Sher was busy in 2017, working on Disney’s possible acquisition of 21st Century Fox and responding to the FCC’s renewed push to modify and relax the antiquated media ownership regulations. “The push for changes in the past year has been a major development that could enable broadcasters to compete more fairly in a market very different than the world of three networks 50 years ago or more,” he says. Sher’s expertise is broadened by his experience working at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom. When it comes to negotiating, his advice is to “always be honest and always demand honesty in return.”
What have been the most important legal issues in communications for you in the past year?
One of the most important legal issues for 21CF during the past year has been the FCC’s renewed push to modify and relax the antiquated media ownership regulations, which have long been applied to uniquely hamstring broadcasters’ ability to compete in a marketplace full of new entrants. More than 20 years ago, Congress mandated that the FCC eliminate or modify any of these rules that are no longer necessary in the public interest as the result of competition, but through various fits and starts little had changed. The push for changes in the past year has been a major development that could enable broadcasters to compete more fairly in a market very different than the world of 3 networks 50 years ago or more.
What is your golden rule for negotiating?
Always be honest and always demand honesty in return.
What movie superhero would you most like to be and how would that character fit into the legal world of communications?
Has to be IronMan – even if I have no obvious way to connect it to the legal world of communications. But having the opportunity to fly, and combining that with a perfect digital assistant capable of providing real-time information to help react to any situation – seems like a no-brainer! Bonus points for the wry sense of humor.
