Michael D. Fricklas is CLO of Advance, which owns and invests in media, entertainment, communications, technology, education and other sectors. It owns and operates companies such as Conde Nast, Advance Local, Ironman, Turnitin and Stage Entertainment, and owns significant percentages of Charter Communications, Warner Bros. Discovery and Reddit.
For 24 years prior to joining Advance in 2018, Mr. Fricklas was EVP and General Counsel of Viacom Mr. Fricklas received a B.S.E.E. from the University of Colorado’s College of Engineering and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1984. Mr. Fricklas’ practice started in Silicon Valley, representing technology companies in a variety of financing transactions and in technology licensing.
Since then, his career has focused on the intersection of copyright and technology, corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, and management of large law departments. Mr. Fricklas is a member of the Boards of Boston University and Jazz at Lincoln Center, as well as co-chair of the UJA Entertainment, Tech and Lifestyle.
He also serves as a member of New York’s Permanent Commission on Access to Justice, and as a member of the Board of Counsellors of Equal Justice Works. He is past president of the Association of General Counsel.