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

Annenberg Media
September 19, 2023
Re: Thomas Lenz

Thomas Lenz was quoted by Annenberg Media about the United Automobile Workers union ready to go on strike. "Strikes affect the livelihoods of those who choose to stop working. To the extent those persons aren’t earning money to spend that means stores, restaurants, and other businesses might not be as busy. If a strike lasts a long time bills might not get paid as easily, if at all," Lenz wrote.

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