Nickin, whose clients also include Aaron Sorkin and John Goodman, assisted Melissa Benoist in setting up her post-Supergirl gig (HBO Maxs Girls on the Bus) and lined up Dan Fogler on the new Fantastic Beasts movie as well as playing Francis Ford Coppola in Paramount+ series The Offer. In the past year, Levin navigated a bidding war for superstar Dwayne Johnson (his film Red One went to Amazon), helped Regina King produce and star in a passion project (the Shirley Chisholm biopic Shirley) and built up new talent such as The Batmans Jayme Lawson, poised for a breakout moment portraying a young Michelle Obama in Showtimes TheFirst Lady. Then theres Ewan McGregor, who plays Obi-Wan Kenobi on Disney+; Adam Driver, next starring in White Noise; and Ryan Gosling, up next in The Gray Man. With the arrival of new Netflix rivals, Genow is seeing a welcome shift in how much information companies are sharing with talent. Most interesting client who isnt mine Denis Villeneuve. Back To Top. Gardner, who also reps Boots Riley and Forest Whitaker, says hes seeing a shift to all-cash deals as theatrical dips and streaming surges. She co-led South Korean heavyweight CJ ENMs $850 million acquisition of Endeavor Contents scripted business; repped one of the shareholders in the $900 million sale of Reese Witherspoons Hello Sunshine; and advised ViacomCBS Networks International in its takeover of Spanish-language content producer Fox TeleColombia & Estudios TeleMexico. Creative types, business types, legal types, the gamut., If I werent a lawyer, Id be Well, I wanted to be a doctor and that didnt work out. the black entertainment & sports lawyers association, inc. (besla) was formed to provide seminars, conferences and educational materials on topics of interest to attorneys and law students specializing in the entertainment and sports industries. University of San Diego School of Law, When issues of free speech are in play, Boutrous is the attorney on speed dial. Most interesting client who isnt mine I would say film composers, generally. Harvard Law School. Cardozo School of Law. Hes incredible. 1883 is a fun watch., Hollywoods next change is Theatrical motion pictures., Granderson Des Rochers 1 on Lawyers of Color's list of the 10 Most Influential . If I werent a lawyer, Id be In my dreams, GM for an NFL franchise., Most interesting client who isnt mine Charlie Brooker because hes especially brilliant., Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld Michael Makarov, Esq. It was an amazing book, and Sam Shaw is an incredible creator., Most interesting client who isnt mine Everyone involved with making Somebody Somewhere. Simon, whose roster is topped by Barack and Michelle Obamas Higher Ground, has been busy advising the family of Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman through a publishing deal, while representing the production team behind a CNN+ series based on the couple; overseeing the sale of Malka Media to MoneyLion for $75 million; and working with filmmakers Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, Gabe Polsky and Lotfy Nathan during transitional career moments. Amid ever-increasing competition among and between the streaming services and despite COVIDs lingering impact on the theatrical market, Matlof is helping clients navigate the new entertainment landscape gracefully and successfully: Chris McKenna co-wrote the box office sensation Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Bo Burnhams Netflix special Inside became a critical darling. University of Michigan Law School, When Scarlett Johansson sued Disney over the day-and-date release of Black Widow on Disney+ and in theaters, it was Berlinski leading the charge. As Hollywood looks to rebound on the tail end (hopefully) of a global pandemic and reinvent its business practices amid the new normal, its the entertainment industrys top 100 attorneys who are settling the strife between studios and stars over blockbuster streaming releases, navigating big-ticket mergers while fending off the governments antitrust ire, and exploring cutting-edge issues involving NFTs and the metaverse. Not only is Sex Education creator Laurie Nunn a client, but so are three of the series actors (Emma Mackey, Ncuti Gatwa and Connor Swindells), as well as Lupin showrunner George Kay. This is consistent with the prior deals that he had, he notes, but perhaps a more important one considering the changing landscape. Meanwhile, Javier Bardem signed on to Being the Ricardos for Amazon, while Brad Bird returned to animation with a deal to co-write, produce and direct Ray Gunn. And, post-Pam & Tommy, Seth Rogen has a dizzying slate including a role in Steven Spielbergs The Fabelmans and producing projects with Point Grey like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Bayona, Paul Feig, Rebel Wilson and Todd Phillips. As with any part of your career in the entertainment industry, who you pick for your team is paramount. . Client Jared Letos House of Gucci broke the adult drama curse at the box office and earned him a SAG nomination for best supporting actor, while Christian Bale is starring in Scott Coopers The Pale Blue Eye and David O. Russells untitled film. Lawyers: Jeffrey P. Allen Kara Thorvaldsen Richard B. Weitzen. While Rosengarts success in helping Britney Spears end her long-standing conservatorship made countless headlines (see page 67), thats hardly the only matter on his docket. Entertainment Lawyers Have a Diverse Clientele. Most interesting client who isnt mine Sylvester Stallone, because he has created hugely iconic characters and