JEFFERS, ESQ., Susannah Lee

Susannah died on Sunday, June 26th after a valiant battle with cancer. She is survived by her sisters Deborah Wishner and Michall Jeffers Warner, and her brother-in-law, John Warner.

Susannah was a well-loved, wellrespected, deeply knowledgeable entertainment attorney and a remarkable human being. A graduate of Wheaton College and Tulane University Law School, she began her legal career as a member of Texaco’s International Petroleum Negotiation team. She moved to Los Angeles in 1988 to pursue a major change in her focus - to the entertainment arena.

Thirty four years later, Susannah was recognized throughout the industry as a highly experienced entertainment lawyer with a deep understanding of guild and union issues that very few could rival. She worked in television (scripted and unscripted), digital media, and motion picture business and legal affairs. Susannah handled transactional, talent (above and below the line), development, production, post-production, finance and distribution deals for many of the industry’s most sophisticated entertainment clients.

In her role as Entertainment Counsel at Davis Wright Tremaine, LLP, Susannah was an important contributor to the growth of their entertainment group and practice. A consummate team player and a passionate and committed teacher/ mentor, she never turned down an offer to assist a colleague or to meet a client’s needs. She took intense pride in the growth of the entertainment group and the quality of work being produced.

Prior to joining DWT in 2018, Susannah had an impressive resume of senior-level positions at major studios, networks, and law firms, including serving as Vice President of Legal Affairs at ABC Studios (The Walt Disney Company), Senior Counsel at both Turner Entertainment Group Inc. (Time Warner), and Twentieth Century Fox Television (News Corp.), and had responsibility for significant matters at both Universal Pictures and Loeb & Loeb.

In her personal life, Susannah was an accomplished astrologer of long standing. She enjoyed all sorts of music, great food, and finding new restaurants, and she loved sharing her discoveries. Susannah also loved classic cars, dogs, and sports, particularly football, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of the teams, the players, their stats and status.

Susannah was sweet, kind, funny, and consistently upbeat and grateful, even when facing her illness. She continued to share her enthusiasm for life with her many friends and family.

For all who knew her, Susannah remains a beautiful spirit: brave, brilliant, full-of-life, determined, cherished, irreplaceable, and unforgettable.

Donations in her name may be made to Providence Saint John’s Cancer Institute or to Tulane Law School. A memorial celebration of life will be planned.