Matthew J. Bacal
Advises on a wide range of IP, tech, media, sports, data privacy and AI matters. Corporate lead of our Data Privacy & Cybersecurity and AI practices.
Matt advises clients on IP, technology, media and data privacy issues arising in their operations and strategic transactions such as licensing, outsourcing and supply agreements, M&A activities, JVs, financings, restructurings and capital markets offerings. He is also the corporate lead for our cross-disciplinary Data Privacy & Cybersecurity and AI practices.
Matt has extensive experience structuring, negotiating and drafting complex commercial arrangements across a range of industries, including with respect to media and sports rights, content distribution, data use and monetization, cloud services, branding, sponsorship, hardware, software and other technologies. A thought leader, he frequently counsels and presents on questions of copyright and data privacy law, as well as on issues arising in the development, use and commercialization of artificial intelligence.
In his pro bono practice, Matt provides IP and commercial advice to a variety of arts and education-focused nonprofits.
Experience
Tech, Media & Telecom
- Comcast and its subsidiaries on a wide array of matters, including:
- Acquisitions of NBCUniversal, Sky and DreamWorks Animation
- The spinoff of select cable networks to create a new publicly traded company
- The creation and operation of various tech-focused JVs, including with partners such as Verizon, Charter, Liberty Global and Arris
- Strategic commercial transactions with a range of suppliers, including Adeia, Arris, Broadcom, Cisco, Intel, LG, Motorola, Samsung, Synamedia, Technicolor, TiVo and many others
- Various complex SaaS and PaaS arrangements with other operators in the U.S. and abroad
- A range of advisory matters relating to contract interpretation, copyright law, product design, data privacy and AI
- Reliance on investments by Facebook and Google into Jio Platforms, and related commercial arrangements
AI & Data Privacy
- A leading publisher on its licensing of content to a major tech company for AI training purposes
- A leading biopharma company on an AI development collaboration with a major research institution
- A leading provider of financial market data on its AI strategy and related transactions with vendors and customers
- A leading private equity firm on the negotiation of its services agreement with an AI platform provider
- A wide array of clients on data privacy, data transfer and AI advisory matters, including with respect to the preparation of internal and external policies, DPAs, risk mitigation and other issues
Sports
- Comcast on the formation of various RSNs and the negotiation of related media rights agreements with the relevant NBA and MLB franchises
- The owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers on the formation and operation of SportsNet L.A. and related commercial arrangements with Time Warner Cable, Charter and AT&T
- The Los Angeles Dodgers on various strategic transactions relating to the sale of Dodgers tickets in the secondary market
- The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) on its media rights and production arrangements for its inaugural season
- The owners of a basketball club on their dealings with the NBA and certain NBA franchises
Consumer Products & Retail
- Tory Burch on various IP licensing arrangements
Industrials
- Baker Hughes on a wide array of commercial arrangements, including those relating to its separation from General Electric
Insights
News
Education
- Carroll G. Harper Prize for Outstanding Achievement in Intellectual Property Studies
- Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
- magna cum laude
Qualifications and admissions
- State of New York