franchises, and he still is always evolving, grinding and inspiring., My podcast would be about An unsolved family mystery that extends back to just after WWII in Newark, New Jersey, and the cold case disappearance of my grandfather., Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole In the past year, he added Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs Blackstone-backed Candle Media to his client roster, handling its $900 million acquisition of Reese Witherspoons Hello Sunshine as well as its minority stake in Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smiths Westbrook Inc. This selection is based on an evaluation of 12 indicators including peer recognition & professional achievement in legal practice. The National Black Lawyers Top 100 and Top 40 Under 40 work hard to harness the knowledge of these stalwarts of our profession to create an African American legal brain trust." Photo Gallery Black professionals like Muhammad Ali, Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Thurgood Marshall, and Hank Aaron, all fought uphill battles for fair and equitable treatment, and the rights of others, like themselves, who did not have the celebrity, platform or voice to call attention to their respective struggles. Youll have churn. Brecheen says shes noticed an increasing value for copyrights and ownership of creative content. My podcast would be about Our national parks. UCLA School of Law. February is Black History Month, a time to honor the heritage and triumphs of African American people. The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, usually abbreviated as BESLA, is a professional organization of attorneys along with sports and entertainment executives of color to provide continuing education and other support services to its members. UCLA School of Law, Fitzgeralds bread and butter is profit-participation litigation on behalf of talent a booming area of law in the era of day-and-date releases. Im not allowed to talk about it. She also obtained an antipiracy victory for Nintendo and is an adviser to Meta. He is also president of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, Inc. (BESLA), an 800-member international organization of lawyers and other entertainment and sports . Click here for Top 10 Celebrity Attorneys > Leslie Abramson Celebrity clients: Phil Spector and the Menendez Brothers Leslie Abramson is known for her unruly hair and her outspoken client. In addition to successfully defending Take-Two Interactive in a first-of-its-kind dispute with a tattoo artist claiming copyright infringement, Cendali settled a high-profile trademark fight for the rebranded MLB team the Cleveland Guardians in a lawsuit brought by a mens roller-derby team, and represents Epic Games in a case against smart glasses maker Nreal over its Unreal Engine trademark. He then secured in arbitration $31million for MRC from Spaceys production companies. Ginsburgs firm, like many others, had its busiest year ever. The talent is running after the company look at the day-and-date fights but the answer is for the top talent to become participants, to root for the company to do better, instead of continuing to fight the companys efforts. Stanford Law School. Net Worth: $100 million. If you are involved in the entertainment industry, at any level, and want to consult with an entertainment lawyer, Toronto based Hummingbird Lawyers LLP can be there. The California Association of Black Lawyers. Yorn also rebranded his law firm, re-imagined the office complex and, with his brother Rick and several others, is raising a substantial private equity fund. Shreveport Uzezi Abugo Lankler Siffert & Wohl LLP New York If I werent a lawyer, Id be A history professor., Book Im excited about The World According to China by Elizabeth Economy., Yeargan is Drakes go-to for non-music legal issues and oversees all such litigation for the artist, including his defense in more than 40 lawsuits stemming from his guest appearance at Travis Scotts 2021 Astroworld festival and a suit he brought against a jeweler for using his face without permission to promote the companys brand. Building a unique hybrid practice in addition to her litigation work, she also handles dealmaking for Simon Cowells Syco Entertainment. Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham CORNELL LAW SCHOOL A theater major, New York-based Adams has a soft spot for actor clients who look for behind-the-camera opportunities like Jack Ryan. The dominant trend of M&A and investments in content companies will continue for at least the near term, says Bruington, who also has advised A24, MGM, Skydance Media and eOne. Says Trattner of the loop around his L.A. neighborhood, Its a little different than sitting at my desk, where every deal I close, I am looking at my screen. Those deals include Brian Tyree Henry starring in the Sony action feature Bullet Train and Karen Gillans continued Marvel tenure with Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. Mr. Merriman has acted as production counsel for numerous live stage . Since completing his first tech transactions in 1999, Fronk has leaned into a business-minded approach to law. Doron has worked for top law firms helping them to negotiate and draft contracts for start-up companies from the early stages of business formation to corporate . Im a big sports fan., Hollywoods next change is Historically, it was very difficult for newer entrepreneurial companies to break into Hollywood. Representing ACE, a global consortium of 31studios and networks, in December, he secured an injunction against three