Matthew N. Sugarman
Shareholder
Experience
Matthew N. Sugarman is a shareholder in the Firm’s entertainment practice group. Matthew’s practice focuses on the representation of writers, actors, directors, producers and commercial, management and production companies in motion picture, television and digital media. Matthew has also worked extensively in connection with the development, financing, production, distribution, licensing and acquisition of audio-visual productions in all media. His practice also includes merchandising, endorsements, and print publishing.
Matthew has served as a member of both the Syllabus Committee of the USC Institute for Entertainment Law and Business and the Entertainment Industry Leadership Institute of The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles. In addition, he is actively involved with several charities including the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, and is an avid science fiction, fantasy and comic book reader. Prior to attending law school, Matthew helped to found the business and legal affairs department at Walden Media in New York City, worked on the advance team for Bill Bradley’s 2000 U.S. Presidential campaign, participated in the investment banking trainee program at a top Wall Street investment house and served as a Page in the U.S. Senate.
Speaking Engagements
Matthew spoke at Wondercon on the process of shopping a comic book property in Hollywood, in a program entitled, “From Page to Screen.”
Matthew received his J.D. in 2004 from the University of Southern California Law Center, where he was a quarter-finalist in the Hale Moot Court Honors Program, and received his undergraduate degree, with a dual major in political science and sociology, from the Brandeis University in 1999.
USC Institute for Entertainment Law and Business
Syllabus Committee Member
The Entertainment Industry Leadership Institute
of The Jewish Federation of Los Angeles
Member
Awards
Variety’s Dealmakers Impact Report 2015
J.D., University of Southern California Law Center, 2004
B.A., Brandeis University, 1999
Webinar: Comic Book Law 101 – The Ins-and-Outs of The Comic Book Industry
On September 8, Weintraub Shareholder Matt Sugarman will present as part of the American Bar Association webinar Comic Book Law 101. This panel will explore the comic book industry, its place in greater pop culture,
WT Deals: ND Stevenson’s ‘Nimona’ Picked up by Netflix and Annapurna Pictures
The animated adaptation of ND Stevenson’s bestselling graphic novel Nimona has been picked up by Netflix and Annapurna Pictures. The film was originally under production and set to release this year from Blue Sky Studios,
WT Deals: ‘Black’ Comic Book To Be Adapted by Warner Bros. and Studio 8
Warner Bros. and Studio 8 are set to produce a film adaptation of the comic book “Black.” The comic was first introduced in 2016, created by Weintraub Tobin clients Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3,
WT Clients: Cheech Marin Reprises His Role as Joe Dominguez in “Nash Bridges” Revival
USA Network premieres its two-hour film “Nash Bridges” on Saturday, Nov. 27 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The film brings back original cast members Don Johnson and Cheech Marin as elite investigators for the San Francisco Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit.
WT Deals: Sony Pictures Television Acquires “Faust” Superhero Comic
Sony Pictures Television has acquired the superhero horror comic “Faust” for development into an animated series. Creators David Quinn (writer) and Tim Vigil (artist) of Rebel Studios will serve as consulting producers on the adaptation.
WT Deals: Nathan Pyle & Dan Harmon Adapting ‘Strange Planet’ Comic at Apple TV+
Strange Planet creator Nathan Pyle is teaming with Dan Harmon to adapt his webcomic and graphic novels for Apple TV+. Pyle and Harmon will executive produce along with Steve Levy and Taylor Alexy Pyle.
WT Clients: Eight 2021 Hugo Award Finalists in Five Categories
Weintraub Tobin joins Matt Sugarman in congratulating his clients recently announced as Hugo Award Finalists: Best Young Adult Book: Naomi Novik Best Novel: Tamsyn Muir Best Novel: Mary Robinette Kowal Best Novella: P.
WT Deals: Rebekah Weatherspoon’s Contemporary Romance Series to be Developed for Television
Rebekah Weatherspoon has struck a deal to have her romance book trilogy to be developed for television. The first book, A Cowboy to Remember, is now in development as a pilot and will be written and executive produced by Valerie C.
WT Deals: Tommy Schlamme to Develop “This Is How They Tell Me The World Ends” Drama Series at FX Network
FX Network is adapting the newly released nonfiction book written by cybersecurity reporter Nicole Perlroth. The series is being developed by Tommy Schlamme from The West Wing. The book is about the history of cyberwarfare and how the United States became vulnerable to attack.
WT Deals: ‘Sesame Street’ Documentary to Debut on HBO in 2021
HBO Documentary films debuts Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street in 2021. The documentary has been in the works for 5 years and is about the iconic show Sesame Street,
WT Deals: Skydance Television to Develop TV Series from P. Djéli Clark’s Novella ‘Ring Shout’
Skydance Television has acquired the rights to P. Djéli Clark’s Ring Shout, a novella about otherworldly evil in the 1920s South that manifests in the form of monsters who thrive on—and in—people filled with hate.
WT Deals: New Comedy Pilot Ordered by Freeform ‘Single Drunk Female’
Freeform has ordered a pilot for the comedy Single Drunk Female. The series is to star Sofia Black-D’Elia as an alcoholic who is forced to move back with her mother, played by Ally Sheedy,
WT Deals: “Black” Feature Adaptation Acquired by Warner Bros. from Co-Creators Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3 of Black Mask Comic Series
Feature adaptation Black of comic series Black Mask by co-creators Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3 has been acquired by Warner Bros. The script was written by DC’s Titans producer Jeff Robinov,
WT Deals: “To Sleep in a Sea of Stars” Book To Be Adapted Into a Feature
Made Up Stories and Snoot Entertainment have partnered up and optioned the rights to the adult sci-fi novel written by Christopher Paolini To Sleep in a Sea of Stars. Paolini will adapt the book along with his sister and collaborator Angela Paolini.
