Professional Experience
Mr. Conner has more than 25 years of experience in the entertainment and media industries. He has served as chief outside entertainment counsel for several major film studios and television networks and numerous film and television production and distribution companies, and as lead counsel in several large finance, distribution, and M&A transactions for one of America’s largest financial institutions.
Mr. Conner advises clients through the entire life cycle of film, television and new media assets. Over the course of his career, he has restructured the production and distribution of a multi-billion dollar television franchise, closed half-billion dollar feature film finance/production/distribution deals and international distribution deals, $300 million output and broadcast deals, as well as deals for the acquisition of companies and film and television assets.
Mr. Conner has represented film and television industry clients in bank and equity finance deals, licensing deals, and agreements with major talent, and has served as production counsel for a wide variety of feature films, as well as television series, specials, and longform productions.
Prior to joining Manatt, Mr. Conner was a partner at Dickstein Shapiro LLP, where he served as the head of the firm’s Entertainment Law Practice.
Education
Harvard Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 1980.
Editor, Harvard Law Review.
Occidental College, M.A., 1978.
University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., summa cum laude, 1976.
UCLA Student Body President
Memberships & Activities
Admitted to practice in California.
Member, Los Angeles Community College Board, 1981-1997.
President, California Community College Trustees, 1992-1993.