Universal Pictures has named Clarissa Weirick General Counsel of the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, it was announced Wednesday by chairman Jeff Shell. Weirick will report to Shell as well as NBCUniversal executive VP and General Counsel Kimberley Harris.
Weirick, who comes to Universal from Warner Bros. after 18 years in various legal roles within the studio, will manage all legal issues impacting the Filmed Entertainment Group. She will jointly oversee the various legal departments with the studio’s respective business leaders and work closely with the NBCUniversal corporate legal resources on corporate transactional, litigation and other legal matters.
“As our business continues to grow and evolve, Clarissa will be an important partner in navigating the many complex legal issues facing our company every day,” said Shell. “Clarissa’s experience, leadership and respect among her peers in the industry are unprecedented and will further position the studio for continued success in the years ahead.”
Weirick will begin her new job on July 13. In addition to the responsibilities listed above, Weirick will also be charged with oversight of Fandango’s legal matters as part of the Filmed Entertainment Group.
At Warner Bros., Weirick most recently served as executive VP and General Counsel of the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group. She was responsible for all licensing, sales, production, acquisitions, marketing and daily operational legal matters relating to the physical and digital distribution of the studio’s film and television products and the development and publishing of interactive video games, all on a worldwide basis.
Prior to that, Weirick served as senior VP and General Counsel of the Digital Distribution Group between 2006 and 2011. She began her tenure at Warner Bros. in 1997 as Corporate Counsel. Before working at Warner Bros., Weirick worked for Fidelity Federal Bank handling real estate and corporate matters, and was also an associate with Armstrong & Hirsch and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher.