Matthew Syrkin is a partner and chair of Hughes Hubbard’s Media, Technology and Commercial Transactions Group.

He provides strategic business counsel and commercial/corporate transactional support for clients in the technology, media, consulting and financial services, consumer retail, advertising, entertainment, health care, gaming and hospitality industries.

Named by Variety Magazine as one of the top 50 impact deal makers in the media and entertainment industry, Matthew frequently advises industry-leading businesses on structuring and negotiating cutting-edge and complex transactions, including matters for AMC Networks, Ernst & Young, The Madison Square Garden Company (NY Knicks, Rangers and Liberty), CBS, the Mark Cuban Companies, John Varvatos Enterprises, Bumble, Microsemi Corporation, Viacom/MTV, News Corporation, KPMG, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Grab Taxi, Millarworld Comics (Kingsman, Kick-Ass), Brambles, Sequential Brands Group (And1, Avia, Jessica Simpson), Banco Davivienda, Mattel and HBO Latin America.

Matthew also specializes in cross-border transactions and speaks Mandarin Chinese, Japanese and Spanish. He spent several years living abroad in Japan, China and the Republic of Panama and studied at Keio University in Tokyo and Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Before joining Hughes Hubbard, Matthew worked in the legal departments at Major League Baseball, Fox Cable Networks and TiVo, Inc.

While at Hughes Hubbard, he was assigned to Viacom/MTV Networks to serve as lead counsel for the “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” franchise developers. In that role, he negotiated strategic partnerships in the interactive entertainment space with Electronic Arts, Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony Electronics, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and The Beatles.

Matthew is a frequent speaker, lecturer and author on the business and legal aspects of disruptive technologies, new media platforms and complex commercial transactions and has been a member of the planning committee for the Copyright Society of the U.S.A. since 2007.

Areas of Concentration

Technology. Software (SaaS, SaaP, enterprise, cloud), network, system, cybersecurity, encryption, e-commerce, merchant, gateway and payment systems, cloud-based offerings and other emerging technologies, including hosting, co-location, service level, support, development, distribution, manufacturing, reseller and distribution arrangements.
Outsourcing and Complex Services. Domestic and international outsourcing, professional and master service agreements for technology services, financial, accounting, assurance and advisory services, customer/client relationship management (CRM), product manufacturing and logistics, and data processing and analytics.
Retail, Brand and Consumer. Apparel, electronics, home furnishings, food/beverage, books, toys and retail product development, distribution, manufacturing, logistics and sales arrangements, brick and mortar store establishment, franchise and trademark licensing, commission, consignment, agent and dealer agreements, product sales and warranty terms and point of sale, payment card and merchant arrangements.
Licensing and Intellectual Property. Product, service and intellectual property (patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, domain name, proprietary rights) licensing, leasing, distribution, administration, monetization, sales, escrow, co-ownership, royalty, commission, marketing, security, development, service and exploitation arrangements, including applications, filings, registrations, liens, releases and related due diligence, searches and compliance matters.
