Tom K. Ara

Domestic

• Represented a major independent film and television production company in all aspects of a mega-budget multi-year made-for-Internet series deal with a leading SVOD service, covering financing, production and distribution of the series
• Represented multiple leading entertainment banks in negotiations of financing documentation for single-picture film and television financings, including, the financing of foreign presales contracts, gap financing and tax credits
• Represented multiple leading entertainment financial institutions and banks in the negotiation of financing agreements in connection with revolving credit facilities for film and television companies
• Represented a major independent production and sales company in connection with a due diligence exercise and related corporate transactions in anticipation of a strategic sale and/or financing event
• Represented a major studio in a multi-film, US$500 million co-finance deal with an offshore financing entity
• Represented online subscription and transaction based content distribution companies in connection with the acquisition of streaming, on-demand and sell-thru distribution rights for various film and television content
• Represented private equity groups, high-net-worth investor groups and investors in connection with various forms of financings transactions for film and television projects, including projects targeted to the faith-based community
• Represented a major studio in negotiating slate financing arrangements with several financing partners for investments exceeding US$150 million
• Represented a Wall Street bank in the sale of a library containing thousands of film and television titles
• Represented a major film and television distribution company in its acquisition of important distribution rights in a slate of films, the structuring of its investment in a film slate vehicle, and the creation of a co-distribution and co-finance arrangement intended to cover a large and diverse assortment of feature films and television content
• Represented a Wall Street bank in structuring its relationship with a television network in connection with the exploitation and ownership of one of the most successful television franchises
• Represented an advertising agency in connection with negotiation, strategy and execution of A-list agreements for brand campaigns as well as brand integration strategies and associated agreements
• Represented a unique mobile device-based app producer in securing various forms of film and television content for exploitation in connection with the app

International

• Represented a major China-based media company in multiple cross-border financing transactions involving film and television projects, including the establishment of a multibillion-dollar studio production facility in China
• Represented a publicly-traded Chinese media conglomerate in a variety of corporate, M&A and financing transactions with US-based companies, including the acquisition of an iconic comic book company and a joint-venture to finance and operate live location-based attractions in China and throughout Asia based on one of the most successful film studio franchise film properties
• Represented a China-based investment group in connection with its investment into a location-based virtual reality attraction in the US
• Represented a major China-based film studio and distributor in several complex cross-border investments in media properties
• Represented a China-based investment group with the establishment of a joint venture relationship in connection with financing and exploiting the rights to a collection of comic book characters throughout Asia
• Represented a Hong Kong-based production company owned by a Chinese producer/director in connection with various production, development and distribution matters and the acquisition of English-language properties for production into Chinese-language sequels and remakes
• Represented European and UK production companies in connection with the sale and development of television formats for US markets
• Represented a UK-US-based production company owned by an acclaimed television producer in connection with the production, development and distribution of numerous television formats and series
• Represented a major international distributor in its negotiation with a renowned US producer of a first-look arrangement
• Represented a film and television fund based in the Middle East in connection with various film, television and music endeavors
• Represented a major international distributor in the renewal of a multi-year distribution agreement with the owner of a 400-title US film library, which included multiple critically-acclaimed films and box office hits

Chambers USA

• Band 3, California Media & Entertainment: Transactional (2020 – 2024)
• Up and Coming, California Media & Entertainment: Transactional (2014 – 2016)

The Legal 500 United States

• Recommended, Media and Entertainment: Transactional (2022 – 2024)
• Recommended, Media and Entertainment: Litigation (2023)

Additional Recognitions

• Selected, Variety, "Dealmakers Impact Report," 2009, 2013, 2018, 2020, 2023
• Selected, The Hollywood Reporter, "Power Lawyers: Top 100 Most Influential Entertainment Lawyers in America," 2015
• Selected, Variety, "Legal Impact Report," 2015
• Selected, The Daily Journal, "Top 50 Entertainment Lawyers," 2015
• Selected, The Daily Journal, "Top 20 Under 40," 2014
• Featured, Who's Who Legal, The International Who's Who of Sports & Entertainment Lawyers, Public Finance Law, 2013
• Selected, Variety, "Legal Impact Report," 2012
• Listed, Law360, "Rising Stars," 2012

• Featured, "Tom Ara on the double strike in Hollywood," The World Today, July 2023
• Featured, "Law360's 2021 Media & Entertainment Editorial Board," Law360, April 28, 2021
• Quoted, "Will COVID-19 Hand the 2020 Box Office Crown to China?," Variety, July 31, 2020
• Quoted, "The Unhinged Bet to Jump-start the Movie Business," The Financial Times, June 16, 2020
• Featured, "International insiders in the US: bankers and legal experts," Screen Daily, November 4, 2019
• Quoted, "Who will win the streaming wars?" Los Angeles Times, October 10, 2019
• Featured, "Sealing the Deal: CFI Interview with Entertainment Attorney Tom Ara," ChinaFilmInsider, June 18 2019
• Featured, "The Cannes Q&A: Tom Ara," Le Film Francais, May 2019
• Quoted, "The Future of Global Film Finance at the AFM," Huffington Post, November 2017
• Featured, "The Heart of Asia's Film Business," HKTDC
• Featured, "Tom Ara Joins US-Asia Institute Board, Plans Congressional Visit To China," Variety, March 2015
• Featured, "'Peaky Blinders' A Hit In France; Tom Ara Joins US-Asia Institute Board – Global Briefs," Deadline Hollywood, March 2015