Yaphett Powell
USC Gould School of Law

Yaphett Powell is a senior international business affairs attorney and deal lawyer at The Walt Disney Company’s corporate headquarters, where he specializes in international and domestic distribution deals and strategy for Disney’s full portfolio of film & TV studios and networks, including Disney, Pixar, ABC, ESPN, Marvel and Lucasfilm.

He has extensive experience with all forms of entertainment and media distribution business models such as Over-the-Top streaming (OTT), Direct-to-Consumer Digital Distribution (DTC), Digital Download/Streaming rights (EHVL/EST), Digital Locker rights (Movies Anywhere), Video-on-Demand (VOD), Pay-per-View (PPV), TV Everywhere authentication rights (TVE), linear television (free and pay), physical home video media (Blu-ray/DVD), and film/TV content applications (Apps) for consumer electronics devices such as Smartphones, Tablets, PCs/Macs, Game Consoles, Connected TVs, and Streaming Boxes/Sticks.

Prior to joining Disney, Yaphett held dual roles as a TV network executive and entertainment attorney at FOX Networks Group and also served as a Vice President attorney at a leading global digital distribution company. Before entering his career as in-house entertainment counsel, he spent 8 years as outside counsel at national and international law firms, where his practice focused on corporate law, M&A, finance, and international corporate transactions.

Powell holds a MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management, a JD from the University of Miami School of Law, and a BS from the University of Florida.  He is admitted to practice in California and Florida.

FACULTY IN THE NEWS

The New York Times
January 28, 2023
Re: Jody David Armour

Professor Jody Armour was interviewed by the New York Times about the recent policy brutality incident that led to the death of Tyre Nichols. “It’s not just a Black and white issue, but a Black and blue one. And when you put on that blue uniform, it often becomes the primary identity that drowns out any other identities that might compete with it," Armour said.

RECENT SCHOLARSHIP

Jonathan Barnett
December, 2022

"The China Innovation Challenge." Center for Strategic & International Studies interview, Washington, D.C.

Robin Craig
December, 2022

"The Clean Water Act and the Ocean: An Unfulfilled Promise." Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, and Natural Resources Law 14 (2022): 3.

Robin Craig
December, 2022

"Rights of Nature Is Becoming a U.S. Reality." Natural Resources & Environment. Prepublished December 2, 2022.