Biography
Tom is known for combining elite transactional execution with deep industry fluency across film, television, streaming, gaming, music, sports, digital media and intellectual property-driven businesses. His practice is particularly focused on high-value and strategically significant transactions involving premium content libraries, sports rights, entertainment platforms, gaming studios, creator-driven businesses and emerging digital media ecosystems.
Over the course of his career, Tom has led multibillion-dollar domestic and cross-border transactions spanning the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Clients regularly turn to him for matters involving complex structuring, high-stakes negotiations and strategically sensitive transactions at the intersection of media, technology, sports and private capital.
In addition to advising sophisticated investors and entertainment companies on headline transactions, Tom is a trusted counselor to studios, networks, gaming companies, streaming platforms and digital media innovators on strategic partnerships, IP monetization, content financing, distribution arrangements and other mission-critical commercial matters.
Representative Experience
Tom’s representative matters include advising:
- Caryn Mandabach Productions in its sale to Banijay UK, including the acquisition of rights relating to the globally acclaimed “Peaky Blinders” franchise
- Coral Tree Partners in its acquisition of a minority stake in Innovative Artists
- The Walt Disney Company on key matters relating to its $71.3 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox
- Creative Artists Agency on strategic M&A and commercial matters
- Coupang Play in connection with its acquisition of exclusive live sports broadcasting rights for the Premier League, Major League Baseball and FIBA
- Select Formula 1 teams on key strategic and commercial matters
- Smilegate on multiple strategic investments in U.S.-based gaming studios, including That’s No Moon and Absurd Ventures
- Acquirers of and investors in music catalogues and music distribution operations
- Goldman Sachs in connection with its approximately $2 billion acquisition of Alliance Atlantis Communications
- CJ ENM on strategic co-financing and commercial transactions involving key intellectual property assets
- ByteDance/TikTok on multiple strategic and commercial initiatives
- Annapurna Games in its acquisition of South African game development studio 24 Bit
- Raven Capital Management in connection with its acquisition of Exclusive Media Group
- Major Hollywood studios and independent production companies in connection with numerous slate financing and content investment arrangements
*Includes matters handled prior to joining Weil.
Recognition
Tom has been recognized as one of Variety’s “Variety500” most influential global media leaders alongside senior executives and industry icons across entertainment, technology and finance. He has also been named an “Entertainment Business Visionary” by the Los Angeles Times and recognized by Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter and the Los Angeles Times as a leading entertainment and media dealmaker.
He is consistently ranked by Chambers USA and The Legal 500 for his work in entertainment, media and corporate transactions. His market insights and commentary on trends shaping the media, sports and entertainment sectors are regularly featured in leading financial and industry publications, including The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, Financial Times and CGTN.
Leadership and Industry Involvement
Tom is deeply involved in the entertainment and media community and serves in numerous leadership roles across industry and academic institutions. He serves on the Board of the Blackhouse Foundation, is a trustee of the U.S.-Asia Institute, and is a member of both the UCLA Entertainment Symposium Advisory Committee and the USC Institute on Entertainment Law and Business organizing committee. He also serves as Editor-in-Chief of LA Lawyer Magazine’s annual Entertainment Law Issue.
Prior to joining Weil, Tom served as Global Co-Chair of the Media, Sports & Entertainment practice at another leading international law firm.