NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES, June 4, 2025: International law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP announced today that prominent entertainment, sports and media (ESM) dealmaker Tom Ara has joined the Firm as a partner in the U.S. Private Equity Group to lead the Firm’s ESM practice, based in the Los Angeles office.

Ara’s practice focuses on domestic and international transactions across entertainment, sports and media. He represents a broad range of clients in M&A and financing transactions, including private equity firms, investors, sovereigns, lenders and borrowers. Additionally, he advises entertainment companies worldwide on strategic deals and complex corporate and commercial transactions, handling billions of dollars of transactions for media properties and major sports media rights, among other high-profile deals.

“Tom brings outstanding experience counseling both leading entertainment and media companies as well as private equity firms and other investors in their strategic ESM transactions,” said Weil Executive Partner Barry Wolf. “We are very pleased to welcome him to the Firm.”

“Tom is a results-driven lawyer with deep connections and experience advising entertainment and media clients in high-stakes transactions,” said Michael J. Aiello, Chairman of Weil’s Corporate Department. “His contributions will be vital as we focus on unlocking new opportunities for our clients in this dynamic space.”

“I am very excited to be joining Weil’s top-tier Private Equity Group as the Firm continues to expand its presence in California and in the entertainment, sports and media space generally,” said Ara. “Joining Weil is a unique opportunity to combine my entertainment, sports and media expertise with the Firm’s market-leading private equity capabilities. With Weil’s platform and client relationships, we will build something truly elite as we deepen the Firm’s West Coast footprint. I can’t wait to help shape this next chapter of growth.”

Ara is Chambers ranked and is regularly recognized as a top Entertainment “Power Lawyer” by The Hollywood Reporter and one of the top entertainment business leaders in the global media industry by Variety.

Ara joins Weil from DLA Piper LLP, where he was the Global Co-Chair of the firm’s media, sport and entertainment group.

Ara’s arrival follows quickly on the addition in February of leading sports, media and entertainment lawyer Steve Argeris as a partner in the U.S. Private Equity Group, based in Weil’s Washington, D.C. and New York offices.

“Tom is a widely recognized leader in the industry who has built an impressive practice that demonstrates his strength in connecting private capital and public investors to ESM opportunities,” said Tana Ryan, Managing Partner of Weil’s Los Angeles office. “His leadership will be instrumental in shaping the growth of our ESM practice, guiding clients across film, television, music, publishing and sports transactions while expanding our capabilities in emerging areas like gaming and digital media.”

About Weil’s Los Angeles Office

While the Firm has been a key player in Silicon Valley for more than three decades, the opening of the Firm’s Los Angeles office demonstrates Weil’s commitment to serving the needs of its current and future clients across all of the Firm’s practice areas in this critical market. Powered by Weil’s premier Private Equity Group, Weil’s Los Angeles office counsels private equity funds, as well as public and private companies in a wide variety of corporate transactions across a multitude of industries, including ESM, software and technology; energy, infrastructure, and transportation; financial and business services; healthcare; industrials and manufacturing; and consumer and retail products.

About Weil’s Private Equity Practice

Weil's global Private Equity practice is recognized by the industry as being one of only a very small number of elite market leaders in this field. Our clients include many of the highest-profile private equity funds, sovereign wealth funds and pension funds, as well as family offices and other equity financial investors. Weil advises more than 300 private equity clients worldwide, ranging from middle-market buyout firms to each of the 10 largest global private equity funds and 80% of the top 25 largest global private equity funds as ranked by PEI 300 2024.  Our advice covers all aspects of the full life cycle of investments.

About Weil

Founded in 1931, Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP has been a preeminent provider of legal services for more than 90 years. With approximately 1,200 lawyers in offices on three continents, Weil has been a pioneer in the marketplace and a first-mover in the establishment of many significant practice areas. The Firm’s four departments, Corporate, Litigation, Restructuring, and Tax, Executive Compensation & Benefits, and more than two dozen practice groups are consistently recognized as leaders in their respective fields.