partnership and growth strategies, with emphases on robust, innovative content acquisition; OTT distribution (including SVOD, AVOD and TVOD); branded content integrations; Creator Economy opportunities and cross-platform marketing partnerships to expand distribution, viewership and revenue.

Provide strategic and operational guidance to music publishing enterprise led by veteran music publishing, finance and private equity professionals and focused on aggressive growth through strategic acquisition and administration of privately held music publishers, catalogs, libraries and copyrights.

New York, Ny | Los Angeles, Ca

Hired by Al Jazeera America upon its acquisition of Current Media to build, launch and manage the organization’s business affairs and licensing infrastructure, with emphasis upon strategic planning and growth through strategic partnership formation. Negotiated and managed domestic and international distribution, licensing, acquisition, production and co-production partnerships and agreements, including talent engagement, music licensing, sponsorship, advertising sales and marketing partnerships. Guided negotiation of extensive distribution agreements with every major multichannel video program distributor (MVPD) and diverse digital (including AVOD, SVOT and other OTT) distribution platforms, which drove 25% growth in US viewership in 15 months and increased from 30 million households to 65 million households in 3 years; Crafted and codified mission, vision and values of the organization along with ops policies; Forged strategic industry and affinity group partnerhips in areas of content creation, licensing, distribution and marketing; Negotiated and managed complex, multilateral strategic partnerships; Secured domestic and international documentary co-production partnerships with award-winning documentarians and production partners (including directors Joe Berlinger, Alex Gibney and Albert Maysles); Partnered with Finance on matters relating to internal and external audit processes (GAAP and IFRS), FP&A and compliance; Managed Company’s multi-million dollar U.S. leasing obligations; Interfaced regularly with Board of Directors on wide range of operations, business and legal matters; Implemented proactive rights clearance process ensuring compliance with respect to exploitation of multinational properties, including pre-broadcast review of scripts/footage and counsel regarding IP, libel and slander issues; Secured FCC support for various regulatory initiatives.

San Francisco, Ca | Los Angeles, Ca

Executive Vice President, Business Affairs (2008 – 2013)Senior Vice President, Business Affairs (2005 – 2008)Hired on to the leadership team responsible for launching innovative news/political commentary cable/satellite television network and companion news and information social media platform. Negotiated agreements and managed global team charged with programming, talent, content licensing, production services, clearances and joint ventures for all audiovisual media distributed across cable/satellite, digital and other platforms globally.  Established business and legal infrastructure to support US launch and subsequent localized versions of channel in the UK , Italy and South Africa; Secured US, UK, Italian and South African cable and satellite licensing and distribution; Managed/resolved various complex US and EU regulatory matters; Identified and negotiated critical domestic and foreign partnerships; Negotiated unprecedented strategic partnerships with international news organizations and world’s largest music publisher; Performed operational analyses in connection with prospective corporate acquisition, distribution, business development and ad sales initiatives; Defined and enforced broadcast and online standards and practices; Assumed global operational responsibilities, including collaborations with HR, Finance/Accounting, Ad Sales and Marketing; Managed E&O, D&O, CGL and production insurance policy portfolios along with all intellectual property assets; Supported negotiation for company sale to Al Jazeera Media Network and managed outside counsel in connection with global transactional, litigation and regulatory matters.

San Francisco Bay Area

Video content search engine start-upAdvised leading video discovery company that combined social insights with visual recognition technology to discover content relevant to users. Sold to Microsoft.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Led acquisition of musical talent and executed marketing, promotion and publicity initiatives for this producer of large not-for-profit events. Retained in connection with fundraising events produced for AIDS service organizations throughout US, including AIDS Walks LA, New York and Atlanta.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Negotiated and documented acquisition of IP rights for development, production, global distribution and merchandising of children's / young adult TV programming, home video and feature films for distribution by way of Disney Channel, MTV, Nickelodeon, ABC Family, WB and PBS, among others. Drafted / negotiated license agreements with composers, labels, music publishers and consumer product licensees for this Canadian entertainment company. Negotiated international production finance agreements to comply with CAVCO, CRTC and/or Telefilm. Participated in structuring IPO, and assisted in the acquisition of Nelvana's stock and assets by Corus Entertainment.

Santa Monica, Ca

Retained by this developer / incubator of TV properties to negotiate and draft artist agreements; license and acquire/develop intellectual properties, and negotiate network JV agreements.

Universal City, Ca

Oversaw acquisition / development of R&B artists; managed marketing, promotion and sales of recorded music by artists including Mary J. Blige, Jodeci, Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight, New Edition; soundtracks for Jerry Bruckheimer (multiplatinum) and Spike Lee films and Dick Wolf series.

New York, Ny

President – Def Jam Recordings (1992 – 1995)Vice President, Business Affairs – Def Jam Recordings (1990 – 1992)Promoted from Counsel at Sony Music Entertainment to associated label, Def Jam Recordings. Developed / managed business and legal relations between label and Columbia Records/Sony Music Entertainment, on the one hand, and artists, producers and licensees, on the other hand. Negotiated artist, producer and licensing agreements; executed Union and guild obligations. Established infrastructure and standards for lawful use of audio and audiovisual music and film “samples,” adopted as industry standard. Appointed President under the creative direction of CEO Russell Simmons; accountable for the business, legal and strategic partnership operations, expanding the marketplace for a roster that included LL Cool J, Public Enemy, 3rd Bass, EPMD and Warren G, among others.

Greater New York City Area

Negotiated and drafted agreements related to the acquisition of the services of recording artists, producers and composers; domestic and international licensing of recordings and compositions; worldwide distribution of recordings; merchandise licensing; music publishing / co-publishing.

Greater New York City Area

Acted on behalf of Fortune 100 companies in civil litigation focused on securities, intellectual property, product liability, insurance defense and pro bono civil rights matters.

Greater Los Angeles Area

Jd

Recipient, Colby Townsend Prize for Excellence in Legal Writing. Appointed Teaching Assistant in Constitutional Law.

B.A., History, Cum Laude Graduate