Chris D.

Specialized law practice focused on interactive entertainment and video game industry legal matters.

• Provide Of Counsel legal advice to interactive entertainment clients on licensing and IP protection.
• Draft and negotiate development, publishing, and distribution agreements for game and interactive projects.
• Advise on user‑generated content, platform services, and influencer/talent agreements for digital products.
• Counsel clients on privacy, COPPA/GDPR compliance, and content moderation policies in interactive environments.

Vertically integrated streaming TV company offering the free OrkaTV app and Orka Ads marketplace for premium FAST/CTV content and programmatic advertising.

• Act as General Counsel for a streaming platform combining hundreds of global FAST channels and an ad marketplace.
• Advise on content and channel partnership agreements spanning news, sports, entertainment, and creator-led programming.
• Negotiate commercial terms for Orka Ads Marketplace to deliver premium, brand‑safe CTV ad placements on the big screen.
• Counsel on programmatic ad supply paths, metadata transparency, and premium inventory access for DSPs and agencies.
• Provide legal guidance for political and issue advertising compliance across FAST and CTV channels.
• Support distribution, licensing, and creator partnership initiatives to expand OrkaTV’s channel ecosystem.

Boutique Santa Monica law practice offering technology, media, Web3, licensing, and fractional general counsel services led by a former senior Disney interactive attorney.

• Seasoned Technology, Entertainment, New Media and Product attorney with 25+ years of experience in Los Angeles.
• Spent nearly 20 years at The Walt Disney Company, serving as Deputy Chief Counsel for interactive, new media, video game and mobile segments.
• Opened a boutique Santa Monica practice in 2020 to assist technology and media companies with complex commercial transactions.
• Serve as Fractional General Counsel to ventures that need senior legal strategy without full-time overhead.
• Bring a practical, business-first approach to legal services by cutting through unnecessary bureaucracy and over‑lawyering.
• Deliver cost-efficient, high-level legal services focused on commercial outcomes and strategic business advice.

Financial media and education company delivering deep investor intelligence, research, and crowdsourced financial insights.

• General Counsel for a leading financial media company serving investors with long‑form analysis and premium content.
• Oversaw legal aspects of group and corporate subscription offerings and enterprise content licensing.
• Advised on Web3 initiatives, blockchain partnerships, and integration with new financial and community products.
• Negotiated strategic partnerships, distribution deals, and third‑party content collaborations.
• Managed compliance, intellectual property protection, and regulatory risk across content and product lines.

The Walt Disney Company — global entertainment conglomerate with extensive consumer, media, and interactive businesses.

• Head of Legal & Business Affairs - Disney Interactive.
• Managed legal and business affairs for Disney's video game and interactive entertainment segment, including Maker Studios, Playdom, Disney Mobile/Tapulous, Club Penguin, and GameStar (China).
• Key member of the senior executive team responsible for driving high‑priority agreements and executing strategic objectives.
• Managed risk, oversaw segment dispute resolution and M&A, and protected an extensive Disney intellectual property portfolio.
• Led segment‑related due diligence for Disney’s acquisitions of Marvel Entertainment and Lucasfilm and managed eight development studio acquisitions across multiple countries.
• Structured and negotiated multimedia development, publishing, licensing, distribution, video production, hosting, and platform services agreements.
• Negotiated advertising, promotion, OEM, talent, influencer, rights, and contractor agreements.
• Recognized by the Walt Disney General Counsel for an approachable management style, entrepreneurial spirit, and collaborative problem‑solving.
• Tapped to integrate acquired companies’ legal and business affairs teams seamlessly.
• Liaised closely with public policy, Government Relations, anti‑piracy, and law enforcement functions.
• Served as Disney's chief liaison to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB).
• Helped develop industry best practices for CRM, privacy (COPPA/GDPR), accessibility, DRM, advertising and marketing (FTC), safety, contests and sweepstakes, TOUs, UGC, e‑commerce, content protection, and virtual currency.

Virgin Group — global conglomerate operating across travel, entertainment, media, health, and other sectors with a focus on customer experience and innovation.

• Senior Counsel for Virgin Interactive during the growth of the video game industry.
• Advised on legal and commercial matters for interactive and gaming products under the Virgin umbrella.
• Drafted and negotiated licensing, publishing, and distribution agreements for game titles and interactive content.
• Counselled on IP protection, talent and contractor agreements, and third‑party platform relationships.