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Sony Pictures Entertainment has hired Jill Ratner as vice president and general counsel, overseeing all of the studio's legal functions, compliance and labor relations, SPE's music operations, government/external affairs and corporate social responsibility teams. .
The news follows the announcement in January that Sony Pictures Entertainment Vice President and General Counsel Leah Weil would be leaving the studio after 28 years.
She will begin her role on May 28 and report to SPE Chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra.
Mr. Ratner has served as Deputy General Counsel for The Walt Disney Company since 2019, leading a global legal team of more than 200 people. Ratner currently has global responsibility for Disney's litigation, intellectual property and digital piracy divisions. She also leads the legal support for the company's social responsibility operations. Her extensive experience includes copyright, trademark, First Amendment, contract disputes, employment, antitrust, securities, and class action matters. Ratner also provides strategic intellectual property legal support for a wide range of business initiatives, including AI, rights acquisition and distribution, production licensing, social media, user-generated content, and online liability and policy. It offers.
Prior to joining Disney, Mr. Ratner was with 21st Century Fox from 2004 to 2019, most recently serving as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel. At Fox, Ratner leads the global litigation, employment, intellectual property, privacy and content protection legal team, which includes film and television studios, digital media properties, television broadcast networks, sports and entertainment cable, and 21st Century Fox. supported its worldwide operations. Network and corresponding multi-platform assets. She advised on key business and legal issues for these existing businesses, as well as the acquisition and launch of new digital businesses, including Hulu. Mr. Ratner also helped steer the company through the sale of most of 21st Century Fox's assets to Disney. As a litigator, Ratner led the team through precedent-setting litigation, including the Aereo U.S. Supreme Court case.
Prior to joining Fox, Ratner was a family lawyer at the Motion Picture Association and a litigation associate at Hogan Lovells and Hill, Wynn, Troop & Meisinger.
“Jill has a reputation as a trusted, results-oriented advisor and legal strategist, and we are excited to have her join SPE as general counsel,” said Vinciquerra. “Jill is an excellent fit for this role, having successfully led large legal teams at two of Hollywood’s largest studio businesses during periods of extraordinary change and transition. I look forward to receiving her sage advice and guidance as we address the challenges of the evolving industry landscape and capitalize on growth opportunities.”
“Sony Pictures has demonstrated incredible strength and resilience amid significant industry change,” Ratner said. “I look forward to joining this great leadership team and working with the great group that Leah Weil has built at SPE. I would like to thank Tony for this great opportunity.”