Sean Cleary

Background

About Sean Cleary

With a foundation in business and law from UC Berkeley and a passion for supporting creative industries, I’ve been building my career at the intersection of legal operations, intellectual property strategy, and cross-functional collaboration. My early work in the music industry—supporting royalty processes for global artists—sparked a broader interest in how rights translate into value, ultimately guiding me toward roles that balance legal precision with operational insight. At Sony Pictures Entertainment, I’ve grown into a management role on the Legal IP team, where I manage studio-wide initiatives to modernize rights management and unlock the full potential of the studio’s intellectual property. I’ve helped drive the integration of AI into legal workflows, partner with IT and distribution teams to refine our internal systems, and respond to complex rights inquiries across global markets. My work bridges legal and creative departments, ensuring our systems and strategies are as innovative as the content we support. I’m energized by projects that require both structure and imagination—whether it’s designing scalable solutions for complex legal workflows or translating contract language into business opportunity. I believe strong operational systems can empower creative teams to move faster and more confidently, and I’m always looking for ways to improve that connection.