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8 February 2023Muireann Bolger

US firm welcomes experienced trio of partners to media practice

The additions join from Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard.

Pryor Cashman has hired Briana Hill, Simon Pulman, and Amy Stein Simonds as partners in the media and entertainment group, who all join from Cowan, DeBaets, Abrahams & Sheppard.

Hill and Pullman will be co-heads of the practice group, bringing their significant expertise and client base to the firm.

Hill’s practice focuses on the business of entertainment and media law, and legal affairs in television, motion picture, and digital media, with experience in high-level, rights acquisitions, development, talent, co-production, and licensing deals.

She serves as outside business and legal affairs counsel for leading studios, networks, production companies, publishers, and creators and has supported the creation of numerous premium streaming series and motion pictures.

Hill also works with video game publishers, toy brands, and other nontraditional entertainment clients to help them structure and navigate entertainment industry deals.

Pullman’s practice focuses on entertainment and media law, with significant experience in company-side business affairs and sophisticated rights transactions for television, film, podcasting, and interactive clients

He helps clients negotiate complex development, production, financing, and licensing deals and is an industry leader in franchise building and complex “transmedia” deals. Pullman has also rendered financing and distribution services on many independent films and documentaries.

Simond’s practice focuses on transactions for films, television, podcasts, and digital media, including rights acquisition and licensing, development, production loans and equity financing, production, and sales and distribution agreements.

Her clients include studios, networks, financiers, production companies, executives, producers, actors, writers, department heads, and directors.

A production legal specialist with more than 100 motion picture credits to her name, she has provided legal counsel for many major studio, streaming platforms, and independently financed films and documentaries.

“These three talented lawyers invigorate our already important media and film practice,” said Ronald Shechtman, managing partner of Pryor Cashman. “The prominence of this accomplished group of lawyers will add strength to strength in this important area of our firm.”

Hill is based in Pryor Cashman’s Los Angeles office, and Pullman and Simonds are based in New York.

“We can’t think of a better place to build and expand our practice than Pryor Cashman,” said Hill. “Moving to a midsize firm puts us right where we want to be for our clients. We’re joining an already-great team, and we can offer enhanced service to our existing clients, while also helping to build on the prospects for Pryor Cashman’s M+E client base.”

“Working with the exceptional lawyers at Pryor Cashman will allow us to expand our capacity to service sophisticated clients across traditional and emerging forms of interactive entertainment, and create new opportunities for our clients and their projects,” said Pullman. “We can’t wait to get to work.”

“The future of the entertainment space is moving and evolving so rapidly, and Pryor Cashman’s M+E Group is helping set the pace,” said Simonds. “We’re all looking forward to helping clients navigate what’s next and maximise their opportunities.”

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