Secures hiring of an expert in entertainment, sports, and media sectors
Hey there!
Let's talk about the newest recruit in the entertainment world, Tom Ara. This big-time dealmaker has just joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges after a stint at DLA Piper. As a partner in the US private equity group, he'll be leading the entertainment, sports, and media (ESM) practice within the LA office.
Tom's expertise lies in both domestic and international transactions across the ESM sector. He's worked with a variety of clients, including private equity firms, lenders, borrowers, investors, and even sovereigns, on M&A and financing transactions. But that's not all – he's also provided strategic advice to entertainment companies on various deals and commercial transactions.
Barry Wolf, the executive partner, expressed enthusiasm about Tom's arrival, praising his experience in counselling both entertainment and media companies, as well as private equity firms and investors in their transactional ventures. Michael J Aiello, the chairman of the firm's corporate department, echoed similar sentiments, referring to Tom as a results-driven lawyer with deep connections and experience in the entertainment and media sector.
Tana Ryan, the managing partner of the LA office, was particular in her praise. She recognized Tom's ability to connect private capital and public investors with ESM opportunities, a talent that she believes will be instrumental in shaping the growth of the ESM practice and expanding capabilities in emerging areas like gaming and digital media.
Tom shared his excitement over his new position, calling it a unique opportunity to combine his ESM expertise with Weil's market-leading private equity capabilities. He believes that with Weil's platform, client relationships, and presence in California, they can create something truly elite and deepen the firm's footprint on the West Coast.
Here's a fun fact – before joining Weil, Tom was the Global Co-Chair of the media, sports, and entertainment group at DLA Piper LLP. So, he's no stranger to leading and succeeding in the ESM space!
Sources:[1] GlobeNewswire. (2025, June 4). Weil, Gotshal & Manges Announces the Hire of Tom Ara as Partner in US Private Equity Practice and Leader of Entertainment, Sports and Media Practice. GlobeNewswire Press Release Distribution. Retrieved from https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/06/04/2637008/0/en/Weil-Gotshal--Manges-Announces-the-Hire-of-Tom-Ara-as-Partner-in-US-Private-Equity-Practice-and-Leader-of-Entertainment-Sports-and-Media-Practice.html
[2] Zauderer, A. (2025, June 14). Weil Poaches DLA Piper’s Head of Media Practice in LA. The Recorder. Retrieved from https://www.law.com/therecorder/2025/06/14/weil-poaches-dla-piper-s-head-of-media-practice-in-la/
Engaging in the topic, one may ask, "What areas of law does Tom Ara specialize in, given his experience and new role at Weil, Gotshal & Manges?" Additionally, in an enthusiastic discussion about Tom's talents, one could say, "Tom Ara has a proven track record in the entertainment, sports, and media sector, which could potentially help Weil, Gotshal & Manges make significant strides in these industries."
