Los Angeles, California (July 16, 2018) – Loeb & Loeb LLP today announced that entertainment production and financing executive Michael Helfant has joined the Los Angeles office as Of Counsel in the law firm’s nationally recognized Entertainment Department. Helfant began his career as an entertainment attorney at Loeb and returns with more than three decades of experience in film, television and digital media. Separate from his affiliation with Loeb, Helfant will continue to act as the CEO of L.A.-based production and financing company Amasia Entertainment.
“Michael has held senior executive positions at some of the entertainment industry’s best known institutions and he brings a wealth of knowledge and deep industry relationships, which will be invaluable as we continue to strengthen our team and help our entertainment and related clients succeed in a changing business landscape,” said Scott Edel, chair of Loeb & Loeb’s Entertainment Department.
“I am very excited to return to Loeb & Loeb again after so many years, this time as Of Counsel,” said Helfant. “I will be able to integrate my years of practical experience with Loeb’s expertise in both traditional and cutting-edge entertainment, media and technology matters. I think that is a winning combination for the firm’s clients. Loeb’s willingness to create a flexible arrangement that allows me to practice law for the firm while continuing, separately, to produce film and television projects through Amasia Entertainment says a great deal about the firm and its forward thinking.”
Prior to forming Amasia Entertainment, Helfant was President and Chief Operating Officer of Marvel Studios, where he oversaw the studio’s live action and animation production, financing and distribution operations. During his tenure, Marvel launched a new slate of self-financed films, including Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk. Before joining Marvel, Helfant served as the Chief Operating Officer of Beacon Pictures, where he led the production company’s revolving credit facility and its integrated distribution arrangements with Disney, Warner Bros. and Summit Entertainment.
Earlier in his career, Helfant was Senior Executive Vice President of Miramax/Dimensions Films, overseeing all business operations of Dimension Films, including the SPY Kids, Scream and Scary Movie film franchises. Additionally, he served as Executive Vice President, Head of Business Operations and Acquisitions at Interscope Communications/Polygram Filmed Entertainment, and as Senior Vice President of Sovereign Pictures.
Helfant is a board member of Film Independent, one of the leading non-profit organizations supporting independent film and filmmakers, and a member of the UCLA Entertainment Symposium Advisory Committee. He earned his J.D. and an MBA from the University of California, Los Angeles.
About Loeb & Loeb LLP
Loeb & Loeb is a multiservice law firm with approximately 350 attorneys focusing on select practice areas, rather than endeavoring to be all things to all clients. The firm is recognized as a leading law firm in the areas of advertising and marketing; capital markets and corporate; media and entertainment; intellectual property; real estate; technology; tax exempt organizations and private client services. Loeb & Loeb has offices in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Nashville, Washington, DC, Beijing and Hong Kong. www.loeb.com
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Of Counsel