Sophia K. Yen

Partner

Manatt Entertainment

Contact

syen@manatt.com
Phone: 310.312.4122

Services

Industries

Entertainment Representations

Represented Beijing-based Perfect World Pictures in a $500 million, five-year, 50-film slate cofinance agreement with Universal Pictures and its subsequent $250 million credit facility with East West Bank and JPMorgan. The deal was the first-ever direct investment by a Chinese company in the film slate of one of the six “major” Hollywood studios, and remains the largest Chinese investment in a Hollywood film slate ever closed.
Represented Sony Pictures Entertainment in a $200 million film slate cofinance agreement with LSC Film Corporation, which provided cofinancing for the studio’s slate of feature films for three years.
Represented Huayi Brothers Media Corp., China’s largest privately held film company, in an 18-film, three-year cofinance and distribution agreement with STX and a loan facility with East West Bank. The deal was one of the first major Chinese investments in Hollywood films to be successfully closed.
Represented a private equity fund in the acquisition of a major film library.
Represented Sony Pictures Entertainment in a $200 million film slate cofinance agreement with Hemisphere Capital Management, as well as international distribution agreements related to the cofinance structure.
Represented a large hedge fund in the restructuring of its mezzanine debt position in a film production company, including rights in film collateral and profits waterfalls from the films.
Represented the administrative agent and collateral agent in the restructuring of a secured working capital credit facility covering a slate of motion pictures.
Represented the production lender for numerous single-picture and television projects in various stages of production and distribution.
Represented a bank with the purchase of a prints and advertising facility from the existing lender.
Represented an administrative agent in providing a large syndicated secured film library and production credit facilities for a large independent motion picture producer.
Represented an administrative agent in connection with a secured working capital credit facility for motion pictures to be produced by an independent film and television production and finance company.

Lender Representations

Represented a capital management company in various investments in an aviation company.
Represented a lender in revolving and term credit facilities to an upscale blue jeans designer and manufacturer.
Represented a global investment management organization in multiple mezzanine debt financings.
Represented the investment subsidiary of an insurance company with a cross-border transaction to provide credit to a seafood distributor.

Borrower Representations

Represented Blue Vine Capital Inc. in negotiating a $75 million warehouse credit line.
Represented Stamps.com, a leading provider of Internet-based postage services, in negotiating its credit facilities to finance an all-cash, $215 million acquisition of Endicia from Newell Rubbermaid.
Represented a large private equity sponsor in multiple debt financings, including (i) the $2 billion acquisition of a leading distributor and processor of metals in North America; (ii) multiple acquisitions of business communications and network solutions companies; and (iii) the asset-based revolving credit facility related to the acquisition of the nation’s largest crane rental company.
Represented a large private equity sponsor in multiple secured debt financings, including (i) the restructuring of the credit facility for a U.S.-based thrift store chain; (ii) the strategic investment into an airport gift store chain; and (iii) the acquisition of a U.S. fire protection equipment wholesaler.
Represented a large private equity sponsor in multiple secured debt financings, including (i) the acquisition of a distributor and remanufacturer of transmission parts; and (ii) a strategic investment in a leading provider of public safety software to law enforcement, fire and emergency medical service agencies.

Speaking Engagements

AMERICAN FILM MARKET (AFM)

Panelist, “Finance Conference: Film Finance Success - The Producer's Perspective,” American Film Market (AFM), November 1, 2021.
Panelist, “Pitch Workshop: Discover New Voices,” American Film Market (AFM), November 9, 2020.

SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST FESTIVAL (SXSW)

Moderator, “Becoming the Change (Agent) You Wish to See,” SXSW 2022, March 16, 2022.
Speaker, Mentor Session – Distribution (advising on current issues and developments in distribution and distribution options for the film industry), South by Southwest, March 13, 2022.
Moderator, “Breaking Into Hollywood and Creating Change,” SXSW 2020, March 15, 2020. (*Official selection, but festival cancelled due to COVID-19)
Moderator, “Audience Engagement: The New Path to Greenlighting,” SXSW 2018, March 11, 2018.
Speaker, Mentor Session – Distribution (advising on current issues and developments in distribution and distribution options for the film industry), South by Southwest, March 15, 2015.

SUNDANCE INSTITUTE

Moderator, “Film Financing & Taxes,” Sundance Catalyst Program, June 2, 2022
Panelist, “Master Class: Funding Your Fiction Film,” Sundance Collab, November 16, 2021
Panelist, “From Catalyst to Commitment,” Sundance Catalyst Forum, September 28, 2021.
Panelist, “The Independent Film Lawyer” Sundance Institute’s Catalyst program, May 6, 2021.
Consulting Lawyer, Sundance Institute’s Catalyst Program, 2020 and 2021
Special Guest Panelist discussing financing documentaries and small independent films as a kick-off to Sundance Institute’s Catalyst program on co//ab, April 8, 2020.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Guest Lecturer, “PROD439: Producing Master Class”, Loyola Marymount University, November 18, 2021
Panel Organizer, “From Intent to Impact: How Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Make (Necessary) Business Sense, UCLA 45th Annual Entertainment Law Symposium, June 2, 2021
Guest Lecturer, “PROD670: Thesis Project II: Feature”, Loyola Marymount University, April 15, 2021.
Guest Lecturer, “Producing Master Class”, Loyola Marymount University, November 19, 2020.
Panelist, “International Marketing & Distribution of Film,” USC Marshall School of Business—Business of Entertainment Club, November 5, 2018.
Panelist, “Recent Trends in Film Financing,” Pepperdine School of Law Journal of Business, Entrepreneurship and Law Symposium, March 23, 2017.

