Our Team
Neil Sacker
Education:
- B.A. Cornell University
- J.D. Yale Law School
Bar Admissions:
- California
- New York
I'm Neil Sacker, an attorney and executive with over three decades of experience at the intersection of law, entertainment, and business development. My journey in the legal and entertainment fields has been driven by a passion for storytelling, innovation, and strategic growth. I graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Government and furthered my education at Yale Law School, earning my Juris Doctor. These formative years laid the foundation for my commitment to excellence, analytical rigor, ethical practice and building long-term business relationships.
Starting my career at Warner Bros. Studios in 1991, I honed my skills in negotiating and drafting critical agreements for a range of film productions. My time at Warner Bros. was instrumental in developing my understanding of the entertainment industry's legal and business principals and nuances. In 1995, I joined Miramax Films and Dimension Films as Executive Vice President and head of Business and Legal Affairs. At Miramax, I was pivotal in acquiring the rights to the Lord of the Rings franchise and worked on over 75 films, including Scream, Good Will Hunting, and the Academy Award winning The English Patient. Building on the legal foundation from Warner Bros., at Miramax I learned how to think “outside the box” strategically and solve problems constructively with counterparties.
Following Miramax, I was the Chief Operating Officer at the Yari Film Group, where my responsibilities expanded beyond business & legal affairs to also cover oversight of the development and production of the film slate including the Academy Award-winning Crash and The Illusionist. I continued with those responsibilities as President of The Film Department, where I was instrumental in producing notable films like Law Abiding Citizen.
Before founding Sacker Entertainment Law, PC (“SEL”), I served as an entertainment partner at top-tier law firms including Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP.
Sacker Entertainment Law now offers comprehensive legal services across film, television, animation, podcasting and digital content, leveraging my industry experience and extensive network of relationships and contacts. I also work closely as an advisor to all of my clients to help them to achieve their creative and business goals. Our team at SEL is comprised of an extraordinary group of attorneys who are hard-working, smart and efficient.
Finally, our mission at SEL extends beyond the negotiation table and legal documentation; it's about mentorship, community building, and the relentless pursuit of knowledge.
Ben Halperin
Associate Attorney
Education:
- B.A. University of Michigan
- J.D. Fordham University School of Law
Bar Admissions:
- California
- New York
At Sacker Entertainment Law, Ben drafts and negotiates agreements for actors, directors, producers, showrunners, rightsholders and numerous below-the-line roles. Representative matters include working on showrunner agreements for HappyNest Entertainment's growing slate of animation projects, handling production legal for the Stampede Ventures film Space Cadet and managing option purchase agreements for several firm clients from close of deal terms to execution.
Ben received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law. At Fordham, he received the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award, was a member of Fordham Law Advocates for Voting Rights and was an Associate Editor of the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal, which published his Note in 2019. After graduating law school, Ben was a Law Clerk with NBCUniversal's Content & Production Risk group, where he worked on production-related contracts, performed legal research and reviewed fair use and life rights releases for programs such as Little America and Angelyne. Ben also worked in Business & Legal Affairs for Gaumont Television USA, where he assisted with a variety of development and production-related agreements and provided administrative support for the studio's legal department on shows that included Narcos.
Tiyona Griggs
Associate Attorney
Education:
- B.A. Georgia State University
- J.D. The University of Alabama School of Law
Bar Admission:
- California
At Sacker Entertainment Law, Tiyona handles a wide range of transactional matters, including drafting and reviewing motion picture agreements ranging from rights, writing, directing, producing and acting as well as key production agreements covering matters such as principal locations, casting directors and directors of photography. Tiyona worked extensively on the upcoming Stampede Ventures film Space Cadet starring Emma Roberts.
Prior to joining Sacker Entertainment Law, Tiyona received her B.A. in Political Science from Georgia State University, and her J.D. from The University of Alabama School of Law. During law school, Tiyona interned for the Honorable L. Scott Coogler of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama; Hardin & Hughes, LLP; and The University of Alabama Athletics Department.
Emma Wilson
Associate Attorney
Education:
- LL.B. Durham University Law School, United Kingdom
- LL.M. BPP University, London
- LL.M. University of California, Los Angeles
Bar Admission:
- California
At Sacker Entertainment Law, Emma drafts, negotiates and reviews agreements for rights, writers, directors, producers, actors and department heads in connection with the development and production of motion pictures and television series on behalf of financiers and independent production companies. Emma also regularly handles shopping agreements as well as podcast representation agreements for a major podcast network.
Emma graduated from Durham University Law School and received her LL.M. from BPP University in London. She then started her career in entertainment at Warner Bros. in London where she split her time between the International TV and Local Theatrical Production departments, working closely with outside counsel, producers, and in-house lawyers across 16 territories. Prior to joining the firm, Emma graduated from UCLA with an LL.M., specializing in Media & Entertainment Law, where she received the Dean’s Excellence Award Scholarship. During her time at UCLA, Emma completed an externship at a boutique entertainment law firm before doing a full-time clerkship at Sheppard Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP in the Entertainment department. At Sheppard Mullin, Emma represented clients ranging from high-profile talent to production companies and streamers and provided advice to clients on guild issues, including the WGA, SAG-AFTRA, and DGA.
Nadia Loney
Associate Attorney
Education:
- B.A. Political Science, University of California Los Angeles
- J.D. University of California Los Angeles
Bar Admission:
- California
At Sacker Entertainment, Nadia facilitates the negotiation and drafting of a variety of agreements that underpin the creation, production, and distribution of entertainment content for writers, directors, producers, and actors.
Nadia graduated from UCLA Law, with a specialization in their entertainment program. She received her B.A. in Political Science from UCLA, graduating with summa cum laude honors. During law school, Nadia clerked at Lavely & Singer, where she gained an in-depth understanding of the potential pitfalls and challenges that creators, studios, and talent may encounter. Upon graduating, Nadia worked at CAA in their Motion Picture Business and Legal Affairs department. During her time at CAA, Nadia assisted in the negotiations and deal-making processes for represented talent. As a creative outlet , Nadia previously owned and operated an interior design studio in Los Angeles.
Theresa Pride
