Discover the dealmakers and attorneys who have proven themselves as top legal influencers in the entertainment industry, featured on THR‘s 20th annual list of influential legal advocates. These 100 exceptional individuals – organized alphabetically by their area of expertise, firm, and law school – are the ones who craft contracts and engage in battles that ensure productions continue smoothly.
Winston Cho contributed to this report.
Tom Ara
Corporate
DLA Piper
Loyola Law School
Ara acted as the advisor to Caryn Mandabach, the boss of Peaky Blinders, during the acquisition of her production company by Banijay U.K., a deal that reportedly brought in a substantial amount of money, with Mandabach stating at the time it was “more than enough to fund my future projects.” This sale encompasses the production company’s latest announcement of a Peaky Blinders movie for Netflix. Moreover, Ara has been instrumental in negotiating a deal between Korean firm CJ ENM, known for producing 2019’s Academy Award-winning film Parasite, and Apple TV+. This partnership will result in the creation of a new K-pop competition series that will be executive produced by Lionel Richie and feature Psy and Megan Thee Stallion.
Michael Auerbach
Talent
Jackoway Austen
NYU School of Law
Without Auerbach’s representation, David Corenswet wouldn’t be portraying Superman or playing football dramas like ‘Mr. Irrelevant’. He is the talent agent who secured deals for the 31-year-old actor in both projects, as well as other notable clients such as James Marsden, Mia Goth, and Natasha Rothwell. Recently, he has been expanding his clientele by seeking out new talents from the UK, where he believes a wealth of excellent storytelling is being produced. He specifically mentions Mia McKenna-Bruce, who won BAFTA’s rising star award for her performance in the British film ‘How to Have Sex’.
Karl Austen
Talent
Jackoway Austen
Harvard Law School
Following an intense competition among studios, attorney Austen played a crucial role in securing a reported $20 million deal for client Zach Cregger to write and direct the reboot of Resident Evil, produced by New Line and Warner Bros. Beyond this project, this legal representative is also instrumental in guiding other notable franchises. For instance, his client Simon Kinberg is set to write and produce a new Star Wars trilogy, oversee a Star Trek reboot, and develop a fresh take on The Running Man featuring Glen Powell and Josh Brolin. Moreover, Austen represents Seth MacFarlane who is currently engrossed in season two of Ted, as well as a new animated series based on the same franchise.
Dean Bahat
Talent
Ziffren Brittenham
UCLA
Bahat secured a role for client Ben Affleck in Joe Carnahan’s forthcoming Netflix crime thriller titled “RIP,” where he will act alongside his longtime friend and fellow Dunkin’ Donuts enthusiast Matt Damon. Meanwhile, Stephanie Hsu is making waves on the dark comedy “Laid” on Peacock. Bahat managed to renegotiate Rose McIver’s contract for “Ghosts” on CBS, following its two-season renewal, and also secured Maude Apatow’s return for the final season of “Euphoria” as well as the opportunity to direct and produce her directorial debut, titled “Poetic License.
John Berlinski
Litigation
Bird Marella
University of Michigan
Lawyer Berlinski was the one who spoke up when Sam Altman attempted to utilize Scarlett Johansson’s voice for his OpenAI chatbot without her consent. Additionally, he represents Brad Pitt in the ongoing dispute with his ex-wife Angelina Jolie over ownership of Château Miraval, their contested French vineyard.
Jeff Bernstein
Talent
Jackoway Austen
Harvard Law School
Following Daniel Day-Lewis’ unexpected decision to exit retirement after his last appearance in 2017’s “Phantom Thread,” I was fortunate enough to facilitate the agreement for his comeback with the drama film “Anemone,” a heartfelt father-son project penned by Day-Lewis and his son, Ronan Day-Lewis, at Focus Features. Simultaneously, Margot Robbie is set to traverse the moors as Catherine in her production company LuckyChap’s take on “Wuthering Heights,” which is part of a new first-look deal with Warner Bros. Lastly, Carey Mulligan, now representing Prada, has agreed to join forces with Oscar Isaac in season two of Netflix’s “Beef.” As a fan, it’s truly exciting to be involved in such remarkable projects featuring these talented artists!
