Partner
Evie Whiting
Entertainment, Sports and Media
Global Finance
M&A
Private Equity
EVIE WHITING is a trusted adviser to motion picture studios, television studios, production companies, investment funds, team owners and acquirers of professional sports teams, owners and acquirers of music catalogs, and financial institutions, blending complex, highly technical deal work with a deep entertainment, sports, and media knowledge base. She regularly counsels clients in a variety of matters related to film slate financing, single picture financing, television financing, production and distribution of motion pictures, television, and digital content, as well as a variety of financing-related issues in the sports and music businesses.
Evie frequently speaks on panels covering topics impacting the entertainment industry and has authored articles published by Bloomberg Law, The Hollywood Reporter, and the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law. In 2024, Chambers USA recognized Evie as an “Up and Coming” lawyer for California Media & Entertainment: Transactional, with clients remarking that she is “highly capable and professional. Her ability to convey complex ideas in simple terms is invaluable. She also insists on the highest quality of work at all times.” She was also selected by the Los Angeles Business Journal for its 2024 “Women of Influence: Attorneys” list, which annually spotlights the region’s noteworthy women legal professionals. She was also recognized by Variety in its 2023 and 2024 “Legal Impact Report” and was listed as a “Rising Star of Media and Entertainment: Transactional” by Legal 500 US (2021–2022). Evie serves as the Greater Los Angeles co-chair of SidleyWomen.
Evie frequently speaks on panels covering topics impacting the entertainment industry and has authored articles published by Bloomberg Law, The Hollywood Reporter, and the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law. In 2024, Chambers USA recognized Evie as an “Up and Coming” lawyer for California Media & Entertainment: Transactional, with clients remarking that she is “highly capable and professional. Her ability to convey complex ideas in simple terms is invaluable. She also insists on the highest quality of work at all times.” She was also selected by the Los Angeles Business Journal for its 2024 “Women of Influence: Attorneys” list, which annually spotlights the region’s noteworthy women legal professionals. She was also recognized by Variety in its 2023 and 2024 “Legal Impact Report” and was listed as a “Rising Star of Media and Entertainment: Transactional” by Legal 500 US (2021–2022). Evie serves as the Greater Los Angeles co-chair of SidleyWomen.
Experience
- Representative Matters
- Pro Bono
- Memberships and Activities
Motion Picture and Television
- A24 Films, in a wide range of financing and co-financing transactions, including its senior secured revolving credit facility and multi-project production facility
- Rightsholder in connection with the sale of motion picture and television rights relating to a major literary property
- Animation studio in connection with a wide range of development and production arrangements
- The Gersh Agency (the only remaining major talent agency without outside investment) and the Gersh family members, in a strategic partnership with private equity firm Crestview Partners, to support the agency’s next phase of growth
- Premium television network in connection with the licensing and production of various television series and miniseries
- Non-profit organization in the development, production, and exploitation of its Peabody Award-nominated telecast
- Major independent studio in the proposed securitization of a film library
- Center for Investigative Reporting in connection with the development, production, and exploitation of feature films, television series, radio shows, podcasts, and documentaries
- The Computer History Museum in connection with the development and production of its Audible podcast, Women’s Work
- Production company in the upsize of its credit facility from US$80 million to US$150 million
- Spyglass Media Group in various transactions, including the acquisition of theatrical motion picture rights, various interparty agreements for film co-productions, financing transactions, and other entertainment matters
Music
- Warner Music Group in the formation of a joint venture with Elliot Grainge’s label, 10K Projects, whereby 10K Projects became a standalone label within the WMG ecosystem and its roster of artists, including Trippie Redd and Ice Spice, joined the WMG family.
- Entertainment brand management group in its US$397 million securitization of sound recordings, musical compositions, trademarks, and other IP rights for music library assets
- Music rights acquisition company in its US$180 million securitization of sound recordings, musical compositions, trademarks, and other IP rights for music library assets
- Universal Music Group and its affiliates in various media and entertainment transactions
Sports
- Monumental Sports & Entertainment in all facets of the negotiations with multiple jurisdictions for a new or renovated arena and sports anchored development project.
- The City of Jacksonville in connection with Jacksonville Jaguars stadium negotiations as well as related ancillary development around the stadium.
- State of New York/Empire State Development as lead counsel in its high-profile public-private partnership with the NFL's Buffalo Bills to build a new US$1.54 billion state-of-the-art, 60,000-plus-seat stadium in Orchard Park, NY.
- NWSL Kansas City Current, Kansas City’s professional women’s soccer team, on its development of a new, 11,000-seat stadium, which will be the first stadium developed primarily for a women’s pro soccer team in the U.S.
- Private credit lender as joint bookrunner, joint lead arranger and lender for a US$195 million senior secured credit facility for a leading sports media and marketing company
- Lender on the financing of a Formula 1 event
- David Tepper, founder and president of global hedge fund Appaloosa Management, in his US$2.275 billion acquisition of the NFL Carolina Panthers
- Game1, a new, cutting-edge sports content studio, in connection with financing matters
Some of the above matters were handled prior to joining Sidley.
Evie maintains a thriving pro bono practice, including helping nonprofit organizations amplify their messaging and broaden their reach through the development, production, and distribution of content.
- FEME (Female Executives in Media and Entertainment)
Capabilities
SERVICES AND INDUSTRIES
- Entertainment, Sports and Media
- Global Finance
- M&A
- Private Equity
- Art Law
- Asset-Backed Securitization
- Asset-Based Lending
- Borrower Representations
- Digital Media and Entertainment
- Media and Entertainment Finance
- Sports
- Syndicated and Leveraged Finance
- Technology, Media and Privacy Law
- UCC/Commercial Law
- Workouts and Restructurings
News & Insights
Credentials
Admissions & Certifications
- California
- New York
Education
- Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 2012
- Princeton University, B.A., 2009