Eric Posner Email & Phone Number

Advise PBS programming, digital/online and content departments on any legal issues involving content PBS is looking to acquire, co-produce or commission. Negotiate and draft agreements (programming, production, licensing, talent, promotion, digital/online, etc.) for the acquisition of content for all PBS departments. Represent PBS in public television union/guild negotiations with SAG/AFTRA, WGA and AFM, and handle any union issues/matters for PBS.

(a) Transactional attorney/deal negotiator in the television industry. Negotiate complex transactions for the acquisition and/or licensing of content for use on-air and online, and draft, analyze and interpret all agreements related to these transactions bringing the business deal/transaction to successful conclusion. (b) Analyze, vet and negotiate detailed, often multi-million dollar, project budgets; (c) Act as the team leader for the project and coordinate the “buy-in” from various business units within the company; (d) Negotiate the business and legal deal terms with producers and their attorneys; (e) Negotiate the most advantageous rights package possible working within the budgetary/financial parameters dictated by the various business units, and, to the extent possible, close the deal at a financial commitment level below the maximum allotted by the company, which has resulted in saving millions of dollars for the company annually; (f) Negotiate back-end revenue participation rights/terms into the deal, which collectively, as a department, has earned the company between $8-10M per year; (g) Draft, re-draft and redline all agreements needed to memorialize the mutually agreed upon deal terms, and bring the deal to closure by securing mutually executed agreements; (h) Read and interpret contract terms and rights, and advise senior management as to the company’s rights and obligations under various agreements.

(a) Oversaw all internal communications for Discovery Networks International (DNI) – communicated throughout the company all events, awards, programming activities and specials, marketing promotions, network accomplishments and executive appointments/promotions for DNI;(b) Managed a departmental budget of approximately $250,000; Planned, detailed and justified the budget for the upcoming year and then executed various events, new initiatives and activities throughout the year in accordance with the budget;(c) Organized and planned all aspects of various events for DNI, including the DNI Senior Executive Summit involving about 100 people plus guest speakers; budget presentations by the DNI regional offices to corporate and by corporate to the shareholder committee; and, programming presentations from the DNI Senior Executives to the shareholders;(d) Wrote and published two monthly publications for DNI – (a) DNInside: a newsletter of recent events, accomplishments and any other noteworthy news/activities; and (b) DNI Profile: a one-sheet with current DNI facts and figures;(e) Responsible for bringing on board a new web-based, public relations database (VOCUS) that centrally and electronically stored all press and publicity materials for DNI.

(a) Legal counsel for one of the largest entertainment companies in the world.(b) Negotiated and drafted programming, talent and independent contractor agreements, releases and various production documents for all of DCI’s domestic and international networks;(c) Communicated and coordinated with various groups within DCI to ensure each unit was timely performing its functions and was preparing all necessary materials so that the agreement/deal could be finalized in a timely fashion;(d) Reviewed treatments, scripts, rough cuts and fine cuts of programs and advised the network as to any potential legal issues;(e) Supervised the work of my Paralegal and Administrative Assistant and conducted year-end review of their job performances;(f) Created and maintained strong, positive client relations; (g) Legal department liaison for the Animal Planet Network – counseled network on any legal issues related to its programming and generally communicated between the network and legal department on the latest, relevant developments of each unit, including giving presentations as needed.(h) Managed a “caseload” of approximately 30-35 deals on average and prioritized work accordingly.

(a) Negotiated and managed television programming and ancillary rights (e.g., online, educational, home video) contracts for all DCI business units operating under tight timelines and strict budgetary parameters; (b) Worked with the Production Management division to analyze and “vet” the project’s budget, which ranged from $100,000 to several million dollars. Negotiated with the producers to either increase or decrease various budgetary elements as we (DCI) deemed appropriate;(c) Managed business practices and deal negotiations in a team environment in concert with the Editorial/Creative, Network Operations, Program Publicity, Production Management, Online and Finance Departments within DCI. Coordinated and communicated with these business units on all deals to ensure all needs were met and the rights package secured was as favorable for DCI as possible;(d) Oversaw contract negotiations in conjunction with DCI’s Legal Department from inception of negotiations through to final execution of long form contracts;(e) Participated in the creation of a centralized “buy-in” process whereby various business units within DCI communicate their interest in a project so that one, consolidated offer from DCI can be presented to the producer/distributor;(f) Represented DCI at trade shows to negotiate deals, foster client relations and seek out new product;(g) Managed and mentored the “Coordinator” for our group. Taught her about the role of an Account Executive and the process by which we negotiated our deals. Eventually got her promoted to an Account Executive. Also taught and mentored new Account Executives that joined our group.(h) Created and maintained strong, positive, professional relations with numerous clients by negotiating openly and fairly, giving timely service and constantly communicating the status of the deal or a program under consideration;(i) Balanced a workload of approximately 35-40 deals on average and prioritized tasks accordingly.

(a) Civil litigation attorney, with a focus on business related matters, involved in all aspects of client representation;(b) Focused on complex litigation under the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA), which regulates the relationship between franchisors and franchisees of gasoline service stations; (c) Drafted all legal documents–contracts, pleadings, discovery requests/responses, motions, appellate briefs, etc.(d) Managed "discovery" process, including taking depositions as needed;(e) Negotiated settlement agreements with opposing counsel and drafted such agreements;(f) Advocated clients’ positions in various legal forums during pre-trial, trial and appellate stages;(g) Represented clients in the sale and purchase of businesses (gasoline stations) and acted as settlement attorney;(h) Fostered and maintained excellent client relations by providing professional, efficient and responsive service to clients at all times.

Jd, Law, 3.6

Activities and Societies: Law Review (Grade On); WCL Academic Honor Society; Intramural Sports

Ba, Communciations, 3.3

Activities and Societies: Signum Laudus (Academic Honor Society); Outstanding College Students of America; Intramural Sports