CorpGov hosted the second LA CorpGov Forum on Sept. 18, 2026, at The Huntington Library in San Marino, California. This event brought together members of the financial community from both LA and beyond in panels focused on the finance of entertainment and media, sports, along with capital markets and shareholder activism.
Panel: Shareholder Activism: Media and Entertainment Focus
- Sagar Gupta, Portfolio Manager, Anson Funds
- Jon Feldman, Partner and Business Law Group Head, Goodmans LLP
- Pete Michelsen, Leader, Activism and Shareholder Advisory Practice, Qatalyst
- John Jannarone, Editor-in-Chief, CorpGov (Moderator)
Main Topics of Discussion:
- Legacy media and IP: AI-driven content abundance could increase the value of scarce, recognizable intellectual property, making companies such as Lionsgate Studios Corp. (NYSE: LION) potentially attractive acquisition targets.
- Media-tech convergence: Media companies increasingly need technology, distribution, advertising capabilities and scale, while tech companies are moving deeper into media and content.
- AI and creativity: The panel viewed AI primarily as a tool to enhance human creativity and production efficiency, while stressing that compelling, human-connected content and valuable IP remain important.
- Activism and smaller companies: Subscale public companies can struggle to attract capital-market attention, creating situations where activists may push for strategic sales or take-private transactions to unlock perceived value.
- AI in dealmaking and activism: AI is already being used by investment and activist teams, but panelists stressed that human judgment, credibility, confidentiality and quality control remain essential because AI can generate substantial amounts of unreliable or distracting material.
Speakers and Notable Attendees
- Paul Haaga, Former Chairman, Capital Research and Management Company; Chair of the Board, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation; Board Director, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution
- Jason Alejandre, President, Founder and Creative Director, Game Mechanic Studios (GMS)
- Nicolle Brady, Managing Director, Protiviti
- David Carter, Principal, The Sports Business Group
- Travis Cloyd, Director of Digital Research Entertainment Arts Media Storytelling, California Institute of the Arts
- Thomas Courtney, Jr., President and CEO, The Courtney Group
- Dick Drobnick, Former USC Vice Provost for Globalization and IBEAR MBA Program Director, Asia Society Southern California Chairman Emeritus
- Daphna Edwards Ziman, Co-Chairman, Project Rise Partners
- Jon Feldman, Partner and Business Law Group Head, Goodmans LLP
- Joseph Fish, CEP, Managing Director, Stock Operations, Infinite Equity
- Baird Fogel, Head of Global Sports Practice, Partner, Eversheds-Sutherland
- Noah Francis, Banker, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
- Brent Granado, Partner, Sweetwater Private Equity
- Sagar Gupta, Portfolio Manager, Anson Funds
- Evan Hainey, Partner, Untitled Entertainment
- Thomas W. Hulick, CEO, Managing Partner, Strategy Asset Managers
- Rafique Jiwani, Head of GTM Value Creation, Operating Advisor, Goldman Sachs Private Equity
- ElizBeth Jones, Founder and CEO, Atomic Venus Media
- Ryan Keating, Partner, Industry Leader, Venture Services, EisnerAmper
- Ramey Layne, Partner, Capital Markets and Mergers & Acquisitions, Vinson & Elkins
- Jeff Meyer, Managing Director, Protiviti
- Pete Michelsen, Leader, Activism and Shareholder Advisory Practice, Qatalyst
- JL Pomeroy, Founder and CEO, BRIDGELINE Media
- Josh Waldron, Interim CFO, Scale AI
- Jarrett Banks, Editor-at-Large, CorpGov (Moderator)
- John Jannarone, Editor-in-Chief, CorpGov (Moderator)
More Upcoming Events:
Preliminary Agenda: 6th Palm Beach CorpGov Forum Nov 4-5 with Activism, Sports, VC
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