Digital Content. Digital audio/audio-visual content licensing, distribution, development, monetization, production and syndication initiatives, including “over-the-top”, EST, VOD (subscription, ad-supported, transactional, free), TVEverywhere, digital lockering, second screen platforms, automatic content recognition (ACR), SmartTV integrations, and authentication, fingerprinting, watermarking and security matters.
Advertising and Promotions. Marketing, branding, advertising and promotional initiatives, including linear, online and digital ad serving, insertion, syndication, monetization and distribution arrangements, search engine optimization (SEO), search engine marketing (SEM), dynamic advertising solutions (insertion, swapping, overlay), outdoor advertising, traditional and new media sweepstakes and contest administration, including rules preparation, fulfillment, bonding and registration.
Social Media and Publishing. Online social media networks, content publisher and developer platforms, and crowd sourced and user-generated content platforms, including data collection, information scraping and targeted advertising, digital content screening, moderation and filtering, online and social media polices, terms of use/service agreements, privacy policies, end user license agreements and CDA and DMCA-related matters.
TV, Film and Programming. Film, television, program, event and performance licensing, distribution, production, affiliate, carriage and syndication initiatives with cable networks, cable operators, distributors, programmers, MVPDs, wireless carriers, satellite radio network operators, device manufacturers, content aggregators and online platform operators.
Interactive Entertainment. Video game, augmented/virtual reality, interactive entertainment and land-based gaming development, publishing, distribution, sales, marketing and merchandising arrangements across all platforms, including handheld and mobile devices, platform consoles (PS4, Xbox, Wii, iOS, Android) and online platforms.
Data and Privacy. Privacy, data and information security matters, including domestic and international data collection, use, storage, processing, transfer and disclosure requirements (Privacy Shield, CAN-SPAM, COPPA, PCI DSS, GDPR, HIPAA), data analytics, mining and warehousing arrangements, customer/client relationship management (CRM) solutions, internal and consumer facing privacy policies and legal and regulatory compliance review.
Logistics and Manufacturing. Retail and industrial product and equipment manufacturing, sourcing, distribution, procurement, import/export, logistics, warehousing, storage, labeling, packaging, transport, carriage, tracking and shipping transactions, including product warranty and safety documentation, instruction and product manuals and legal and regulatory compliance review.
Not-for-profit. Charitable foundation, not-for-profit, NGO, commercial co-ventures and other philanthropic entity grant, award, research, funding, project, collaboration and marketing arrangements, including partnerships, affiliations, international office establishment, online funding and social media initiatives and data administration and monetization.
Music. Major and independent music publishing, record label, performing rights, music artist, writer, touring, endorsement, merchandising, management, “360” and similar arrangements, including distribution, licensing, synchronization and performance across all major platforms, including broadcast and cable TV, film, digital music services, performance venues and other online platforms.
Corporate and Strategic Alliances. Joint ventures, strategic alliances, share and asset transactions, mergers, business combinations, security and credit agreements, co-branding and collaboration agreements, real property/leasing transactions, executive compensation, employment and independent contractor agreements and other corporate arrangements.

