Douglas P. Jacobs

With over 40 years of experience as a negotiator and litigator, beginning in private practice, then with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for the last 35 years, Doug Jacobs has specialized in media and entertainment law and litigation. 

Prior to joining CDAS, Doug served as Executive Vice President and General Counsel of A&E Networks, where, as a member of the senior management team, he oversaw all legal matters, deals and initiatives as they pertained to scripted and unscripted programming, talent contracts & negotiations, as well as matters pertaining to distribution, digital, consumer products and international, for all the networks under the corporate banner: A&E®, Lifetime®, HISTORY®, LMN®, FYI™ , H2™, HISTORY en Español™, Crime & Investigation Network®, Military HISTORY® and LRW™. Doug also supervised the business and legal affairs staff  regarding the acquisitions made by A&E IndieFilms® and the newly formed A+E Networks Studios; and, he also worked with A+E Affiliate Sales as A+E Networks navigated the then uncharted waters of TV Everywhere® and mobile distribution. 

In addition, Doug played a substantial role coordinating the complex legal deals and initiatives at the company. Among his accomplishments, in 2012, Doug represented A+E Networks on behalf of the corporate legal team, as the company divested from its NBC/Comcast parent. In 2009, Mr. Jacobs handled due diligence for the acquisition of the Lifetime Networks, as it was blended seamlessly into the corporate fold. 

Doug joined A+E Networks from Court TV, where he was Executive Vice President and General Counsel. At Court TV. He was also an integral member of the senior management team, supervising all legal matters relating to programming and distribution, while championing efforts to gain access for cameras in court throughout the USA. Prior to joining Court TV, Doug was Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at CBS, where he served as advisor to CBS management on legal issues arising from news, entertainment and sports broadcasts, and he was Vice President of Business Development for CBS Sports. Throughout his 18-year career at CBS, Doug defended a roster of correspondents and reporters, including Dan Rather, Mike Wallace, Andy Rooney, Ed Bradley and others, and he was instrumental in obtaining the rights to the Fiesta Bowl and the Orange Bowl, along with major figure skating, and professional ski and car racing events. With CBS v. Ziff Davis in 1990, he obtained a landmark decision from the New York Court of Appeals, reversing 90 years of precedent requiring reliance for breach of warranty. 

In addition to his legal practice, Doug is also an Adjunct Professor at Rutgers University School of Law.