Mackenzie Storm

Experience

• 

  DreamWorks Studio

  Jun 2010 - Sept 2010

  Director and Production Assistant

  • Worked on I am Number Four (Director: DJ Caruso/Producer: Steven Spielberg)• Director’s personal assistant while on set• Managed the storyboards, extras, and scripts• Observed and participated in meetings about dailies (shot scenes from the day before) and helped select the best film takes

• 

  20th Century Fox Film

  Jun 2011 - Sept 2011

  Production Assistant

  • Worked on The Finder and Bones television production sets• Supervised the extras and Screen Actors Guild Contracts• Served as communications liaison between set and production office

• 

  UC Santa Cruz

  Sept 2012 - Jun 2014

  Building Operations Lead at Office of Physical Education, Recreation, and Sports

  • Oversaw and trained 60 student employees (as a student)• Coordinated all the recreational activities and managed the facilities within OPERS (gym, pool, basketball courts, dance classes, etc.)• Responded to and addressed customer service issues

• 

  QDRO Counsel Inc., A Professional Law Firm

  Jun 2015 - Feb 2016

  Law Clerk

  • Provided support for boutique law firm that specializes in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), specifically the division of retirement benefits in divorce with Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (“QDRO”) [29 U.S.C. §1056(d), ERISA 206(d)(3), Internal Revenue Code 414(p)]• Drafted QDROs and wrote points and authorities in support of ERISA division• Researched issues involving changes to ERISA, case law, other governmental codes or regulations affecting retirement plans• Assisted in management of all aspects of the review and approval process of QDROs with plan administrator• Managed cases on Time Matters data management system• Assisted attorneys and case managers with client files Show less

• 

  Hirsch Wallerstein Hayum Matlof + Fishman

  May 2016 - Aug 2016

  Summer Associate

  • Assisted attorneys that specialize in all aspects of entertainment law• Redlined literary option purchase agreements, distribution agreements, screenplay purchases, severance agreements, actor agreements, director agreements, and writer agreements• Drafted clip and likeness releases, shopping agreements, digital distribution licenses, and attachment agreements• Prepared memos with quotes for attorneys for negotiating employment offers• Observed and participated in weekly partner meetings Show less

• 

  Gaumont TV

  Aug 2016 - Nov 2016

  Business & Legal Affairs Law Clerk

  • Supported “mini” studio and its attorneys which produce scripted and animated series (i.e., Narcos, Hannibal, F is for Family, etc.)• Prepared deliverables for DVD distributors regarding the necessary film and video materials (i.e., screen credit obligations, key terms of talent agreements, copyright registrations, chain of title documentation, and logo requirements)• Kept track of the status of all current negotiations and pending deals• Drafted certificates of engagement, certificate of authorship, producer agreements, director agreements, writer agreements, and literary option purchase agreements• Observed production, creative, and legal meetings Show less

• 

  FX Networks (Fox)

  Jan 2017 - May 2017

  Business & Legal Affairs Law Clerk

  • Drafted option purchase agreements, animation writer deal memos, writing and non-writing producer agreements, amendments, extension letters, and side letters • Reviewed profit participation definitions and approved screen credits• Reviewed talent attorney comments on agreements and decided what changes to accept or reject

• 

  Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

  Aug 2017 - Jul 2019

  Associate | Entertainment, Technology & Advertising

  • Negotiated and drafted talent agreements (i.e., actors, writers, directors and producers), including endorsement and collaboration agreements• Drafted and reviewed various production agreements as production counsel (i.e., below the line department heads, location agreements, rental agreements, releases, licenses, etc.)• Drafted various development agreements (i.e., rights option agreements, first look agreements, license agreements, life rights agreements, rights purchase agreements and co-production agreements)• Prepared financing term sheets, escrow agreements, investment agreements, security agreements and guaranty agreements• Drafted music festival co-production and co-promotion agreements, sponsorship agreements, performance agreements and vendor agreements• Esports Practice Group Associate Co-Lead Show less

• 

  HBO

  Jul 2019 - Jun 2023

  • Provide overall advice as the head legal executive of the applicable project on a wide variety of legal issues arising from development, production and post-production of HBO’s and HBO Max’s entertainment programming - my production shows include Barry, The Idol, The Righteous Gemstones, True Detective and We Own This City• Advise on various clearance issues for my productions (e.g., review and analyze scripts, clear on-camera props, artwork, set dec, clear episode cuts, etc.)• Draft, finalize and negotiate high-level overall and first look agreements (e.g., Issa Rae, Brad Ingelsby, Michael Showalter, Danny McBride, etc.)• Advise on first amendment issues (including defamation and privacy) and intellectual property matters (including trademarks and copyright and the intersection where those IP rights collide with HBO’s first amendment rights)• Work closely with business, production, creative and development executives, as well as writers, producers, directors and crew at all stages of production • Provide sexual harassment and anti-discrimination training to cast and crew and give clearance talks Show less • Handled all legal aspects of HBO scripted programming (functions like general counsel of each show), including drafting and negotiating various above-the-line agreements (e.g., actors, writers, directors and producers)• Drafted various rights and development agreements (e.g., rights option agreements, script coverage agreements, production services agreements, assignment agreements, life rights agreements, publisher quitclaims, etc.) and reviewed, analyzed and cleaned up chain of title for various projects• Advised on first amendment issues (including defamation and privacy) and intellectual property matters (including trademarks and copyright and the intersection where those IP rights collide with HBO’s first amendment rights) Show less

  • Senior Counsel | Original Programming, Legal

    Apr 2021 - Jun 2023

  • Associate Counsel | Original Programming, Legal

    Jul 2019 - Apr 2021
• 

  Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP

  Jul 2023 - now

  Associate | Entertainment, Sports and Media