This weekend, millions of people will tune in to the 90th Academy Awards to see dazzling outfits, moving speeches and the results of a lot of behind-the-scenes legal work.

Since 1986, John Quinn, one of the founding partners of Los Angeles-based Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, has served as the outside general counsel to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. This week, Corporate Counsel spoke with Quinn about what it’s like to help prepare for one of the biggest nights in show business. This interview has been edited for clarity and length.