Sidley Austin LLP announced today that Richard S. Petretti has joined the firm as a partner and will be a member of its expanding media and entertainment group. He will be based in the firm’s Century City office. Mr. Petretti is a highly experienced finance lawyer who concentrates his practice on transactions in the media and entertainment industry and leveraged financings.
“Richard has earned his reputation as a top-tier finance lawyer in the entertainment community as well as in other traditional financing markets,” said Skip Stern, leader of Sidley’s film finance practice and co-leader of Sidley’s Global Finance practice. “His strong skill-set and extensive experience handling a variety of financing transactions will complement the high-level and wide range of services we provide our financial institution, hedge fund, private equity and corporate clients, particularly those involved in transactions in the media and entertainment industry. We are very excited to have such a high-quality, experienced practitioner join the team in L.A.”
Mr. Petretti has represented clients in secured and unsecured film financings, including production and acquisition facilities for slates and single-pictures, ultimates and library-backed financings and funding for prints and advertising (P&A). His film and television experience includes advising major financial institutions and borrowers such as mini-majors, independent film companies, joint ventures and special purposed entities in lending, loan workouts, debt restructurings and corporate matters. He also has experience in related areas of media and telecommunications, such as broadcasting, cable television, satellites and undersea fiber-optic cables.
“I feel like I have already been Richard’s partner for twenty years,” said Dan Clivner, co-managing partner of Sidley’s Los Angeles offices.“There is no one at any firm in this town who doesn’t know and respect him. Richard and our own Skip Stern are widely recognized as the go-to lawyers for media finance.”
Clivner added, “Richard is the latest addition to our fast growing team in both the media and entertainment space and Century City office, as his arrival closely follows that of new partners Chad Hummel, Vijay Sekhon Matt Thompson and Jack Yeh. We are delighted to have Richard on board.”
Source: www.sidley.com
