LYDIA GUO

Lydia provides legal and business advice to clients in the television and film industries. Prior to private practice, Lydia held senior executive positions in business and legal affairs at studios, production companies and streamers. Her career has focused on legal and business affairs in TV and film exclusively since 2013. As part of the Original Series team at Netflix in LA, Lydia negotiated talent, rights and production deals on a wide range of series around the world, including such high budget series as LOCKE & KEY. Before joining Netflix, Lydia was VP of Legal and Business Affairs at Reel One Entertainment, one of the most prolific studios focused on made-for-TV movies with offices in LA, London and Montreal.

Lydia oversaw all deal-making across the company’s development slate. She was responsible for establishing the company’s expanding production infrastructure in Canada and the US and deal parameters for its scripted series. Lydia also managed co-productions, partnerships and third-party producers across North America. Additionally, Lydia has worked at Lark Productions, where she was the head of business affairs for all original programming. She stickhandled business affairs and addressed IP and production issues on such original programs as THE REAL HOUSEWIVES franchise in Canada. Lydia started her career at Entertainment One in the legal department in Toronto, after which she transitioned to a senior business affairs role at one of Vancouver’s largest animation studios, Bardel Entertainment.

Lydia served on the Board of Directors of the Vancouver International Film Festival from 2019 to 2023. VIFF is among the five largest film festivals in North America. Lydia has also participated in bargaining on behalf of the Canadian Media Producers Association, which represents Canadian film and television producers in relation to the negotiation of industry collective agreements and the employment of workers in Canada and the US.

Lydia received her law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and her MA and BA (Hons.) in English Literature from the University of Toronto. She speaks Mandarin and a little bit of legalese, and lives in Vancouver with her daughter and husband. When she isn’t working, you can find Lydia sailing around Howe Sound, cross-country skiing and puttering around her garden.

Lydia is a member of the Law Societies of British Columbia and Ontario.