Christopher S. Spicer Named Head of Akin Gump’s Entertainment and Media Practice

May 8, 2018

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Jacinta O'Shea-Ramdeholl

Director of Communications

Sarah Richmond

Senior Communications Manager

(Los Angeles) – Akin Gump announced today that Christopher S. Spicer has been named head of its entertainment and media practice. Mr. Spicer is resident in the firm’s Los Angeles office and succeeds partner P. John Burke in the role as head of the practice.

With a practice focused on media and entertainment finance, Mr. Spicer represents financial institutions, mezzanine investors, production companies and equity providers in motion picture, television, digital financing and co-financing, and other corporate transactions. His work also includes advising borrowers, distributors, content creators, high-net-worth individuals, funds and others involved in various aspects of the production, financing and distribution of film, television and digital content.

A frequent recipient of awards recognizing his work in the media and entertainment space, Mr. Spicer's recent accolades include being named to The Hollywood Reporter’s “Power Lawyers” list in 2018, Variety’s “Legal Impact Report” in 2018 and 2017 and Variety’s “Dealmakers Impact Report” in 2017 and 2016. He was also included in Daily Journal’s “40 Under 40” list in 2017, which honors the top young lawyers in California.

“This is an exciting time to be in the entertainment space, with so many new avenues for content distribution along with new and innovative opportunities for financing deals and also a very exciting time for all of our clients,” stated Mr. Spicer. “I have been mentored in my career by John, who has led the practice since 1999, and am thrilled to move into the leadership role on a team that is so well situated to advise clients in this dynamic environment. I look forward to continuing to work with John and our entire team to build on the tremendous success we have seen under his leadership.”

“I have mentored and worked with Chris for many years and know firsthand the dedication, knowledge and skill that he brings to each matter for our clients,” stated Mr. Burke. “We have been preparing for Chris to take on this role, and our team will be in very capable hands under his leadership. I look forward to working with him and our colleagues as we continue building and expanding our practice.”

Akin Gump is widely regarded as a powerhouse firm in the entertainment and media industry. The firm, which is among a small handful of global law firms advising on entertainment and media transactions, features in its practice Messrs. Spicer and Burke, fellow partners Marissa Román Griffith and Alissa Miller, and counsel Warren Biro and Vanessa Roman along with a team of associates. Clients, including global investors, financial institutions and studios, benefit from the team’s decades of highly focused industry experience and its strategic guidance to capital providers and companies across the space as they launch new projects and technologies and enter new markets.

Mr. Spicer is a member of the advisory committee of the UCLA Entertainment Law Symposium and has been a visiting assistant professor at the graduate and undergraduate level in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

Mr. Spicer received his B.B.A. cum laude and his B.A. in 2001 from the University of Washington and his J.D. in 2005 from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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