Yen, Sophia

Sophia Yen is a prominent entertainment attorney who provides business strategy and legal services to a wide range of stakeholders in the entertainment industry—from smaller production companies and high-net-worth individuals to larger companies, financial institutions and studios, both domestically and abroad. She is known and sought out for her expertise in structuring equity and debt financing deals, spanning from festival favorite documentaries to independently financed mid-budget pictures and studio slate co-financing deals to capital raises and credit facilities. In addition to financing, Sophia provides counsel to her clients throughout the life cycle of film, television and digital projects, including during development, production, distribution and licensing deals.

She also has experience in company formation, film foreclosures, dispute settlements, purchasing distressed entertainment assets, podcasts and negotiating with the guilds. She is well-versed in the emerging fields of the entertainment industry and in recognizing for clients the strategic value of various trends in media innovation.

Sophia’s work has earned her numerous industry recognitions, including being recognized on The Hollywood Reporter’s 2023 “Power Lawyers” list, Variety’s 2023 “Power of Women” list and Variety’s “Dealmakers Impact Report” and its “Legal Impact Report” since 2018. Away from the deal table, Sophia is an active leader in the AANHPI entertainment community, has served as an advisor for Sundance Institute’s Catalyst Program since 2020, currently serves on the Asia Society Southern California board, and has been an active member of the UCLA Entertainment Symposium Advisory Committee since 2017.

Sophia graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from the Walter A. Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and obtained her law degree from Boston University School of Law. Before becoming a lawyer, Sophia was a CPA and financial auditor at Ernst & Young LLP. In her free time, she enjoys drinking wine and spending time with her family.