Jill Ratner, who was previously deputy general counsel at Disney, will now be executive vice president and general counsel at Sony Pictures. She will oversee various legal functions at SPE and will report to SPE chairman and CEO Tony Vinciquerra.
Ratner will start her new role on May 28 and will report to Tony Vinciquerra.
Vinciquerra said, “Jill has a well-earned reputation as a trusted, results-driven advisor and legal strategist, and we are thrilled to have her join SPE as general counsel.” He also mentioned that her experience makes her well-suited for the role, especially during times of industry change. Ratner added that she is excited to work with the leadership team at Sony Pictures.
Ratner stated, “Sony Pictures has shown remarkable strength and resiliency at a time of tremendous change in our industry. I look forward to joining this exceptional leadership team and working alongside the outstanding groups Leah Weil has built at SPE. I want to thank Tony for this incredible opportunity.”
This announcement comes after Sony Pictures Entertainment made a previous announcement in January stating that Leah Weil, its long-time general counsel, was leaving the studio after 28 years.
At Disney, Ratner led a worldwide legal team of over 200 members and had global responsibility for Disney’s Legal functions. Her extensive experience includes areas such as copyright, trademark, First Amendment, and more. At Fox, she led global Legal teams in support of the worldwide operations of 21st Century Fox, including the film and television studios, digital media properties, and the broadcast television network. She also helped steer the company through the sale of most of 21st Century Fox’s assets to Disney.
Before joining Disney, Ratner served as executive vice president and deputy general counsel at 21st Century Fox. She led global legal teams in support of the company's worldwide operations and guided the company through the sale of most of its assets to Disney. She also led her team through precedent-setting litigation, including the Aereo U.S. Supreme Court case.
Before working at Fox, Ratner was the in-house lawyer for the Motion Picture Association, and worked as a lawyer specializing in lawsuits at Hogan Lovells LLP and at Hill Wynne Troop & Meisinger.
