Matt Blackett

About Matt Blackett

Deputy General Counsel at SAG-AFTRA, the United States\' largest labor union representing…

Experience

1. Deputy General Counsel

   SAG-AFTRA

   Mar 2024 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

   My work includes:Establishing and managing the goals, objectives, schedules, and standards of performance for a team of supervised attorneys and support staff, including the coordination and oversight of a fast-paced, high-volume legal claims process to ensure consistent, results-orientated and strategic enforcement of the collective bargaining agreementsNegotiating as part of a staff team multiple large-scale collective bargaining agreements, including the SAG-AFTRA Television and Codified Basic agreements, the Animation agreements, and the Network Code and counsel multiple departments and committees regarding the same Consulting, advising, and managing relationships with executive, managerial and junior staff, both internal and external to the Legal Department, on a wide variety of legal issues, and engage with union members concerning the interpretation of agreements, including the creation of executive-level internal committeesManaging relationships with lawyers, agents and studio executives throughout entertainment industryMaintaining awareness of DGA, WGA and SAG-AFTRA (\"Tri-Guild\") and other entertainment union and guild issues that impact SAG-AFTRA\'s agreements and core functions.Reviewing and advising on company communications, from both legal and technical writing perspectivesAssisting with management of department budgets, including management of the recruitment or promotion process for multiple positionsRepresenting the Union in arbitration matters, litigation, NLRB charges and internal union greviances Developing new forms, documents and policies that are used by colleagues, including to manage case loads and increase collectionsActing as the liaison between the Legal Department and the SAG-AFTRA Pension and Health Plans