Franklin Walker

Experience

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  Arent Fox

  Jan 1994 - Jan 1996

  Attorney
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  K&L Gates

  Jan 1996 - Jan 1999

  Attorney
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  United States Senate

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2001

  Senior Legislative Counsel
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  O'Melveny & Myers LLP

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2005

  Attorney
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  Former executive in the fashion and apparel industry

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2008

  Senior Advisor

  Established a business and legal affairs group to provide counsel and support for business strategies in the fashion and apparel industry. Managed IP portfolios, other intellectual property assets and provided synergistic facilitation among other legal, financial and tax advisors.

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  Yes! Fitness Music

  Jan 2008 - Jan 2009

  General Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs

  Provided legal and business counsel to this start-up fitness music company founded by former employees of industry’s largest company, both of which provide music re-mixes to gyms, fitness instructors and individuals by digital delivery and catalog sales. Established a music rights management system to quickly monetize company’s biggest asset, a significant music library owned by an Italian music label. Provided legal counsel on all aspects of the business including negotiating and drafting of originating documents, partnership and shareholder agreements, and music licenses. Show less

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  Maxsar Digital Studios/Philippe Martinez Productions

  Jan 2009 - Jan 2011

  General Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs

  Created a new business and legal affairs group for a set of related companies to produce and distribute films under the state’s film incentive program. Negotiated and drafted all agreements necessary for the creation of (through first looks, book options, and other development deals), financing of (whether by individual and fund-based financiers, state incentive programs, private loan facilities, and bridge fund lenders), production of (including director, writer, producer, talent, crew and their respective guilds) and exploitation of (sales agent contracts, distribution agreements) three independent film productions certified by the state as incentive-qualified productions. Negotiated and drafted agreements for a variety of acquisition titles and agreements to provide sales agent services at market for other producer-owned titles. Advised on corporate organization and governance matters for these related businesses and partnerships. Advised on work-force issues and personnel management, ultimately serving as the lead in the winding down of operations following the repeal of the film incentive program. Show less

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  National Geographic

  Jan 2011 - Jan 2014

  Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs

  Reporting to the Channel's CEO and to its President, played a central role in the Channel’s transition from traditional documentary programming to a series-focused schedule of non-scripted television. Negotiated Channel's high-priority series, including related star level talent. Working knowledge and familiarity with all industry-related collective bargaining agreement. Established or revised best practices for the negotiation, production, and exploitation of scripted and non-scripted programs. Provided production legal counsel to producers to ensure the delivery of air-able programs. Cultivated new relationships with all major agencies and entertainment counsel on behalf of the Channel. Secured the Channel’s first-ever state tax incentive rebate and established an inter-departmental workgroup to file for and receive incentive rebates. Responsible for compliance with all guild rules related to production, promotion and broadcast of programs produced under auspices of the guilds and established a working group to manage residual obligations. Established a new talent division within the Department. Counseled executives in order to avoid, contain, or resolve legal claims, as well as developed and implemented a system to respond to third-party litigation matters such as subpoena compliance and document production. Show less

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  Entertainment Business & Legal Consulting

  Mar 2014 - Feb 2016

  Principal

  Freelance consultant to networks, producers, talent and other business interests in the entertainment industry (film, scripted and non-scripted television, and music matters). Negotiate the terms for the provision of services related to the production of film and television content, including talent, directorial, and producer services. Provide production legal services as needed during production and through post-production and delivery. Negotiate agreements for and advise on matters related to the distribution. Provide strategic advice and ongoing consultation regarding the termination of business relationships, as well as monitoring the devlopment/completion of those projects, the exploitation of retained rights in those projects, and the payment of any related royalty obligations. Show less

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  Twentieth Century Fox Television

  Mar 2016 - Aug 2016

  Consultant, Business & Legal Affairs

  Previously responsible for legal affairs on scripted and animated network television series produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television including This Is Us (NBC), Scream Queens (Fox), Life in Pieces (CBS), Bones (Fox), A.P.B. (Fox), Bob’s Burgers (Fox), and The Carmichael Show (NBC). Negotiate test option agreements, guest star agreements, above-the-line and literary rights agreements as required. Interface with all guilds as necessary. Advise senior executives, producers, and production staff on a wide range of issues including intellectual property, defamation, privacy, contract law, clearance, distribution, licensing, rights acquisition, new media, advertising and marketing, guild agreements, immigration and participation claims. Supervise paralegals and legal assistants in option tracking, script clearance, E&O issues, and episodic credit matters. Show less

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  Fox 21 Television Studios

  Aug 2016 - Jan 2021

  Responsibility for business affairs and legal affairs for Fox 21 on numerous development projects for network/premium cable, streaming platforms, and basic cable, as well as all business and legal affairs for current series, including The Chi (Showtime), Genius (Nat Geo) and Crisis in the Hot Zone (Nat Geo).

  • Senior Vice President, Business Affairs

    Feb 2019 - Jan 2021

  • Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs

    Aug 2016 - Jan 2021
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  20th Television

  Jan 2021 - now

  Senior Vice President, Business Affairs