Hollywood’s High-Stakes Negotiator: How Complex Deals Really Get Done
March 05, 2026
What It Takes to Close at the Highest Level
Welcome back to The Negotiation Room. Today’s conversation moves far beyond small business or modest commercial agreements. This is the world where a single negotiation can reshape an entire industry. Consider Netflix’s recent attempt to acquire Warner Bros., a deal valued at roughly $83 billion. Negotiations at this level don’t just require skill, they demand mastery.
That’s exactly why we invited David R. Shraga to join us. David built his reputation as one of Hollywood’s standout negotiators, the person studios trusted when the stakes were too high to get it wrong. After years closing major entertainment deals, he now mediates disputes at the same altitude, helping studios, talent, and litigators break impasses and reach agreements that actually hold.
In today’s conversation, we explore what truly separates amateur negotiators from the elite. David pulls back the curtain on how A-list negotiations unfold, why relationships often determine outcomes long before numbers are discussed, and how a single, well-timed moment of transparency can move a billion-dollar deal across the finish line.
If you’ve ever wondered how negotiation works at the very top of the food chain, this is the episode.
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Event Times
- 7:00 AM – Seattle / Vancouver
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Registration Fees
Agenda
Speakers
| Name | Organization |
|---|---|
| Tim Cummins | World Commerce & Contracting |
| Keld Jensen | World Commerce & Contracting |
| David Shraga | Shraga Resolution Services - The Media Mediator |