Sony Pictures Entertainment has hired Jill Ratner as EVP and general counsel, overseeing all studio legal functions, compliance and labor relations, SPE music matters, government/external affairs and corporate social responsibility teams.
The news follows the announcement in January that Sony Pictures Entertainment SEVP and General Counsel Leah Weil had left the studio after 28 years.
She begins May 28 and will report to Tony Vinciquerra, Chairman and CEO of SPE.
Ratner has served as Deputy General Counsel at The Walt Disney Company since 2019, where she leads a global legal team of over 200 employees. Ratner currently oversees Disney’s global litigation, intellectual property and digital piracy operations. She also leads the legal support of the company’s social responsibility activities. Her extensive experience includes copyright, trademark, First Amendment, contract disputes, employment, antitrust, securities and class actions. Ratner also provides strategic IP legal support for wide-ranging business initiatives, including AI, rights acquisition and distribution, production release, social media, user-generated content, online liability and policy.
Prior to joining Disney, Ratner worked at 21st Century Fox from 2004 to 2019, where she most recently served as EVP and deputy general counsel. At Fox, Ratner led global litigation, employment, intellectual property, privacy and content protection teams, supporting 21st Century Fox’s global operations, including its film and television studios, digital media, broadcast television and sports and entertainment cable networks and their respective Multiplatform assets. She advised these existing companies on key business and legal issues, as well as the acquisition and creation of new digital companies, including Hulu. Ratner also helped lead the company through the sale of most of 21st Century Fox’s assets to Disney. In her litigation role, Ratner led the team through landmark litigation, including the Aereo case in the U.S. Supreme Court.
Prior to Fox, Ratner worked as an attorney at the Motion Picture Association and as an attorney at Hogan Lovells LLP and Hill Wynne Troop & Meisinger.
“Jill has a well-deserved reputation as a trustworthy, results-oriented advisor and legal strategist, and we are pleased to welcome her to SPE as General Counsel,” said Vinciquerra. “Having successfully led large legal teams at two of Hollywood’s largest studio companies during times of extraordinary change and disruption, Jill is uniquely suited to this role. We look forward to having their wise counsel and counsel to help us meet the challenges of a rapidly evolving industry landscape and capitalize on growth opportunities.”
“Sony Pictures has demonstrated remarkable strength and resilience during a time of tremendous change in our industry,” said Ratner. “I look forward to joining this exceptional leadership team and collaborating with the outstanding groups Leah Weil has built at SPE. I would like to thank Tony for this incredible opportunity.”