Christopher Weathers
About Chris
Chris Weathers is a business attorney with a distinct focus on the sports, media and entertainment industries, helping clients create, protect, and monetize their content across every platform. Chris often describes himself as a “content attorney,” because his practice centers on the transactional issues that power today’s content-driven economy. He advises a wide range of clients, from major distributors, studios and production companies to independent creators and emerging startups, as well as businesses outside the sports, media and entertainment industries that need strategic support for content-related matters.
For clients in sports, media and entertainment, Chris provides full-service legal counsel across all phases of content creation, including:
- Production finance
- Rights acquisition and project development
- Production legal (pre-production, production, post-production, and legal delivery)
- Distribution, publication, and exhibition
For clients in other industries, Chris focuses on advertising, branding, and content strategy, including:
- Influencer and brand ambassador programs
- Sponsorships, merchandising, and co-branding
- Contests, sweepstakes, and promotions
- Live and virtual events
- Social media content and terms of use/service
Chris has extensive experience across virtually every type of content, including film, television, and podcast production, video games and esports, AR/VR projects, live and virtual event, publishing, theatre, music, fine art, and digital media. He works closely with our team of subject matter experts in areas such as privacy, securities, tax, labor and employment, alcohol and cannabis regulation, and consumer protection to provide seamless solutions for complex, multidisciplinary projects. His work includes projects that have premiered at Tribeca, exhibited on major platforms, won Emmy Awards, and even been shortlisted for the Oscars.
Before joining Miller Nash, Chris practiced media and entertainment law for nearly nine years at an AM Law 100 firm.
Representative Experience
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Film and TV Production Plus
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Represented production companies on a wide range of award-winning and widely distributed projects across major streamers, networks, and cable television. Work supported critically acclaimed productions including American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders, The Pigeon Tunnel, Fire in Paradise, and Medal of Honor.*
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Live Events Plus
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Represented a leading Pacific Northwest live events company in connection with large-scale public festivals, including the Portland Cinco de Mayo Fiesta and the Scooped Ice Cream Festival.*
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Esports Plus
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Represented a major video game publisher in developing its esports program.*
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Publishing Plus
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Represented multiple clients in connection with book and online media publishing.*
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Co-Branding Plus
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Represented companies, including a food brand with national distribution and an upscale grocery chain in connection with celebrity and other types of product co-branding.*
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Influencer/Brand Ambassador Plus
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Represented tech startups, wineries, breweries, nutritional supplement and food brands, restaurants and other consumer product brands in connection with developing and implementing their influencer/brand ambassador programs.*
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Social Media Content Plus
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Represented social media content producer in connection with highly viewed and sold-out livestreamed event at a large venue.*
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* Denotes experience prior to joining Miller Nash LLP
Activities
- Southern Oregon University, School of Arts & Communication, Guest Lecturer, 2023-2025
- Media Law Resource Center, Media Deals Committee, Member
- Beverly Hills Bar Association, Member
- Oregon Entrepreneurs Network
- PubTalk Committee Member, 2017-2019
- Oregon State Bar
- Intellectual Property Section, Member
- Technology Law Section, Member
- American Bar Association, Member
- Youth, Rights & Justice, Board Member, 2022-present
- Oregon Media Production Association, Member, 2019-present
- Oregon Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, Volunteer Attorney, 2018-present
- Lewis & Clark Small Business Legal Clinic, Pro Bono Attorney, 2017-2019
- Outside In Legal Clinic, Volunteer Attorney, 2016-2019
Recognition
- Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® (Portland, OR)
- Entertainment and Sports Law, 2024-present
- Selected for inclusion as an Oregon Super Lawyer—Rising Star, 2023-present
Insights from Chris
- “Media Disrupted: How AI is Transforming Creative Arts and Journalism Practice,” WVU College of Creative Arts and Media, West Virginia University (Sept. 2025)
- “Rights & Clearances for Creative Projects, Practical Considerations for Creatives,” Oregon Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (2025)
- “AI, Copyright, and Legal Considerations for Journalists,” Online News Association (2024)
- “The ‘Players’ in NIL,” University of Oregon, Sports and Entertainment Law Forum, NIL Conference (2024)
- “IN THE CLEAR: Rights, and Fair Use in your Creative Project,” Portland Art Museum, Center for an Untold Tomorrow (2023)
- “Ask the Experts: Coverage Under COVID,” Oregon Media Production Association (2020)
- “Entertainment Sports Media Law’s Fall Panel,” Northwest School of Law of Lewis & Clark College (2019)
Outside the Office
Prior to becoming an attorney, Chris worked in the restaurant industry for approximately twenty years, starting as a dishwasher in high school and eventually working his way up to chef. He later moved to the front-of-house where he worked his way up to general manager. Chris enjoys a variety of activities with his wife Megan and adult children Michael and Chloe, including cooking, hiking, watching movies, and sitting around a fire on the beach singing songs and stargazing.