Recognition

Ranked by Chambers USA 2018 in New York, Media & Entertainment: Corporate as Recognised Practitioner

Professional Activities

Programming Committee, Copyright Society of the USA
Member, American Bar Association
Member, New York State Bar Association

Speaking Engagements, Publications and Lectures

Awarded, “Deal Marker” Report, Variety Magazine, December 2017, http://variety.com/gallery/dealmakers-impact-report-2017-variety/
Mentioned, “Netflix's First Acquisition: 'Kingsman' Comics Publisher, Hollywood Reporter, August 2017, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/netflixs-first-acquisition-kingsman-comics-publisher-1027202
Mentioned, “Netflix's First Acquisition: Boosts Comics Portfolio”, The Deal, August 2017, https://s3.amazonaws.com/hhr-web/files/netflixsfirst_final.pdf AND https://pipeline.thedeal.com/article/14259274/index.dl
Mentioned (Espanol), “Netflix cierra su primera compra: Acuerdo con el editor de cómics Millarworld”, The Daily Television, August 2017 http://www.thedailytelevision.com/articulo/new-media/netflix-cierra-su-primera-compra-acuerdo-con-el-editor-de-comics-millarworld
Mentioned, “MSG Makes First Outright Acquisition With Entertainment Tech Firm Obscura”, TheStreet, November 25, 2017, https://www.thestreet.com/story/14400318/1/msg-makes-first-outright-acquisition-with-entertainment-tech-firm-obscura.html
Author, “U.S. Television on the Internet and the New “MVPDs”, digitalhhr.com, October 2015
Author, “The Streaming Revolution in the Entertainment Industry”, 2015 ed.: International Association of Entertainment Lawyers, IAEL Publishing Company, August 2015
Author, “The Battle for Cloud City: Aereo Continue to Push Disruption to the Supreme Court”, digitalhhr.com, October 2013
Author, “Understanding Developments in Cyberspace Law”, 2013 ed.: Leading Lawyers on Analyzing Recent Trends, Case Laws, and Legal Strategies Affecting the Internet Landscape (Inside the Minds), West Publishing Co, August 2013
Quoted, “Real and Virtual Firearms Nurture a Marketing Link”, New York Times (Front Page), December 31, 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/25/business/real-and-virtual-firearms-nurture-marketing-link.html
Speaker and Moderator, “Television and Disruptive Technologies: Copyright’s New Frontier”, Copyright Society of the USA, December 11, 2012, presentation video online: http://isoc-ny.org/p2/4680
Keynote Speaker, Chair and Moderator, “Microtransactions in Gaming”, DCM East (Gaming Summit), June 2012
Speaker, “Crossing the Digital Border: Exploiting Digital Content and Devices Overseas”, HHR Continuing Legal Education Seminar, May 1, 2012
Author, “Cloud Computing, Digital Lockers and Copyright: The Cloudification of Entertainment”, digitalhhr.com, September 14, 2011
Presenter, “Copyright and Content in the Cloud”, Copyright Society of the U.S.A., September 2011
Speaker, “App-endectomy: Removing the Mystery from the App Ecosystem”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, April 2011
Speaker, “Forecast: Entertainment in the Cloud”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, December 2010
Presenter, “Beg, Borrow, or Steel? Exploring Practical Solutions to the Music Sampling Debate”, Copyright Society of the U.S.A., October 2010
Author, “ivi TV Update: ivi Files Complaint for Declaratory Judgment”, digitalhhr.com, September 2010
Author, “ivi TV: Live Network Television on the Net Without Negotiation?”, digitalhhr.com, September 2010
Speaker, “Whose Data Is It Anyway? Privacy & Data Security in a De-Centralized World”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, September 2010
Panelist, “Internet Rights And Technology: A Practical Legal Guide To Doing Business On The Internet”, New York City Bar, September 2010
Author, “Social Networking Games, Sweepstakes, Promotions and the New Apps: Developing the Fine Line of Legality”, digitalhhr.com, June 2010
Speaker, “TV Everywhere…Is It Everywhere You Want It to Be?”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, March 2010
Author, “United States: Dance Dance Copyright Revolution: Interactive Gaming’s Upcoming Copyright Conundrum”, Mondaq, January 2010 http://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/article.asp?articleid=93006
Speaker, “Legal, Business & Operational Issues in Interactive Games Initiatives & Transactions”, HHR Continuing Legal Education, September 2009
Author, “Lessons from the NFL: The Importance of Scope and Duration in Drafting Intellectual Property License Grants”, digitalhhr.com, August 2009
Author, “You (Publicly) Play, You Pay: ASCAP After Ringtone Money and the Impact on Your Deals”, digitalhhr.com, June 2009
Author, “In-Game Placement: Guns, Guitars and Gadgets: Think Again Before You Depict Something You Don’t Own or License in Your Video Game”, digitalhhr.com, June 2009
Author, “Note to Digital Content Owners: Time to Master Fair Use”, digitalhhr.com, December 2008
Author, “Copyright Royalty Board Establishes First Time Mechanical Rates for Ringtones and Ad-supported Streaming Music”, digitalhhr.com, November 2008
Author, “Publishers Driving the Copyright Royalty Board Bus (PART II)”, digitalhhr.com, September 2008
Author, “The Current Trends and Challenges for Digital Media in Latin America”, Latin Lawyer Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 8, August 2008
Author, “Publishers Driving the Copyright Royalty Board Bus (PART I)”, digitalhhr.com, July 2008
Author, “A Congressional Foray Into the Net Neutrality Debate”, digitalhhr.com, February 2008
Speaker, “Copyright and Patent Drive By”, New York University, Tisch School (Telecommunications Graduate Program), November 2007
Presenter, “Introduction to Music Publishing”, Copyright Society of the U.S.A., October 2007
Presenter, “Secondary Liability in a Perfect 10 World”, Copyright Society of the U.S.A., April 2007