Dauman graduated from Columbia University School of Law in 1978 and went to work for the law firm of Shearman & Sterling, where he earned $25,000 as an associate (a typical salary for lawyers at the time). After two years in the firm's Paris office, he returned to New York to work in the corporate group under partner Stephen Volk. Handling a routine Securities and Exchange Commission form 13D filing for Volk client Sumner Redstone (also a poker player) in 1986 led to an advisory role in Redstone's 1987 hostile takeover of Viacom, a close personal relationship with Redstone, and a seat on Viacom’s board of Directors. Six years later, Dauman accepted an offer to join Viacom as senior vice President and general counsel, in exchange for $553,000 in salary with a $900,000 bonus. In 1994 he earned $2.3 million, plus options worth millions more. From 1993 to 1998, he also was Viacom's general counsel.