John
D. Maatta

John D. Maatta primarily focuses his practice on entertainment and media transactions including the development and production of motion pictures, television and streamed content and matters related to the representation of content creators and performers and the distribution of programming by broadcast, cable and streaming platforms.

 

John is also a highly experienced trial lawyer who has tried lengthy and complex jury trials and litigated matters in both State and Federal courts.

 

John is experienced with issues involving production, finance, distribution, affiliate relations, human resources, broadcast standards and matters involving media-related technology, marketing, advertising and branding. In addition, he advises creators and distributors of entertainment content.

 

Additionally, John advises and actively works with entrepreneurs and management teams at start-up and growth phase companies.

 

Practice Areas:

• Entertainment
• Finance
• Entertainment & Media Transactions
• Media-related Technology
• Entertainment Production
• Network Distribution
• Entertainment & Commercial Litigation
• General business and corporate transactions

Experience:

• CEO, Wizard Brands, Inc.
• COO, EVP & GC, The CW Television Network
• COO, EVP & GC, WB Television Network
• VP Warner Bros.
• VP Lorimar Telepictures
• Chairman, Trader Vic’s Restaurant Corp.

 

John spent several years as a senior executive at Warner Bros. and The CW Television Network. Most recently he served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at The CW Television Network. For six years immediately prior to that, he served as the Co-Head of the CW Television Network, where he was the Chief Operating Officer responsible for the following operating departments: Media Sales, Finance, Technology, Business Affairs, Legal, Broadcast Standards, Network Distribution, and Human Resources. John was also the Chief Operating Officer of the WB Television Network as well as its Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

 

John was the CEO of Wizard Brands, Inc. from May 2016 until November 2020 where he oversaw the operations of Wizard Entertainment (www.wizardworld.com )and Jevo Holdings (www.getjevo.com). John remains on the Board of Wizard Brands, Inc., and serves on the Board of Trader Vic’s Restaurant Corporation where he is the former Chairman.

 

Community Service:

• President, UNICEF Southern California (fmr.)
• UNICEF Board of Directors (fmr.)
• Asia Society Board of Directors (fmr.)
• Chairman, UNICEF Chinese Children’s Initiative (fmr.)