Paramount Skydance said Thursday that it has hired Makan Delrahim, who served as head of the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust unit during Donald Trump’s first term as president, to be the new company’s Chief Legal Officer.
In the role, Delrahim will oversee all legal, regulatory, compliance and public policy matters and oversee Paramount’s Government Relations team. He begins October 6.
Stephanie Kyoko McKinnon, Paramount’s current General Counsel and Acting Chief Legal Officer, will continue as General Counsel and report to Delrahim.
Delrahim was the the United States Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the DOJ from 2017-2021 and is known in media circles for spearheading the government’s opposition to the AT&T-Time Warner merger after it was announced in 2016. The DOJ sued to block the deal, leading to a landmark antitrust showdown. Ultimately, a federal judge ruled in favor of AT&T, and an appellate court upheld the decision.
He also has held posts on Capitol Hill, the White House and at USTR.
He joins Paramount from Latham & Watkins LLP, where he was a partner; he and the firm provided legal counsel to Skydance Media during the Paramount merger process, which after several M&A twists and turns closed in early August.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Makan to the Paramount leadership team,” David Ellison, chairman and CEO of Paramount, a Skydance Corporation, in a statement announcing the hire. “His longstanding collaboration with the Skydance team gives him a unique perspective and provides a strong foundation for our work together as we pursue our vision for the future of Paramount. Makan brings a strategic mind-set and a strong track record of navigating complex, cross-sector challenges – qualities that will be instrumental as we shape the next chapter of Paramount and deliver sustained value to our investors, partners, and audiences.”
While at Latham & Watkins, he advised clients including Apollo, Silver Lake, Caesars Entertainment, Cox Media Group, Eldridge Industries, Endeavor/WME, FanDuel, LIV Golf, Oak View Group, Omnicom, Searchlight Capital, UFC and World Poker Tour.
“I’m honored to join Paramount at such a dynamic and transformative time for the media industry,’ he said today. “This is a sector where business, technology, and culture converge in increasingly complex ways, creating both challenges and extraordinary opportunities. Throughout my career, I’ve worked at the intersection of law, policy, and innovation, and I look forward to contributing that experience as part of Paramount’s world-class leadership team. I’m excited to support the company as it continues to lead, evolve, and ultimately help shape the future of entertainment.”