Laverne Y. Berry

Laverne Berry is an entertainment and media business affairs attorney. She was admitted to the bar in 1996 after having worked as a television producer and media business executive for 18 years. As an attorney, she represents on-air talent, independent producers, television and film production companies and cable networks. Her clients have earned numerous awards, including prestigious film festival awards and an Oscar® nomination. Before returning to private practice she was a Director of Legal and Business Affairs for A&E Television Networks.

As an executive for Thirteen/WNET, New York's premier Public Television station, RKO General Television, Avon Books and several independent production companies, she focused on the development, production, distribution and licensing of television programs and related ancillary products, e.g., DVDs, books, CDs and merchandise, and was known for closing difficult deals (using in equal parts, experience and humor). For her own media work, Ms. Berry has been recognized with a number of awards, including 2 CINE Golden Eagle® Awards, 2 Emmy® nominations, and 2 grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Ms. Berry has been designated as an approved clearance counsel for Fair Use review by Media/Professional Insurance, a world-wide leader in Media, Cyber and Technology insurance coverage.

Ms. Berry has been involved in Alternative Dispute Resolution for more than 15 years. She is a member of the American Arbitration Association's Los Angeles, New York and Boston Commercial Panels and the Federal Communications Panel, as well as the Independent Film and Television Alliance (formerly known as the American Film Marketing Association (AFMA)) arbitration panel.

She is President of the Board of New York Women in Film and Television, is counsel to the Women's Film Preservation Fund and a member of ABA Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution in the entertainment industry.