D. Branch Furtado , Partner
Email: bfurtado@gispc.com
Direct Line: (212) 554-0485
Fax Line: (212) 554-0444
D. Branch Furtado
Branch specializes in corporate transactional and executive compensation matters. Branch advises clients in media and entertainment on general corporate matters, joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, financings, licensing, executive compensation and equity grants.
Branch has extensive experience in media and entertainment-focused transactions, including in music, television, motion pictures, brand licensing, publishing, digital media, fashion, restaurants and nightlife.
Prior to joining the firm, Branch was a counsel in the corporate department of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP where he represented public and private companies, entrepreneurs and financial investors in a wide range of corporate and transactional matters.
REPRESENTATIVE TRANSACTIONS
- 605, a media analytics firm, and its founders, James and Kristin Dolan, in 605’s acquisition of Analytics Media Group and strategic data partnership with Charter Communications, Inc.
- Advanstar Communications in its acquisition of fashion trade show company ENK International and its sale to UBM plc.
- Air Mail, a digital, international news platform, and its founder Graydon Carter, in the formation and launch of Air Mail, including an equity investment round led by TPG Growth.
- Apollo Global Management in its acquisitions of television producers CKX, Inc. (now Industrial Media) and Endemol, and 50/50 joint venture with 21st Century Fox.
- Authentic Brands Group and ABG-Shaq, its joint venture with Shaquille O’Neal, in its partnerships with iMedia Brands and Steady.
- Boat Rocker Media in its investments in mobile learning company MarcoPolo Learning, digital storytelling platform The Outline and digital audio and reading platform Serial Box.
- BMG in its acquisitions of country music label BBR Music Group and production music company Immediate Music/1 Revolution Music.
- DIGA Studios and its founder Tony DiSanto in the acquisition of ITV’s stake in DIGA.
- Discovery Communications in its cable television joint ventures with Oprah Winfrey and Hasbro, its acquisition of digital video provider Revision3 and its investment in production and branded content company Will Packer Media.
- Epic Rights, a retail branding and merchandising firm, and its founder and CEO Dell Furano in connection with the acquisition of the company by Universal Music Group’s Bravado merchandise division.
- Exile Content and its founder Isaac Lee in the formation of the launch of Exile Content, a premium content studio serving Latin American and US Hispanic audiences.
- Groot Hospitality, the owner and operator of top dining, entertainment and hospitality brands (LIV, Story, Komodo, Swan & Bar Bevy, Papi Steak), and its founder and CEO David Grutman in the sale of a majority stake in Groot Hospitality to Live Nation Entertainment.
- IAC in its sale of independent production and distribution company Electus and a majority interest in talent management and production firm Artists First to Propagate.
- Industrial Media in its acquisitions of Sharp Entertainment, B17 Entertainment and Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) and its sale of Elvis Presley Enterprises and Muhammad Ali Enterprises to Authentic Brands Group.
- Kate Spade & Co. in its sale of Lucky Brand to Leonard Green Partners.
- Lady Gaga in the formation and launch of beauty brand Haus Laboratories, including an equity investment round led by Lightspeed Venture Partners.
- Mary J. Blige in the formation and launch of the Sister Love jewelry line with Simone I. Smith.
- Dr. Mehmet Oz in his joint venture with ResMed and Pegasus Capital Advisors to launch SleepScore Labs.
- Priyanka Chopra in her partnerships with Bumble and the Holberton School.
- Sean Combs and Sean John in the sale of the Sean John and Enyce brands to Global Brands Group.
- Sofia Vergara in co-founding Latin-focused media company Raze and co-founding subscription-based lingerie line EBY.
- Sony Corporation in its purchase of Bertelsmann’s 50% interest in Sony-BMG Music Entertainment.
- Stern IR, an investor relations firm, and its founder Lilian Stern in connection with the sale of the company to Precision Medicine Group, Inc.
- TAO Group, the restaurant and nightlife group, in the sale of a majority stake to The Madison Square Garden Company.
- Vice Media in its joint venture with Robert Rodriguez's El Rey entertainment company to launch the La Reyna creative agency and in Vice’s acquisition of Villain, a Brooklyn-based events producer.
- Zagat Survey, LLC, a publisher of consumer-generated ratings and reviews, in its sale to Google, Inc.
In addition, Branch has represented numerous executives in entertainment and media in connection with employment, equity grants and other executive compensation matters.
Education
- B.A., Cum Laude, Amherst College, 1999
- J.D., Magna Cum Laude, Duke University School of Law, 2007
- M.B.A., Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business, 2007