BURBANK, Calif., June 17, 2003 – General Counsel Alan Braverman has announced a new organizational structure for The Walt Disney Company legal department and has appointed four deputies as part of a drive to continue providing support for company decision makers in the rapidly evolving entertainment industry.
“This new structure will streamline our operations and enhance the ability of the department to focus on key strategic initiatives,” said Braverman, who was named Disney executive vice president and general counsel in January 2003. “These four talented attorneys, who together bring more than 85 years of legal experience to bear, will lead a new organization that will improve our efficiency and effectiveness in the dynamic business environment in which we operate.”
David K. Thompson has been named senior vice president, deputy general counsel – Corporate, and corporate secretary. In addition to his existing responsibilities as corporate secretary, Thompson will oversee the company’s corporate and transactional work, public reporting, corporate finance, corporate real estate and development and Walt Disney Imagineering legal affairs. He joined Disney in 1989, and received his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 1980.
Edward J. Nowak has been promoted to senior vice president and deputy general counsel – Litigation and Employment. He will oversee Disney’s entire litigation and employment practice, as well as the Benefits, Immigration and Environmental groups in the corporate legal department. An 18-year veteran of Disney, Nowak received his J.D. in 1974 from Columbia University School of Law.
Brett R. Chapman has been promoted to senior vice president and deputy general counsel – Media Networks. Chapman most recently was general counsel, Walt Disney International. In this new role, he will be responsible for supervising the legal affairs of the ABC television and radio stations and networks, Disney’s various cable networks, ABC Labor Relations, ABC Broadcast Standards and Practices and the Walt Disney Internet Group. Chapman joined Disney in 1991 and received his J.D. from Southwestern University in 1987.
Terri A. Southwick, an experienced attorney with expertise in the field of intellectual property, has joined the company as senior vice president and deputy general counsel – Intellectual Property. She will oversee the Intellectual Property, Technology and Patents, Music and Consumer Products groups. Before joining Disney, she served the company for seven years as outside counsel in Washington D.C., during which time she was also a Senior Lecturing Fellow in digital technologies at Duke University Law School and an Adjunct Professor of copyright law at Georgetown University Law Center. Before that, she was an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She received her J.D. in 1985 from Duke.