Robb Klein has joined the Century City office of Sheppard MullinRichter & Hampton LLP as special counsel in the firm's Entertainment & Mediapractice group. Klein joins from the Londonoffice of leading European law firm SJ Berwin LLP where he was a partner in theMedia & Communications Group.
Klein specializes in film and television financing,production and distribution, merchandising and the licensing of rights and newmedia. He has worked on the financingand production of numerous feature films, from small independent movies tostudio blockbusters. Recent films include"Manolete," "PS I Love You," "Love in the Time ofCholera" and "Basic Instinct 2." Klein has also worked on numerous tax-driven deals, and specializes instructuring international co-productions. His work for financiers includes representingbanks, entrepreneurs, tax funds and hedge funds, often involving securedlending and complex multi-party financing arrangements.
Klein also advises companies on their online businessarrangements, from terms and conditions to commercial supply and advertisingagreements, and on mobile content licensing. He has represented both content owners andmobile platform operators. He alsoadvises computer games developers in their dealings with publishers and onother types of software licensing.
Klein has worked on many significant corporate dealsin the media sector including IPOs and acquisitions of companies in the film,television, music, computer games, mobile and video on demand sectors.
"We have worked with Robb through the years and we're thrilled tohave him on board in LA now. Hisinternational industry experience is an excellent complement to the globalmatters which we handle," said Bob Darwell, chair of the firm'sEntertainment & Media practice group. "Robb's depth of experience in film and television finance, onlineand mobile business transactions, and corporate deals is a perfect fit for ourpractice group, which crosses over all areas of the entertainment industry andintersects with the technology sector."
Commented Klein, "Sheppard Mullin has built a world-class Entertainmentpractice and I am excited about joining Bob and the team in Century City. I am very impressed by the breadth ofindustry work they handle and their top-notch Hollywood client list."
Klein's clients include UK producers (Holy Cow Films, West ElevenFilms), European producers (Lola Films, Ilion Studios) and large U.S.independents (Mandalay Pictures, Alcon Entertainment). His work for financiers has includedrepresenting banks (Comerica), entrepreneurs (Infatrade), tax funds (Ernst& Young, Future Films) and hedge funds (120dB Films LLC).
Klein graduated, with honors, from The College of Law, Chester (UK) in1990 and earned an LLB (Hons) from Manchester University (UK) in 1989.
Entertainment litigation partner James E. Curry also joined SheppardMullin's Century City earlier this week. The firm has 40 attorneys based in its Century City office and theEntertainment & Media practice group includes more than 50 attorneysfirmwide.
About Sheppard MullinRichter & Hampton LLP
Sheppard Mullin is a full service AmLaw 100 firm withmore than 520 attorneys in 10 offices located throughout California and in NewYork, Washington, D.C. and Shanghai. Thefirm's California offices are located in Los Angeles, San Francisco, SantaBarbara, Century City, Orange County, Del Mar Heights and San Diego. Founded in 1927 onthe principle that the firm would succeed only if its attorneys deliveredprompt, high quality and cost-effective legal services, Sheppard Mullinprovides legal counsel to U.S. and international clients. Companies turn toSheppard Mullin to handle a full range of corporate and technology matters,high stakes litigation and complex financial transactions. In the U.S., the firm's clients include morethan half of the Fortune 100 companies. Formore information, please visit www.sheppardmullin.com