Practice encompasses the full spectrum of corporate & finance matters, representing a wide range of clients in entertainment & media.
Represents financial institutions, mezzanine investors, technology companies, investment funds, high-net-worth individuals, mini-majors and independent studios, production companies, equity providers and other significant players in the entertainment & media sector.
Advises on entertainment & media investments, distribution deals, M&A, financings, slate financings and other co-financings related to media IP, motion pictures, television and music.
Partner in charge of the Los Angeles office.

Alissa is a leading corporate & finance lawyer advising on some of the highest visibility deals in the entertainment & media industry. She routinely handles sophisticated multimillion-dollar financings, distribution deals, acquisitions and other transactions, including deals involving major production companies and financial institutions.

Representing a variety of clients in the entertainment & media industry, Alissa provides advice to investment funds, private equity firms, private credit investors, financial institutions, technology companies, borrowers, distributors, studios, independent production companies, equity investors, high-net-worth (HNW) individuals, completion guarantors and other investors and dealmakers in entertainment & media.

Alissa addresses the full range of complex and emerging issues impacting investments and deals in motion pictures, television and music. She advises on a broad range of transactions and matters, including finance and distribution projects, entertainment investments, M&A, and slate financings and other co-financings. Alissa also advises film and television clients in connection with tax-advantaged financing and co-production arrangements.

Representative Work

Advising Comerica Bank as agent and lender with respect to all past and ongoing matters involving to two separate senior secured revolving credit facilities for A24 Films.
Represented HarbourView Equity Partners, an industry-leading alternative asset management company focused on investment opportunities in the sports, media & entertainment space, in its investment in Mucho Mas Media, an inclusive LatinX multimedia platform cultivating talent and producing content for global audiences.
Advised a leading investment fund in a complex financing, involving a senior secured revolving credit facility. Led the co-financing with a multinational media conglomerate.
Advised a prominent lender in a four-year, senior secured revolving credit facility to a production company. The matter value approaches $90 million.
Advised the lender in a $100 million upsize of a credit facility to an independent entertainment company.

Advised the lender in a $400 million credit facility to a multinational entertainment company.
Advised the lender in a $275 million senior secured, revolving credit facility to an independent entertainment company.
Advised the lender in a $102.5 million loan for the purpose of paying a portion of the production costs for a film.
Advised an investment firm in the sale of an actors’ interest in a motion picture.
Co-led Akin’s cross-practice efforts to assist a coalition of more than two dozen independent production companies affected by pandemic-related shutdowns. The initiative focused on securing COVID-19 relief aid, addressing the severe economic impact on the independent content production industry. This collaborative endeavor resulted in the establishment of the American Coalition for Independent Content Production (ACICP).
Advising MUFG Union Bank, N.A. as agent and lender with respect to all past and ongoing matters on a secured revolving credit facility providing up to $150 million of borrowing base financing to a U.S. producer.
Representing MUFG Union Bank, N.A. as agent and lender with respect to all past and ongoing matters on a secured revolving credit facility providing up to CAD$25 million of borrowing base financing to a Canadian distributor.
Acting for MUFG Union Bank, N.A. as agent and lender with respect to all past and ongoing matters on a secured revolving credit facility providing up to $50 million of borrowing base financing to a U.S. distributor.
Acting on behalf of Bank of America as agent and lender on all past and ongoing matters on a secured revolving credit facility providing up to $35 million of borrowing base financing to a U.S. distributor and producer.
Representing East West Bank as agent and lender with respect to all past and ongoing matters on a secured revolving credit facility providing up to $75 million of borrowing base financing to a U.S. distributor.

"She is consistently on top of issues and offers invaluable legal expertise. She is a big part of why we continue to use the firm."

Chambers USA

Education
J.D., University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, 2001
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, magna cum laude, 1998

Bar Admissions
California

Recognitions

Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Visionary, 2024.
Los Angeles Times, Banking and Finance Visionary, 2022 and 2024.
Los Angeles Times, Legal Visionary, 2021 and 2023.
Los Angeles Business Journal, Thriving in Their 40s, 2020.
Chambers USA, Media & Entertainment: Transactional, 2020-2024.
Variety, Legal Impact Report, 2017, 2019-2021, 2023 and 2024.
The Legal 500 US, Media & Entertainment, 2017-2018; Media and Entertainment: Transactional, 2019-2020 and 2022-2024.
Los Angeles Business Journal, Women of Influence: Attorneys, 2019 and 2024.
Variety, Dealmakers Impact Report, 2016, 2019 and 2020, 2022.
Variety, Recognized as Up Next in Dealmakers Impact Report, Distinguishing Attorneys in Significant Showbiz Deals of the Past Year, 2013.