Debbie Polacheck Email & Phone Number

Manhattan Beach, Ca, Us

Los Angeles, California, United States

Worked with Business Affairs for NBCUniversal Television & Streaming Group. Drafted and negotiated talent and writer agreements.

► Demonstrated sound judgment navigating complex, novel, and high-risk issues for content and production of unscripted programming. ► Served as key advisor to Entertainment Networks and Streaming lawyers on topics such as filming illegal conduct (e.g., cannabis), performing minors, medical procedures, participant safety, alcohol and production, hoax and hidden camera use, integrity and fairness issues (including series and challenge rules), participant and talent issues, and production agreements. ► Pinpointed and escalated legal and reputational issues with potential cross-business impact.► Developed production policies and practices for business lawyers to implement for Bravo, E!, NBC, Oxygen, Peacock, Syfy, Universal Kids, and USA. ► Oversaw vetting of all drone shoots for NBCUniversal TV entertainment programming, and served as a resource on drones for other divisions. o Advised clients on drone use laws related to privacy, surveillance, trespass, and aviation. o Served on a company-wide cross-functional team that set and executed strategies for use of drones in production, counter-drone measures at facilities, and pending legislation.o Served as a company representative on the Commercial Drone Alliance.► Oversaw implementation of international compliance policies. Highlights: ► Developed and delivered risk mitigation training sessions on various topics to audiences of more than a hundred. ► As member of company’s Cannabis Council, played integral role in developing cannabis policy for entertainment productions and related materials. Established guidelines and vetted creative plans and depictions of cannabis use in content.► Advised on the use of minors in third-party and internally produced series, and served as a resource for company film group. Reviewed proposed state regulations regarding minors, and provided feedback to the Motion Picture Association. ► Member of group that developed policy for use of private investigators in productions.

► Served as head production lawyer for Bravo. ► Counseled Creative, Business Affairs, and Production Management for the Bravo and Oxygen networks on various contractual, content, and production legal matters. ► Offered legal advice and analysis on potential risks and issues at all stages, from development through post-exhibition. ► Advised on legal matters such as casting, performing minors, production contracts, confidentiality agreements, diligence, defamation, right of publicity and privacy, fair use, copyright, trademark, clearance, integrity and fairness, election and gift laws, compliance, hoaxes and hidden camera use, safety, insurance and risk management, FCC, FCPA, and other regulations. Highlights: ► Co-developed and implemented new forms, processes, and best practices to adapt to changing business objectives. Identified need for and played key role in creating a talent agreement form for unscripted programming to address particular issues and risks of the genre.► Led creation of a best practice manual clarifying key issues and standards for third-party producers of unscripted programming. Measure enabled company show lawyers to be less involved in daily production issues and assume responsibility for more series. ► Headed investigations of alleged cheating by competition participants, and worked with multiple departments on action plans. ► Effectively navigated legal issues related to having politicians and government employees appear in programming.► Negotiated trade-out and integration agreements with companies including General Motors, Hilton, and Whole Foods.► Vetted or drafted series and challenge rules for major series such as Top Chef and Project Runway.► Worked with GE corp insurance and company’s Head of Production Management to develop and finalize insurance program that reduced out-of-pocket costs and time needed to price and obtain coverage. ► Won the 2016 NBCUniversal’s General Counsel Award for pro bono commitment.

► Led department charged with drafting and administering all domestic syndicated TV programming and cable license agreements. ► Negotiated terms and conditions. ► Advised and strategized with Sales on issues related to program licensing plans.

► Led department charged with drafting and administering all domestic syndicated TV programming and cable license agreements. ► Negotiated terms and conditions. ► Advised and strategized with Sales on issues related to program licensing plans.

Juris Doctorate

Exceptional Achievement Award for the highest grade in Advanced Copyright Seminar

Bachelor Of Arts, Social Sciences Field Major (Honors)