BIOGRAPHY

Jody Zucker, Esq.

Senior entertainment industry attorney and executive with four decades of experience spanning major motion picture and television studios, network broadcasting, production entities, and private practice.

Executive Profile

From 2000 to 2022, Mr. Zucker served as General Counsel of Warner Bros. Television, where he was a key member of senior management during the studio's tenure as the world's leading supplier of prime-time programming.

During his 22 years as General Counsel, he advised on the development, production, and worldwide distribution of scripted and unscripted programming across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms. His work spanned every phase of the content lifecycle — from acquisition and development through production, licensing, backend participation, employment matters, and crisis management.

He has negotiated directly with the industry's leading producers, showrunners, talent representatives, and studios, and has drafted and revised agreements that became industry templates.

In addition to teaching Entertainment Law at New York Law School, Mr. Zucker maintains a selective advisory practice, providing high-level strategic counsel and expert testimony in matters involving television industry custom and practice.

Professional Experience

2025-PRESENT

Adjunct Professor of Law

New York Law School

Teaches Entertainment Law: Acquisition, Production and Distribution.


2022-PRESENT

Principal

Jody Zucker, PC — New York, NY

Consulting and expert witness services in entertainment industry custom and practice,
contract interpretation, business affairs, and television development, production, licensing, and distribution.


2019-2022

Executive Vice President, Legal Affairs

Warner Bros. Television Group

Senior executive responsibility for legal departments across all television divisions — scripted, unscripted, and animation.


2007-2019

SVP & General Counsel

Warner Bros. Television Production

Directed day-to-day legal affairs for one of the industry's leading television producers. Negotiated high-value licenses with broadcast, cable, and SVOD platforms.


2005-2007

SVP & Deputy General Counsel

Warner Bros. Television


2000-2005

Vice President, Legal Affairs

Warner Bros. Television


1999-2000

Vice President, Business & Legal Affairs

The Jim Henson Company — Los Angeles, CA


1996-1999

Vice President, Legal Affairs

Paramount Network Television

Legal services for franchise programming including Star Trek: Voyager and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.


1989, 1995–1996

Associate, Litigation

Christiansen, White, Miller, Fink & Jacobs — Los Angeles


1989–1994

General Attorney

ABC Television — Los Angeles

Litigation involving ABC Network, ABC News, and ABC Sports; production legal services for ABC Productions.


1987-1989

Litigation Associate

Gordon Hurwitz Butowsky Weitzen Shalov & Wein — New York


1986–1987

Associate Attorney

Kelley Drye & Warren — New York


Education

New York Law School

J.D., magna cum laude, 1986

Class Rank: 6th (Top 3%) • Law Review • Moot Court
Finalist • Froessel Award for Excellence in Oral Advocacy

SUNY Stony Brook

B.A., Political Science, 1983

Academic Appointments

New York Law School

Adjunct Professor of Law, 2025–Present

Southwestern Law School

Adjunct Professor, 2010–2013

UCLA Extension

Instructor, 1992–2000

Areas of Expertise