OTHER SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Moderator, “Minding the Double Bottom Line - Making Your Dollars Count More When Investing in Film, TV, and other Content,” Winston Baker’s Confluence Summit, October 28, 2021.
Panelist, “Master Class: How to Become an Expert in Your Field and the Go-To Lawyer with Your Company,” Corporate Counsel Women of Color, September 30, 2020.
Panelist, “Straight to Streaming Strategies: The Art and Science of Dealmaking with Streamers,” Winston Baker’s Entertainment Finance Forum, Los Angeles, CA, February 13, 2020.
Panelist, "Future of Film Finance Panel," Asian World Film Festival, November 11, 2019.
Panelist, “Hollywood Deal Making Insiders,” 2019 HLB Asia Pacific Conference, June 19, 2019.
Panelist, “State of Affairs: A Look at the Current Film Landscape in China,” 3rd Annual Sino-US Culture Summit, November 2, 2018.
Panelist, "Streaming: The Future of Global Entertainment," Asian World Film Festival, October 26, 2018.
Moderator, “Because You’re Worth It!: How to Negotiate for Yourself & Other Strategies for Closing the Gender Pay Gap”, Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel, June 28, 2018.
Panelist, “Box Office vs. Streaming,” Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Asia, Shanghai, China, June 14, 2018.
Panelist, "Producing Around the Globe," Asian World Film Festival, October 26, 2017.
Panelist, “The Ruler’s Evolution: The Next Wave of Film Finance Royalty,” Winston Baker’s 8th Annual International Film Finance Forum, Cannes, France, May 19, 2017.
Panelist, "Film Financing," Asian World Film Festival, October 25, 2016.
Panelist, “Evolving and Succeeding in the Digital Age,” Winston Baker’s Entertainment Finance Forum, Los Angeles, CA, March 1, 2016.
Panelist, “Television Redefined: Shifting Business Models and New Revenue Streams,” Winston Baker’s Entertainment Finance Forum, Los Angeles, CA, March 10, 2015.
Moderator, "Navigating the World of Co-Financing and Co-Productions," 16th Shanghai International Film Festival - Film Finance Conference, June 16, 2013.

Honors & Awards

Profiled in Variety’s “Legal Impact Report” from 2018 to 2022. This prestigious annual report spotlights the top attorneys in the entertainment business.

Profiled in Variety’s “Dealmakers Impact Report” from 2017 to 2020. This prestigious annual report identifies key Hollywood dealmakers—corporate strategists, financiers and attorneys—who are making things happen in the entertainment industry.

Named as an "Up and Coming" leading lawyer in Media & Entertainment: Transactional - California, Chambers USA, 2021.

Recognized Practitioner for Media & Entertainment: Transactional, Chambers USA, 2019 and 2022.

Recipient of the “Woman of Business” award from Comerica Bank Women’s Business Awards, which recognizes a high-achieving woman executive within the Southern California community, December 2018.

Hollywood’s New Leaders: Lawyers, Variety, 2012. The report identifies individuals who will be steering the entertainment industry in the years ahead.

Best Lawyers magazine

Named among The Best Lawyers in America for Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television, 2020–2022.
Named among The Best Lawyers in Southern California for Entertainment Law, 2020.

Super Lawyers magazine

Named a “Southern California Super Lawyer” for Entertainment & Sports, 2018–2021.
Named to Top Women Lawyers in Southern California for Entertainment & Sports, 2018.
Named to Top Women Attorneys in Southern California Rising Star edition, 2013–2015.
Named to Top 50 Up-and-Coming Women Attorneys in Southern California Rising Stars edition, 2015.
Named to Top 100 Up-and-Coming Attorneys in Southern California Rising Stars edition, 2015.
Named a “Southern California Rising Star” for Entertainment & Sports, 2013–2016.

Admitted to practice in California, Massachusetts and New York

Member, UCLA Law Entertainment Symposium Advisory Committee, 2017–2022

Executive Committee Member, Boston University School of Law Alumni Association, 2015–2019

Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel

Board Member, Women Who Lead Board, 2015
Vice Chair, Emerging Leaders Board, 2014
Board Member, Emerging Leaders Board, 2013

Host Committee, Step Up Women’s Network Inspiration Awards, 2012 and 2014

Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in California

Quoted, “As NFTs Spur a Digital Gold Rush, Law Firms Are Getting in on the Action,” The American Lawyer, July 1, 2021.

Quoted, “China’s movie moguls see online video apps as complementary to cinemas,” South China Morning Post, June 15, 2018.

"Sarbanes-Oxley: Following the Private Company Trend of Voluntary Compliance," Annual Review of Banking Law, Vol. 24.

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