JP Morgan Chase goes Hollywood

JP Morgan Chase & Co. said it has launched JPMorgan Entertainment Advisors to provide financial and strategic advice, services and products to clients in the entertainment and media businesses.
Led by Alan Levine and Ken Lemberger, the new business will include developing and structuring all forms of business strategies and models, raising capital, distribution and licensing arrangements and creating new industry initiatives.
Mr. Levine is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and is the former president and chief operating officer of Sony Pictures Entertainment in Culver City, Calif.
He is leaving his position as counsel to Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie, Stiffelman, Cook, Johnson, Lande & Wolf LLP, a Los Angeles-based transactional entertainment law firm to join the new JP Morgan unit.
Mr. Lemberger, who is also a former Sony Pictures Entertainment executive, is leaving his position as counsel to the New York-based law firm of Kaye Scholer LLP in Century City, Calif.
Veteran JPMorgan entertainment banker David Shaheen also is joining the new group as a principal.
Mr. Shaheen has specialized in highly structured financings and advisory assignments for the past 12 years.