WT Deals: Noelle Stevenson is Writing and Will Executive Produce “Lumberjanes” HBO Max Animated Series
Matt Sugarman’s client Noelle Stevenson will write and executive produce Lumberjanes, an animated series. The special is currently in development for HBO Max. Lumberjanes is a comic book originally created by Stevenson,
Matt Sugarman in the Los Angeles Times: Hollywood’s Lawyers Play On-call Doctors in Drama Between WGA and Agencies
Matt Sugarman is quoted in a Los Angeles Times article about the on-going tensions and labor dispute between the Writers Guild of America West and the Association of Talent Agents.
WT Clients: Mary Robinette Kowal Wins Nebula Award for Best Novel
Matt Sugarman client Mary Robinette Kowal received the 2019 Nebula Award for her novel The Calculating Stars. The novel is the second installment in the Hugo-award-winning author’s Lady Astronaut series, which re-envisions the history of the space race.
WT Deals: Live Action Adaptation of Vault Comics ‘Vagrant Queen’
Weintraub Tobin Shareholder Matt Sugarman congratulates his clients F.J. DeSanto, Damian Wassel, and Vault Comics on the SyFy series order for a live-action adaptation of Vagrant Queen. DeSanto and Wassel will serve as Executive Producers on the 10-episode,
Entertainment attorney Matt Sugarman announces latest deal
Weintraub Tobin Shareholder Matt Sugarman is excited to announce that Will Smith and Marc Forster’s Telepool backs Defiant Studios Horror Film slate. ‘Phobias,’ a horror anthology, will be the first project produced under the agreement with Eric B.
Los Angeles-based Entertainment attorney, Matt Sugarman announces latest deal
Weintraub Tobin Shareholder Matt Sugarman is excited to announce that Jon Shestack Productions and Madhouse Entertainment’s have negotiated the rights to produce John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War to develop as an original film.
Entertainment Attorney Matt Sugarman Excited To Announce Latest Deal
Weintraub Tobin Shareholder Matt Sugarman is excited to announce the latest deal struck between Black creators, Kwanza Osajyefo and Tim Smith 3, Black Mask Studios, and production company, Studio 8.
“Joyride” Vol 1. named to The Best Comics & Graphic Novels list of 2016 by Barnes & Noble
Weintraub Tobin Shareholder, Matthew Sugarman, would like to congratulate clients, Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing, on having their graphic novel “Joyride” named one of The Best Comics & Graphic Novels of 2016 by Barnes &
Weintraub Tobin Shareholder, Matthew Sugarman, excited to announce deal for “Cosmere”
Weintraub Tobin Shareholder, Matthew Sugarman is excited to announce DMG Entertainment’s acquisition of the licensing rights to Cosmere from science fiction writer Brandon Sanderson. Matt, a Los Angeles-based attorney in the firm’s entertainment department,
Matt Sugarman Recognized in Variety’s Dealmakers Impact Report 2015
Weintraub Tobin proudly congratulates Shareholder, Matt Sugarman, on his well deserved honor of being named to Variety’s Dealmakers Impact Report 2015. Click here to view the full article.
Matt Sugarman Mentioned in Hollywood Reporter Article discussing Lionsgate’s Multiplatform Rights Deal
Weintraub Tobin Shareholder Matt Sugarman was recently mentioned in an article by The Hollywood Reporter which discusses the deal Lionsgate closed on The Kingkiller Chronicle, the best-selling fantasy book series by Patrick Rothfuss.
Matt Sugarman Recognized in Hollywood Reporter Article
Shareholder, Matt Sugarman, was recognized in a Hollywood Reporter article for his representation of comics writer and artist Noelle Stevenson. Click here to read the full article.
Matt Sugarman Mentioned in Hollywood Reporter Article Announcing HBO’s Limited Series ‘Big Little Lies’
Weintraub Tobin Shareholder Matt Sugarman was recently mentioned in an article by The Hollywood Reporter which discusses HBO’s new limited series, ‘Big Little Lies’. Read more here.
Weintraub Clients and YouTube Sensation, Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox of Smosh Fame, Will Premiere Movie in July at VidCon
Weintraub Tobin client, Anthony Padilla and Ian Hecox of Smosh fame were featured in a Variety article announcing the premier of, “Smosh: The Movie.” Shareholder Scott Hervey represented Ian and Anthony and executive producer Barry Blumberg in their deals.
Weintraub Tobin Raises Money for American Heart Association
Heart Walk Logo For a third year in a row, Weintraub Tobin is working to raise funds for cardiovascular diseases and stroke by partaking in the American Heart Association Heart Walk on Saturday,
Weintraub Tobin Client Tracy Letts Wins Tony Award
Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin Law Corporation is proud to announce that our client Tracy Letts has won a 2013 Tony Award for his role in “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Letts took home the award Sunday for best performance by an actor in a play for his portrayal of George in Edward Albee’s famous play.
Legendary and the Dowdle Brothers to Make Low Budget Thriller (Variety)
Dowdle Brothers Weintraub clients John and Drew Dowdle will co-write the upcoming microbudget thriller: “As Above, So Below” for Legendary Pictures. According to Variety, the film will be set in the catacombs beneath Paris where two archeologists look for hidden treasure.
3 Cities. Over 70 Lawyers. Now 1 Great Law Firm: Weintraub Merges with LA Entertainment Law Firm
SACRAMENTO / SAN FRANCISCO / LOS ANGELES, July 6, 2012 – Weintraub Genshlea Chediak Tobin & Tobin Law Corporation and Weissmann Wolff Bergman Coleman Grodin LLP have jointly announced the merger of their respective business and entertainment law firms.
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