Professor Slade is a veteran media and entertainment attorney with more than 15 years of experience advising leading content companies on complex business and legal matters. He currently serves as Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at Fremantle Media North America, where he negotiates and structures development, production, and talent agreements with major television networks and streaming platforms, including Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, FOX, and others. At Fremantle, Professor Slade also provides strategic business and legal guidance on a range of high-profile productions, including American Idol, Celebrity Family Feud, Married to Medicine, and Storage Wars. His work spans advising on domestic and international film tax credits, structuring transactions with social media influencers, and developing new business models for Fremantle’s evolving content and distribution strategies.

Before joining Fremantle, Professor Slade served as head of legal and business affairs at TV One, where he oversaw the legal function for two national cable television networks. In that role, he advised senior executives across production, marketing, operations, ad sales, and public relations. There, Professor Slade negotiated a wide range of commercial agreements, managed the company’s intellectual property portfolio, and developed internal compliance procedures related to rights, clearances, and pre-broadcast content review.

Earlier in his career, at National Geographic Partners, Professor Slade held a senior legal role supporting unscripted production, talent deals, and corporate governance. He structured multi-platform agreements with high-profile talent and provided legal oversight for a joint venture structure between The Walt Disney Company and National Geographic Society, that spanned television, print, and digital assets. He also oversaw FCPA compliance on international productions and supervised outside counsel on intellectual property litigation. During his tenure, he was selected to complete executive coach training, where he advised senior staff and supported organizational leadership initiatives.

Professor Slade began his legal career in private practice representing content producers and technology companies and also held legal and business affairs roles at National Geographic Channel and The Travel Channel, negotiating agreements for iconic series such as Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Man v. Food.

Professor Slade earned his J.D. from The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, and his B.A., cum laude, from Howard University, where he also minored in Communications and Culture. He serves on the board of Girls, Inc. of the Washington Metropolitan Area and is a mentor with the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association.