Ben Sheffner

Ben Sheffner has a diverse and extensive work experience. Ben started their career as an Assistant Editor at The Cook Political Report, covering races for the U.S. House. Ben then became a Staff Writer at Roll Call Newspaper, where they covered various aspects of the internal organization and politics of the U.S. House and Senate.

Following this, Sheffner worked as a Law Clerk at the Chambers of Judge M. Margaret McKeown. Ben then joined the law firm O'Melveny & Myers LLP as an Associate, representing movie studios, record companies, and television networks in complex copyright, trademark, contract, and antitrust disputes.

Sheffner later moved to NBC Universal, where they initially served as a Litigation Counsel, defending the television network, production studio, and affiliated cable networks in various disputes. Ben then became a Counsel in the Legal Affairs department, providing legal advice regarding the production of scripted television programming.

After NBC Universal, Sheffner worked at Fox Entertainment Group as a Senior Counsel, focusing on content protection litigation, policy, and strategy. Ben litigated copyright actions for motion picture and television studios and formulated copyright strategies and tactics.

Sheffner also had a brief stint as an Attorney and Freelance Journalist before joining the John McCain 2008 campaign as a Special Counsel, overseeing election-day operations and litigation. Ben vetted campaign advertising for legal issues and handled constitutional challenges and copyright suits.

After their work on the campaign, Sheffner went back to NBC Universal as a Senior Counsel in the Legal Affairs department. Ben drafted and negotiated contracts for Bravo and other NBCU cable networks, including production services agreements and talent agreements.

Most recently, Sheffner has been working at the Motion Picture Association, where they have held various roles. Ben started as a Content Protection Counsel, managing domestic and international anti-piracy litigation for the association's major motion picture studio members. Ben then became the Vice President of Legal Affairs and later the Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Copyright & Legal Affairs, providing legal advice on copyright and overseeing various legal matters. Currently, they hold the position of Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Law & Policy, advising the association and its members on copyright, First Amendment, and other related issues. Sheffner also supervises the MPA amicus brief program.

Ben Sheffner attended Harbor Day School from 1975 to 1984, Newport Harbor High School from 1984 to 1986, and Groton School from 1986 to 1989. Ben then pursued their undergraduate education at Harvard University from 1989 to 1993, where they obtained a Bachelor of Arts (A.B.) degree in Government. After completing their undergraduate studies, Ben attended the University of California, Berkeley - School of Law from 1997 to 2000, where they earned a Juris Doctor (JD) degree in Law. Ben later obtained certifications, including the California Bar in 2001 and the District of Columbia Bar in 2013.