companies running illicit platforms. Nelsons director clients have remained busy despite some pandemic headaches: Peter Jacksons documentary The Beatles: Get Back was a hit for Disney+; Baltasar Kormkurs Idris Elba starrer Beast is in post at Universal after many quarantines and hurdles in South Africa; and Edgar Wright completed reshoots and released Last Night in Soho following COVID-19 interruptions. Masuda got his start on sports deals but now advises stars like LeBron James on his media company SpringHill, which recently sold a stake to investors including RedBird Capital, Nike, Fenway Sports Group and Epic Games, raising its valuation to $725 million. When it comes to comedy, Foxs roster of funny clients means serious business. Heisler also is advising TikTok star Addison Rae in her transition to Hollywood, which began with a lead role in Netflixs Hes All That, and handles business deals for MMA fighter Conor McGregor. Among Frankels highlights was Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby inking an overall deal with HBO and Maid creator Molly Smith Metzler landing an overall deal at Netflix. Penn Law, Foxs clients are on a hot streak: Kate McKinnon signed to play Weird Barbie in Warner Bros. Barbie film and returned to Saturday Night Live. Thats on top of Warrens work as the creator-producer of the Emmy-nominated HBO reality drag-queen series Were Here, set to film its third season: It means so much to me. Client Morgan Coopers Bel-Air a dramatic reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air made a big splash on Peacock; Noah Hawley is prepping a fifth season of Fargo and an Alien prequel, both for FX; Scream scribe James Vanderbilt wrote and is producing a sequel to Netflixs Murder Mystery starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston; and Mixed-Ish showrunner Karin Gist moved forward with the Mike Tyson biopic series Iron Mike at Hulu and has an overall deal at 20th TV. She recently repped Fox in its acquisition of MarVista, as well as Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smiths Westbrook in its sale of a stake to Kevin Mayer and Tom Staggs Candle Media. Shawn is a valued member of our team, and on top of that, shes a fierce woman and a force in the industry., Rihannas Puma x Fenty Is Coming Back Heres Where You Can Still Buy Those Cult-Fave Creepers, ITV Studios 2022 Revenue Jumps 19 Percent, ITV Ad Revenue Drops Slightly, First Quarter to Fall 11 Percent, iHeartMedia Stock Slides as Wall Street Remains Wary of Advertising Headwinds, TikTok Facing Increasing Prospect of National Ban in New Bill Passed by House Committee, Jesse Angelo Departs Vice Media to Launch New Venture, Jimmy Pitaro Sets ESPN Exec Team: Burke Magnus to Oversee Content, Rosalyn Durant Joins to Lead Rights Talks, Twickenham Film Studios Chair Buys 6.95 Percent Stake in APX Group, Vanessa Bryant Reaches $29M Settlement in Suit Over Kobe Bryant Crash Photos, Disney Loses Control of Special District to Florida Gov. Meet Jaia Thomas, a Los Angeles-based sports and entertainment attorney with over ten years of experience. Thats all I want., Hollywoods next change is What these streamers are gonna want to pay. My podcast would be about Simplifying your life. Most interesting client who isnt one of mine Ephraim Salaam. Contact me View profile Top rated entertainment & sports lawyer Melanie D. Fenwick Thompson Fenwick Thompson & Associates LLC 404-377-3131 Hes a visionary and I really love his work., Show Im excited about Im a Virgo on Amazon., Hansen Jacobson Teller Hoberman Newman Warren Richman Rush Kaller Gellman Meigs & Fox However, some industries are hyperspecific, governed by a . Show Im excited about Non-client? Im excited about that one, says Richman, as a fan of his, as a fan of Field of Dreams and as a fan of baseball in general., My work from home wardrobe Classic jeans and a T-shirt or sweatshirt., If I werent a lawyer, Id be Id like to think Id be working in the front office of a baseball team., Schreck Rose Dapello Adams Berlin & Dunham Please call us at (905) 731-1911 or email: info@hummingbirdlaw.com for more information on our wide range of legal services. With a roster of clients that includes Disney, Warner Bros. and Netflix, Klaus is a leading attorney on major infringement actions against illegal streaming services. UC Hastings College of the Law. Goodman, who also reps Jake Gyllenhaal, Paul Greengrass, Darren Aronofsky and Steve McQueen, is also advising Quentin Tarantino in his fight with Miramax over the auction of an NFT of his original handwritten screenplay of Pulp Fiction. California Western School of Law, Khalili is on the cutting edge of complex M&A, private equity and joint ventures, especially when it comes to tech and digital deals. After all these years of doing contracts for everybody elses movies, I get to do one that I made, Darwell says, beaming. Seeing a welcome shift in how much information companies are sharing with talent attorney over! I would say film composers, generally is an adviser to Meta one! Busiest year ever roster of funny clients means serious business School of Law, When issues of free are... It was very difficult for newer entrepreneurial companies to break into Hollywood to her litigation work, also! Ownership of creative content and ownership of creative content creative content a time to honor the heritage triumphs. Are in play, Boutrous is the attorney on speed dial how much information are! New Netflix rivals, Genow is seeing a welcome shift in how much information are. 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