Sheri Gates McGaughy is Senior Counsel for The Weather Channel Companies. In this role, Sheri oversees legal matters in all areas of the TWC Companies. She has particular expertise in the Internet, distribution, international business, advertising, technology, trademarks and data privacy and security. Sheri has taken the lead on several key initiatives at the The Weather Channel. She plays a pivotal role in handling key long-term technology agreements for the TWC Companies. She is the company lead for privacy matters, including data collection, data exchanges, credit card processing, reviewing new products and training both business people and attorneys on privacy issues. Sheri has also been instrumental in the international expansion of TWCi’s websites, handling legal issues and agreements related to trademarks, privacy, ad sales, distribution and other areas. She has played a key role in significant content distribution and acquisition deals. In addition, she was instrumental in the roll-out of advertising on the mobile platform, bringing to bear her experience with advertising on other platforms. Sheri’s expertise in trademarks places her in the leadership role for strategically protecting the TWC Companies’ trademark assets, and she has become the point person for issues related to user-generated content due to her knowledge and experience in this area. Prior to joining The Weather Channel, Sheri was Assistant Vice President and Senior Attorney at ChoicePoint Inc. with sole responsibility for legal issues and deals related to the business unit that produced over half of the company’s revenue. Sheri also worked as a complex commercial litigation associate at the national law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller and Ciresi and served a federal judicial clerkship with the Honorable Joel F. Dubina on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Sheri earned her B.B.A. degree in Management Science and Information Technology from The University of Georgia, where she graduated with High Honors from its Honors Program. After working as a computer programmer, she returned to The University of Georgia where she earned her J.D. from the School of Law and served as a Research Editor on the Law Review. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia. Sheri is currently serving as President of the Atlanta Chapter of Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT), and is an active member of the Interactive Advertising Bureau’s Public Policy and Legal Affairs Committees and the Online Publishers’ Association Legal Committee. She also serves on the board of the Paces Civic Association, and is a Girl Scout Brownie Troop Leader.
