O’Melveny Worldwide

Matthew Syrkin is a corporate partner at O’Melveny and co-chair of its MediaTech Group.

One of the country’s leading lawyers, Matt specializes in delivering business and strategic legal counsel across a wide variety of commercial and corporate transactions. He is known for his pioneering work in structuring deals that are at the cutting-edge of technology, advertising, media, entertainment, sports, retail products and financial services. Whether it’s helping define the future of interactive arena technologies or launching global streaming services, Matt is at the forefront of convergence.

Clients turn to Matt when it comes to negotiating innovative, first-of-their-kind deals and future-proofing their businesses. His deep industry experience, versatile skillset and business acumen have made him a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies, Big Four accounting firms, professional sports teams, global electronics companies, start-ups and international businesses. From Madison Square Garden (NY Knicks/NY Rangers), Ernst & Young LLP and Liberty Media, to Roku, Paramount Global and Samsung, Matt has counseled industry-leading businesses on critical legal matters across a wide range of industries and sectors.

Matt has been recognized as one of the nation’s top lawyers and deal makers by the prominent industry and mainstream publications. The National Law Journal gave him the elite Trailblazer Award for driving industry change in the Sports, Gaming & Entertainment fields. The Hollywood Reporter honored him as a “Power Lawyer,” praising him as a “new kind of [industry] lawyer – an entertainment-tech hybrid.” Variety has named him an “Elite Dealmaker,” an “Impact Lawyer,” and a “NY Elite Dealmaker.”

Chambers USA and The Legal 500 US praised Matt’s unique combination of commercial expertise and “on the ground” industry experience working in-house for delivering “unique insights” to clients on complex business and operational matters.

In addition to having been a partner at leading law firms, Matt has also worked in-house, gaining valuable insight into the business and operational aspects of the sports, gaming, entertainment, technology, media and retail industries. This diverse experience comes from working at organizations, such as Major League Baseball (Commissioner’s Office), Fox Sports Media Group and TiVo, Inc. He also served as lead counsel (on secondment) to Paramount Global’s MTV Games division where he helped launch the Rock Band video game franchise, and acted as “outside” general counsel in the retail space, handling all day-to-day legal matters, for a leading luxury apparel brand.

Matt is a recognized authority on the business and legal aspects of media, advertising, entertainment and consumer products. In addition to speaking regularly on these topics, he has authored books on business transactions, contributed articles to industry publications and been quoted in The New York Times as an expert on commercial law. He has also served on high-profile panels and has been a keynote speaker at industry conferences, including Global Latin America Marketing Summit, the Copyright Society of the USA and DCM East.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Matt received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, with study abroad in China (Tsinghua University) and Japan (Keio University).

Matt speaks Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.

