Sophia Yen

Practice Areas

Manatt Entertainment Partner Sophia Yen is a prolific dealmaker and one of the entertainment industry’s fastest-rising stars. Her reputation for successfully guiding clients through complex and high-profile production and development deals, financings, and corporate transactions, as well as serving in a general counsel capacity, has cemented Yen’s status as one of the industry’s most sought-after advisors. Sophia advises both domestic and international media companies, independent production companies, high-net-worth individuals, studios, financial institutions, and other parties who operate in film and television development, production, financing and distribution. Her work includes representing these clients in equity and debt finance deals, distribution and licensing deals, and other entertainment matters. Yen’s leadership within the entertainment industry extends beyond her legal accomplishments and thought leadership. She dedicates substantial time to supporting and raising the profiles of women and people of color within the entertainment community.

Professional Memberships

Admitted to practice in California, Massachusetts and New York

Member, UCLA Law Entertainment Symposium Advisory Committee, 2017–2022

Executive Committee Member, Boston University School of Law Alumni Association, 2015–2019

Association of Media & Entertainment Counsel

- Board Member, Women Who Lead Board, 2015

- Vice Chair, Emerging Leaders Board, 2014

- Board Member, Emerging Leaders Board, 2013

Host Committee, Step Up Women’s Network Inspiration Awards, 2012 and 2014

Certified Public Accountant (inactive) in California

Publications

Quoted, “As NFTs Spur a Digital Gold Rush, Law Firms Are Getting in on the Action,” The American Lawyer, July 1, 2021.

Quoted, “China’s movie moguls see online video apps as complementary to cinemas,” South China Morning Post, June 15, 2018.

"Sarbanes-Oxley: Following the Private Company Trend of Voluntary Compliance," Annual Review of Banking Law, Vol. 24.