Media standoffs don’t start in a courtroom—they start at the negotiating table where content owners and distributors wrestle over price, reach, and leverage. We invited Howard Homonoff, senior advisor in media and entertainment, longtime dealmaker, Forbes columnist, and adjunct professor—to unpack how those high-stakes negotiations evolve into legal disputes and what great expert work actually looks like when the lights come on.

Howard traces his path across both sides of the aisle, from acquiring channels for operators to defending brands at networks, and explains why that “Switzerland” perspective is gold when neutrality matters. We get specific about vetting: how attorneys assess fit and performance, how experts run conflict checks that catch hidden ties, and how a deep public record—columns, talks, interviews—can build credibility while also arming cross-examiners. He shares a simple rule for depositions that saves careers: answer the question and stop. 

If you care about media law, distribution strategy, expert testimony, or arbitration, this conversation delivers practical playbooks and hard-won lessons. Enjoy the episode, share it with a colleague, and if it helped you think sharper about expert work, tap follow and leave a quick review—we read every one.