Areas of Focus

  • Professional Services, Procurement and Outsourcing. Complex outsourcing, professional services and master license, development, purchase and support agreements for IT (systems, platforms and applications), financial/accounting, retail products, personnel/staffing, electronics, customer support, back office, CRM and business intelligence/analytics.
  • Media, Performance and Distribution.  Digital media (apps), film, TV, program, event and performance licensing, distribution, marketing and syndication initiatives with streaming platforms, cable networks, manufacturers (SmartTVs), mobile and wireless carriers, retail businesses and website, online and other connected-platform operators.
  • Marketing, Sponsorships and Advertising. Cross-platform marketing, sponsorships, placements, tie-ins, endorsements, co-branding, joint marketing, talent engagements, promotions, giveaways and other advertising initiatives, including traditional and digital sweepstakes and contests, and related copy, terms, rules, fulfillment and legal compliance review.
  • Interactive Entertainment and Gaming. Video game, interactive entertainment, XR/VR, sports betting and e-sports collaboration, development, publishing, license, distribution, marketing and merchandising arrangements across mobile, platform console, headset, Smart TV, online and other IP-connected platforms.
  • AdTech, Targeted Marketing and Analytics.  Advanced digital marketing, “ad tech” and business intelligence solutions, including ad serving, insertion and sales arrangements, content recognition, DAI and OEM integrations, data analytics, measurement and monetization, including targeted marketing initiatives and related regulatory compliance review.
  • Payments, Fintech and Ecommerce.  Financial services, ecommerce and fintech solutions, including digital payments for mobile apps, wallets, digital cards and contactless payments solutions (NFC), point of sale, merchant and payment processing agreements, customer loyalty and reward programs, and data analytics, targeted marketing and personalized retail strategies.
  • Retail, Apparel and Sales. Merchandise, apparel and consumer product licensing, distribution, manufacturing, logistics, co-branding and sales arrangements, including physical store, kiosk, shop and franchising agreements, sales, agent and dealer agreements, consumer purchase/warranty terms and point of sale arrangements.
  • Events, Hospitality and Engagement. Venue, arena and live event ticketing, marketing, travel and hospitality arrangements for sports, music and entertainment, including loyalty programs, in-store/venue marketing, arena smart tech and e-commerce (location tech, coupon issuance, wallet integrations), and customized patron experiences (behind-the-scenes, meet-and-greets and travel packages).
  • IT Solutions, Platforms and Technologies. Information technology products, services, systems, applications, software, hardware and solution-driven hosting (SaaS, NaaS, PaaS), co-location, service level, support, development, reseller, licensing and distribution arrangements across virtual, mobile, remote, on-premises and emerging solutions and platforms.
  • Brand, Content and Licensing. IP (marks, brands, rights), product and service licensing, distribution, marketing, development and service agreements with retailer operators, advertisers, sponsors, media companies, technology companies, video game studios, social media platforms, ecommerce sites and manufacturers of consumer products.
  • Hardware, Display and Manufacturing. Device, hardware, display and connected-product development, manufacturing, distribution, procurement and logistics, including arena/stadium displays, IoT and next generation technology invention, integration and prototyping, including hardware procurement, development, quality control, installation and retail sales and marketing.
  • Data Privacy and Cybersecurity. Data privacy and security matters, including regulatory compliance, security standards and industry guidelines/practices (e.g., CCPA, PCI DSS, DAA), data use, monetization and administration (privacy policies, ecommerce/access terms, infosec policies), and data arrangements with third party processors, hosted services and contractors.
  • Corporate, Real Estate and Employment. Joint ventures, strategic alliances, share and asset transactions, mergers, business combinations, security and credit agreements, real property/leasing transactions, executive compensation, employment, independent contractor and other arrangements.
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  • Represented Madison Square Garden Corp. in the development of the next generation of film, music, and entertainment technology for the "Sphere" venues, including development and manufacturing agreements for the world's highest-resolution camera system for the largest LED screen ever created.
  • Represented Roku in its acquisition of Nielsen's advanced video advertising business (including its revolutionary video automatic content recognition (ACR) technology and dynamic ad insertion (DAI) systems) and a long-term strategic media measurement and data licensing arrangement.
  • Represented Auction house Sotheby's in launching its NFT marketplace, the "Sotheby's Metaverse," the first ever in the art industry, including an NFT platform development and investment transaction with NFT development studio, Mojito, and related NFT partnerships in sports and entertainment.
  • Represented SkyShowtime, a new streaming service that is a joint venture of Comcast and Paramount Global, with respect to its business platform and core device strategy across 22 markets in Europe.
  • Represented Airlines Reporting Corp. (owned by the major US airlines) in the development of a transportation industry-focused blockchain solution for the booking, payment, and maintenance of ticketing and reservations, including collaborations with major airlines and blockchain technology developers.
  • Represented WarnerMedia in a variety of OTT platform-focused license, online payment, data analytics, platform service, and subscriber agreements for the launch of HBO Max in its first international territory—Latin America.
  • Represented Epix Entertainment, a division of Amazon's Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), in various distribution-related transactions, including negotiations with certain platforms in connection with the launch of its Epix Now direct-to-consumer service.

Languages

  • Chinese
  • Japanese
  • Spanish

Admissions

Bar Admissions

  • New York

Education

  • University of California, Berkeley, J.D., 2004: Managing Editor, Cross Examiner
  • Georgetown University, B.S., East Asian Studies, 1998: Phi Beta Kappa; Certificate for Outstanding Achievement; Regent’s Citation Award for Academic Excellence

Honors & Awards

  • Recognized by Chambers USA in New York, Media & Entertainment: Corporate (2017-2024)
  • Recognized by The Legal 500 US for Media and Entertainment (2017-2024) and Sport (2024)
  • Named to the 2022 Sports/Gaming/Entertainment Trailblazers list by The National Law Journal
  • Featured in Variety Magazine’s "Legal Impact" Report (2020-2023)
  • Featured in Variety's “Dealmakers Impact Report” (2017, 2019-2021, 2023)
  • Featured in The Hollywood Reporter's "Power Lawyers" List (May 2021)
  • Featured in Variety's “Dealmakers Elite New York” Report (September 2019)
  • Awarded "Most Innovative Deal of the Year", The Deal Awards Short List (June 2018)
  • Featured on Law360’s “3 Reasons Attorneys Should Learn a Foreign Language” (August 2018)

Professional Activities

Member

  • Programming Committee, Copyright Society of the USA
  • American Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association

Speaker

  • “2018 Latin America Marketing Summit” (February 7-8, 2018)
  • Television and Disruptive Technologies: Copyright’s New Frontier,” Copyright Society of the USA (December 11, 2012)
  • “Microtransactions in Gaming,” DCM East Gaming Summit (June 2012)
  • “Copyright and Content in the Cloud,” Copyright Society of the USA (September 2011)
  • “Beg, Borrow, or Steel? Exploring Practical Solutions to the Music Sampling Debate,” Copyright Society of the USA (October 2010)
  • “Internet Rights And Technology: A Practical Legal Guide To Doing Business On The Internet,” New York City Bar (September 2010)
  • “Copyright and Patent Drive By,” New York University, Tisch School Telecommunications Graduate Program (November 2007)
  • “Introduction to Music Publishing,” Copyright Society of the USA (October 2007)
  • “Secondary Liability in a Perfect 10 World,” Copyright Society of the USA (April 2007)

Publications

Media Mentions