James R. Sterling joined EQAL in 2008 as its Senior Vice President, Business Affairs and Operations.
Prior to joining the company, James spent over three years at Mark Burnett Productions in Business and Legal Affairs, where he oversaw all business and legal related matters for The Apprentice (NBC), Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? (FOX), The Contender (ESPN), On The Lot (FOX), Amnesia (NBC), RockStar (CBS), Gold Rush (AOL), Flushed Away: Underground Adventure (AOL), and Wedding Day (pilot) (TNT). James negotiated and closed over thirty brand integration deals for “The Apprentice,” working with companies such as Toyota, Kodak, Dial, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and XM Radio. James regularly negotiated above the line and talent agreements, domestic distribution agreements, indemnity agreements, and casting documents. In addition, James managed day-to-day production and clearance matters, worked with and guided outside counsel on all intellectual property, employment, and litigation matters, and regularly provided counsel on corporate related matters. Prior to joining Mark Burnett Productions, James spent five years as a litigator at Lavely and Singer, P.C. where he handled all aspects of entertainment and intellectual property law. Practice areas included contracts, talent agency regulation, rights of privacy and publicity, free speech, defamation and employment law.
James received a B.A. in History and Public Policy from the University of California, Los Angeles and a J.D. from the University of Southern California.
