Ilyssa Adler
VP, Business and Legal Affairs, Ubisoft Film & Television
Fox Rothschild, 2014-2015
- J.D., Southwestern Law School, 2012
- B.A., Brandeis, 2009
What attracted you to your current position at Ubisoft Film & Television?
When Ubisoft first approached me about the in-house role, I didn’t know anything about the company, which makes award-winning video games. I had worked in the entertainment industry for almost a decade but wasn’t familiar with the video game sector. Ubisoft had just started to expand into film and TV. When I told my husband about the opportunity, he responded, “Take the job!” He knew it was a great company, and he was right. I joined Ubisoft in 2018 and since then we have really accelerated our film and TV projects, including the television series "Mythic Quest" on Apple TV+, multiple film and television projects with Netflix, and our first independent feature film, "Werewolves Within," which is out in theaters and available to rent digitally now.
What do you like best about your role?
I enjoy figuring out how to structure and negotiate deals that allow creatives to do what they do best. It is unique and exciting to be an attorney at the ground level, helping form projects at their inception, and it is very rewarding to work with a variety of creative professionals to help them achieve their creative goals and our company’s business goals.
Is there anything you miss about working in Big Law?
It is intense to work at a big law firm as a young associate, but I thought that the people were special. I loved working with lawyers like Darrell Miller and Jody Simon. Everyone encouraged me to achieve and excel.
What career did you envision for yourself when you were a child?
I wanted to be a Grammy® award-winning singer when I was a kid. I sang in the state choir and did musical theater. I told my mom my plan, and she said, “You should be a lawyer for a singer.” My parents are both doctors and very practical. I think they were worried that I would become a starving artist. Going into entertainment law seemed like a great path.
Where would we find you on the weekend?
My husband and I love to take our Labradoodle, Morty, to hike in Franklin Canyon Park and Sunshine Canyon near our home in Los Angeles. We love nature and especially those beautiful ocean views.
When it comes to watching shows, I loved "The Queen’s Gambit," "Unorthodox" and "Black Mirror." High-end limited series and anthologies are fantastic because they create whole worlds. You have time to develop characters without overstretching the story. I also highly recommend our show, "Mythic Quest." The second season just came out in spring 2021 on Apple TV+. It’s funny and light but also thoughtful and reflective of the times.
