As Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Sphere Entertainment Co., Laura Franco serves as the chief legal officer, working closely with the leadership team to support the Company’s long-term direction and growth.
In this role, Ms. Franco oversees all legal functions across the live entertainment and media company including corporate, commercial, transactional, litigation, and regulatory matters. She is also responsible for and directs corporate and business legal affairs including managing the development, negotiation, and execution of all material business transactions across the Company’s portfolio, which includes Sphere, a next-generation entertainment medium that is redefining the future of live entertainment, as well as MSG Networks, which operates two regional sports and entertainment networks that deliver a wide range of live sports content and other programming.
In addition to her role at Sphere Entertainment, Ms. Franco also serves as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp., whose portfolio features renowned venues and entertainment brands.
Ms. Franco is an accomplished executive with more than 30 years of legal experience. She joined the MSG Family of Companies in 2024 from Bumble Inc., the parent company of the global dating and social connection apps Bumble and Badoo, where she served as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer. As a member of Bumble Inc.’s executive management leadership team she helped oversee its Initial Public Offering. She also previously spent more than 25 years at Viacom Inc. and CBS Corporation (now “Paramount Global”) in roles of increasing responsibility. In her last role at CBS as Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Ms. Franco spearheaded critical company initiatives and major companywide corporate transactions, including CBS’ merger with Viacom in 2019. Ms. Franco began her legal career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett in the firm’s corporate department where she handled transactions including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other strategic alliances and initiatives.
Ms. Franco is a Board Member and Chair of the Safety Committee at Virgin Voyages, a cruise line.
Ms. Franco received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her Bachelor of Science degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.