RICHARD PETRETTI is a partner in Sidley’s Century City office and is a member of the Global Finance practice. With a reputation as a top-tier finance lawyer with particular experience in the media and entertainment industry, Richard has extensive experience handling syndicated loans, leveraged financings and a broad array of other financial and capital markets products. He represents clients in secured and unsecured film, television and music financings, including production and acquisition facilities for slates and single-pictures, ultimates and library backed financings, music catalog financings and funding for prints and advertising (P&A). His media and entertainment experience includes advising major financial institutions and borrowers such as mini-majors, independent film companies, joint ventures and special purposed entities in lending, loan workouts, debt restructurings and corporate matters, and he has been recognized by Variety in both their Legal Impact (2017 – 2022) and Dealmakers Impact (2016 - 2021) Reports for this work. The IFLR1000 has also named him as a Notable Practitioner (2019 - 2021). Richard also has experience in related industries, such as telecommunications, broadcasting, cable television, satellites and undersea fiber optic cables, hospitality and retailing. Richard also has broad experience representing both lenders and borrowers in leveraged transactions to finance acquisitions and recapitalizations in a variety of industries. Transactions often involve complex Intercreditor or cross-border issues. He is often asked to consult on Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) issues.
Richard earned his J.D. from the New York University School of Law, his S.M. in Ocean Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his B.S.E. in Aerospace and Mechanical Sciences from Princeton University.