Jose Sariego
Partner
305-350-7230
jsariego@bilzin.com
Hablo Español
Falo Português
Area of Focus:
Corporate
GET TO KNOW
Jose
Jose is an international media, entertainment, and transactional lawyer with extensive industry experience, including serving as General Counsel of HBO Latin America and head of Business & Legal Affairs for Telemundo Network. Jose has negotiated and closed numerous multimillion-dollar domestic and international deals involving content development, acquisition, production, licensing, and distribution, as well as above-the-line talent agreements. Jose teaches Media & Entertainment Law in the Digital Age at the University of Miami School of Law and regularly lectures and writes on the subject for national publications.
Fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese, Jose regularly handles transactions both in the U.S. and globally for domestic and international clients. In addition to representing major media and entertainment companies, he has negotiated and closed multi-million dollar mergers and acquisitions and transactional matters in several other industries, including telecom and technology, as well as handled corporate finance transactions for private and public companies. He also has been Secretary to Boards of Directors; served as Compliance Officer; headed Government Relations and Anti-Piracy functions; and managed litigation around the world.
Fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese, Jose regularly handles transactions both in the U.S. and globally for domestic and international clients. In addition to representing major media and entertainment companies, he has negotiated and closed multi-million dollar mergers and acquisitions and transactional matters in several other industries, including telecom and technology, as well as handled corporate finance transactions for private and public companies. He also has been Secretary to Boards of Directors; served as Compliance Officer; headed Government Relations and Anti-Piracy functions; and managed litigation around the world.
Q & A
Why should a client hire you as opposed to another lawyer with a similar practice?
As the lead lawyer for three major companies for more than 20 years, I know the challenges and pressure that in-house legal departments face and what they expect from their outside lawyers. I understand the mindset and concerns of busy executives and what they face day to day. I also have a unique insider's perspective of the media and entertainment business, having led the business affairs function of two international media and entertainment companies. I have handled not just in-bound international transactions, but have extensive experience closing deals throughout Latin America and elsewhere. I have built a broad network of international contacts, and I am intimately familiar with the intricacies of foreign transactions, both from a legal and as importantly from a practical point of view.
What is keeping your clients up at night and how are you helping address those challenges?
The revolution brought by the Internet is wreaking havoc on nearly every industry today. This is especially true for media and entertainment companies, as well as telecom and technology businesses, but also is impacting traditional industrial companies that are being forced to re-invent themselves in the digital world. And we’re just seeing the tip of the iceberg. More change is coming, at an accelerating pace. I teach Media and Entertainment Law in the Digital Age at the University of Miami Law School, and every semester the paradigm shifts. It is a challenge to stay current and you have to constantly alter your view of business models, established legal principles and the delivery of legal services. It keeps me young and connected to this new generation of creators, executives and entrepreneurs.
What did you do before becoming an attorney?
I was a professional journalist with The Miami Herald, and I use that training every day — the analytical skills, the ability to communicate effectively and efficiently, and how to get to the point quickly and succinctly. I still read a number of newspapers every day - only now I do it on-line.
+ CONTINUE READING MORE ABOUT Jose
Jose's PRACTICES
EXPERIENCE
EXPERIENCE
Representation of a Spanish language broadcaster in a $300 million Chapter 11 restructuring, including a $20 million credit facility.
EXPERIENCE
Representation of a U.S. public international telecom contractor in a public $200 million high yield bond offering.
EXPERIENCE
Representation of U.S. public international telecom contractor in providing $150 million in vendor financing facilities to telecom clients.
INSIGHTS
CREDENTIALS
-
University of Michigan, J.D., cum laude, 1981University of Florida, B.S., Journalism, 1977
-
American Bar AssociationMember, 2016Association of Public CorporationsPresident and member of the Board of Directors, 1997 - 2002Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of FloridaMember, 2017Chapman PartnershipBoard Member, 2016 - PresentFriends of WLRNBoard Member, 2016 - PresentGreater Miami Chamber of CommerceBoard Member 2001 - 2002
Chairman of Hispanic Market Committee, 1993 - 1994Hispanic National Bar AssociationMember, 2016International In-House Counsel GroupCo-Chair, 1998 - PresentUnited Way of Miami-DadeCo-Chair, Legal Division, 1999 - 2001University of Florida Center for Latin American StudiesAlumni Board President, 2011 - PresentUniversity of Miami School of Law LL.M. in Entertainment, Arts, and Sports LawAdvisory Board Member, 2016 - Present
-
Florida
-
SpanishPortuguese
Related Topics
Sending an email will not establish an attorney-client relationship. You should not send us any information that you want treated confidentially. By clicking "I Accept," you acknowledge that we may review and use any information you transmit to us.