Tom K. Ara

Partner

Global Co-Chair, Media, Sport and Entertainment sector

Co-Chair, Entertainment Transactions practice

Co-Chair, Entertainment Finance practice

Emailtom.ara@dlapiper.com

Call+1 310 595 3110

Los Angeles

About

Areas of FocusFinancial Services Media, Sport and Entertainment Corporate Finance Media and Entertainment Sport

Bar admissionsCalifornia

CourtsUnited States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitUnited States District Court for the Central District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Southern District of California

EXPERIENCE

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

Education

J.D., Loyola Law School Los Angeles 1999
Editor, Loyola Law Review

B.S., San Jose State University 1996

Awards

Bylines

Author, Closing Arguments "The Synthetic Screen": AI Promises and Challenges, Los Angeles Lawyer Magazine May 2023 Issue, June 6, 2023

Seminars

Lecturer, "Chinese Investments in Hollywood" and "Film Financing," Shanghai University's Film Academy, November 2018
Moderator, "The Realities of Entering the Chinese Film Market," Shanghai, China, June 2016
Speaker, "American Films Cooperation and Investment," Beijing, China, April 2016
Moderator, "Breaking into China: Power Players and Strategic Partnership Opportunities," Cannes, France, May 2015

Media Mentions