Ryan E. Abelman '15

Professor Abelman currently serves as Counsel, Business & Legal Affairs for Nickelodeon in the ViacomCBS Kids & Family Dept. He is responsible for the negotiation and drafting of production agreements and advising on a wide variety of production legal-related matters.  Prior to Nickelodeon, he served as in-house counsel and the head of Legal & Business Affairs for Abrams Artists Agency where he was responsible for the drafting and negotiation of talent agreements as well as advising executives on employment and corporate legal matters.

Professor Abelman received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science - Pre-law from Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI.  Then, after a brief stint in stand-up comedy, he served as the Business Administrator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reporting directly to ownership. Then, following his career goal to be an entertainment attorney, Professor Abelman attended Southwestern Law School where he graduated cum laude. While at Southwestern, he was a member and co-chair of the Negotiation Honors Program and a peer mentor.

Professor Abelman is an avid Pittsburgh sports fan and can often be found on the golf course or riding his bike on the Strand in Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.  He lives in the South Bay with his wife, Emily, and dog, Rocket.