Columbia SoCal
would like to invite you to Columbia West 2012, a special dinner event featuring

Michael Sovern (CC '53, LAW '55, LAW '80)
Emeritus President of Columbia University 
Chancellor Kent Professor of Law
Former Dean of the Columbia School of Law
Former Columbia University Provost 



"From Riot to Renaissance"
The story of how Columbia University recovered from the shambles of 1968 and a decade of budget deficits to become one of the most sought-after universities in the world


and honoring
Tom Pollock (LAW '67)
Film Producer, Movie Executive, Entertainment Attorney


 on
Thursday, April 26, 2012
6:30 PM  Reception
7:30 PM  Dinner and Program

 
Network with fellow alumni
Honor alumni recipients
 Enjoy hosted drinks, hors d'oeuvres and a fabulous buffet dinner

at the
Beverly Hills Women's Club
1700 Chevy Chase Drive (@Benedict Canyon Drive)
Beverly Hills, CA  90210
310-276-5804
http://www.bhwomensclub.org/index_files/BHWCHistory.htm 




Reserve your seat now!  Please RSVP no later than April 18th.  The Member cost to attend, in advance, is $75 per person with one guest at $75.  All other guests and nonmember alumni are $85 per person in advance.  Free parking lot and street parking available on site.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Questions? Contact Joshua Berman at [email protected] or call (310) 918-8255.

About Tom Pollock 

Thomas P. Pollock (LAW '67), founder and producer at Montecito Picture Company, served as Vice Chairman of MCA Inc., as Executive Vice President of MCA and Chairman Universal Pictures, was a member of the Board of Directors of MCA INC. and Cineplex-Odeon Corporation, a former trustee of the Los Angeles Music Center and is the former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the American Film Institute. In addition to working as a prolific motion picture producer, Mr. Pollock is currently a trustee of the American Museum of the Moving Image and an Adjunct Professor of Film at the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Having begun in the movie business by managing the affairs of the American Film Institute's marketing branch, Pollock set up the law firm of Pollock, Bloom and Dekom in 1971. The young lawyers counted among their clients film stalwarts: producer-director George Lucas and writer-director Matthew Robbins. Pollock was soon serving as chairman of Filmex Inc. as well. His executive experience and high-powered contacts eventually led to Pollock's appointment as chairman of MCA/Universal's motion picture group and executive vice president of MCA Inc.

During his tenure with MCA, Pollock had a hand in greenlighting and overseeing such popular and distinguished projects as the "Back to the Future" trilogy, "Field of Dreams" (1989), "Henry and June" (1990), "Cape Fear" (1991), "Sneakers" (1992), "Scent of a Woman" (1992), "Jurassic Park" (1993) and "Schindler's List" (1993).  Additionally, while Chairman of the Motion Picture Group, Universal released over 200 films that grossed in excess of $10 billion worldwide including Jurassic Park, the then highest-grossing film of all time, Parenthood, Cape Fear, Twins, The Flintstones, Kindergarten Cop, Back to the Future 2 and 3, Casper, Waterworld, Backdraft, Beethoven, and Beethoven's 2nd, Do The Right Thing, Fried Green Tomatoes, Sneakers, and Lorenzo's Oil.  During that same period, Universal released seven Academy Award Best Picture nominees, including Schindler's List, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1993. Other Best Picture nominees include Field of Dreams, Born of the Fourth of July, Scent of a Woman, In the Name of the Father, Apollo 13, and Babe.

In 1998, Mr. Pollock together with Director/Producer Ivan Reitman, set up The Montecito Picture Company which has produced: No Strings Attached (2011), Chloe  (2010), I Love You, Man  (2009), The Uninvited  (2009), Hotel for Dogs  (2009), Post Grad  (2009), Up in the Air  (2009), Trailer Park Boys: The Movie  (2008), Disturbia (2007), The Pink Panther (2006), Eurotrip (2004), Old School (2003), Evolution (2001) and Road Trip (2000), as well as upcoming releases Girlfriend Experience and Rockabye Baby.

In 2006, Mr. Pollock, together with Director/Producer Ivan Reitman, set up Cold Spring Pictures with Merrill Lynch and other financial partners, which will co-finance pictures produced by Montecito Picture Company.

About Michael Sovern 

1. B.A., Columbia, 1953; LL.B., 1955; LL.D., 1980
2. LL.D., University of Southern California, 1989
3. D.Phil., Tel Aviv University, 1982

Detailed Biography

Commendatore in the Order of Merit of the Republic of Italy, 1991. Recipient, Citizens Union Civic Leadership Award, 1993. Columbia Law School Medal for Excellence, 1997. Town Hall Friend of the Arts Award, 2001. Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star from Japan, 2004.  

After two years on the faculty at the University of Minnesota Law School, joined the Columbia faculty in 1957. Served as chairman of the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Columbia University, 1968-69; dean of the School of Law, 1970-79; executive vice president for academic affairs and provost of the University, 1979-80; president of the University, 1980-93.

Former arbitrator for disputes between numerous private companies and public agencies and the unions representing their employees; mediator in negotiations between the New York Transit Authority and the Transport Workers Union, as well as between New York City and its firefighters and policemen; author-moderator, WNBC-TV series Due Process for the Accused; host, WNET-TV series, Leading Questions; special counsel, New York State Joint Legislative Committee on Industrial and Labor Conditions; special counsel, Governor of New Jersey; consultant on law to Time magazine; and consultant to the Ford Foundation. Member, Pulitzer Prize Board and NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

Founding member of the board of directors of Mobilization for Youth's Legal Services Unit; the Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund; the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund; and Helsinki Watch. Chairman, New York City Charter Revision Commission, 1982-83. Chairman, State-City (New York) Commission on Integrity in Government, 1986.

Current member, board of directors of the Asian Cultural Council; WNET/13; and other corporate and nonprofit organizations. Member, Council on Foreign Relations; American Law Institute; American Academy of Arts and Sciences; and the American Philosophical Society. Honorary Chairman, Japan Society. Chairman, American Academy in Rome. President, Shubert Foundation. Recently became chairman of Sotheby's. Has taught legal methods, torts, administrative law, evidence, labor law, conflict of laws, and creditors' remedies.