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