I structure, negotiate and close all development, production, license and distribution agreements for CNN Original Series, CNN Films and HLN Original Series. I manage the complex and constantly changing negotiation elements, including rights ownership, talent, windowing, OTT and SVOD rights. Leading a 3-member team and collaborating with the Legal and Production teams, I also serve as a subject matter expert to other units. After identifying the need for a dedicated Business Affairs department, I created and executed a strategic plan to be an integral part of CNN Originals/Films and a partner to the Finance, Legal and Marketing teams. I launched the department in 2014 and negotiated and closed more than 300 agreements by using my analytical skills to evaluate opportunity costs and potential benefits, my negotiation skills to create strategic exits when needed and my industry expertise and business acumen to establish the standard for the CNN/HLN Originals and CNN Films brand. I implemented CNN/HLN’s strategic vision for acquisitions by negotiating terms and licenses to acquire, co-produce or commission over 35 CNN/HLN Original Series, including the critically-acclaimed and Primetime Emmy® and Peabody award-winning “Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown” and the Primetime Emmy® Award-nominated Decades series executive produced by Tom Hanks and Gary Goetzman. I’ve been a key deal maker to acquire, co-produce or commission more than 40 feature and short documentary films, many of which screened at Sundance Film Festival, SXSW Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival.Having developed a strong network of program distributors, I meet with agents and distributors to present current and planned inventory, coordinating among other Turner platforms to avoid conflict. I created a standard agency package for WME, CAA and other renowned talent agencies to reflect CNN-specific needs. I also develop and leverage partnerships with a wide range of film distribution companies.

I advised multiple television clients on newsgathering, prepublication review and distribution matters and resolved disputes and claims, partnering with CNN Newsroom, Larry King Live, Erin Burnett, Nancy Grace, HLN Network and the LA and DC News Bureaus. I managed a paralegal and a 5-member Rights and Clearances team in Atlanta, Los Angeles and London to support 24-hour programming review.I identified the need for and created a Rights and Clearances group to negotiate and license photos and video footage for CNN networks worldwide. Under my leadership, this group helped reduce legal claims and litigation related to third-party materials. I also worked with IT to draft the RFP to create a third-party photo and video rights system and selected the vendor to build a system to advise CNN networks on available material.Advising journalists on privacy, defamation, copyrights, fair use and related areas, I reviewed scripts and visuals to avoid legal claims and handled hotline calls from reporters on the ground. I helped design and taught employee classes on Media Law and spoke at Media Law conferences.I began as Associate Counsel in 2000 and was promoted to Counsel later that year. From 2003 to 2011, I served as Senior Counsel before moving into the role of Assistant General Counsel, which I held until 2014 when I was tapped to create the Business Affairs department.