Gordon Bobb
Talent
Del Shaw
Columbia Law School
Growing up, Bobb was presented with just two career paths by his parents: becoming a doctor or a lawyer. After making an informed decision, he’s now reaping the rewards. Lately, Bobb successfully negotiated David Oyelowo’s role in and executive production of the upcoming Apple TV+ comedy “Government Cheese”. Moreover, he secured a contract for writer-producer Sascha Penn to produce Mark Wahlberg’s crime thriller “By Any Means”, and managed actress Amandla Stenberg’s deal with Paramount to star in the adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s popular YA novel “Children of Blood and Bone”.
Tony Buzbee
Litigation
The Buzbee Law Firm
University of Houston Law Center
When he’s not tending to baby back ribs for his alligator on his Texas ranch, this vibrant attorney (previously a Marine captain) spends time at his Houston high-rise office, representing over 40 clients who have accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault. His legal efforts have certainly turned heads and garnered some Saul Goodman comparisons when he showcased his toll-free hotline number during a press conference. However, the buzz surrounding his lawsuits against Diddy has undeniably made him one of the most talked-about lawyers in the field. “Many more victims have been stepping forward to share their stories,” he notes. “Being a lawyer never felt so rewarding.
Christopher Chatman
Talent
Manatt Phelps & Phillips
Southwestern Law School
Influencers, just like anyone else, require the services of lawyers. One such law firm is Chatham, who represents high-profile influencers such as Logan Paul, a businessman turned wrestler with a total following of 100 million, who has encountered several legal issues in the past, including the CryptoZoo trading-card game controversy some years ago. More recently and fortunately, Chatham has been instrumental in producing Paul’s new docuseries for Max, titled “Paul American“, as well as securing deals for other YouTube sensations like Alan Chikin Chow (over 57 million subscribers) and Dhar Mann (with 74 million followers).
Julia Cherlow
Litigation
Bird Marella
STANFORD LAW SCHOOL
With her background as a former ballerina, Cherlow’s legal skills are always sharp and on-point. She has earned recognition by taking on high-profile cases, such as representing Brad Pitt alongside Berlinski in Pitt’s lengthy and contentious litigation against Angelina Jolie and others regarding the French winery Château Miraval. A victory for Pitt occurred when the court declined Jolie’s motion to dismiss in November, keeping the case active.
Stephen Clark
Talent
Lichter Grossman
University of California Hastings College of the Law
This past season, Clark’s clients Justin Marks and Rachel Kondo accumulated an impressive collection of trophies for executive producing ‘Shogun’. They amassed numerous Golden Globes, WGA, Critics Choice, SAG, and Spirit awards, which were so numerous that they almost needed a moving truck to transport them all home. Simultaneously, clients George Clooney and Grant Heslov, whose ‘Wolfs’ quickly became the most-viewed original film ever on Apple TV+ within a week, made their Broadway debut with the stage version of ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’. This production is currently the most sought-after (and, priced at $800, one of the costliest) tickets in town.
Joe Dapello
Talent
Schreck Rose
Harvard Law School
In simpler terms, client Colman Domingo has achieved an impressive feat that not many other actors have managed – and we’re not just talking about his stylish mustard yellow Valentino suit at the Critics Choice Awards paired with metallic Louboutin boots. He is the first to receive consecutive best actor nominations (for “Sing Sing” this year and “Rustin” last year) since Denzel Washington did so in 2017 and 2018. Over the past year, Dapello secured deals for Domingo to play Joe Jackson in Antoine Fuqua’s upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, as well as roles alongside Glen Powell and Josh Brolin in Paramount’s “Running Man” remake and a role in Steven Spielberg’s yet-to-be-titled UFO movie for Universal. Meanwhile, client Beau Willimon is set to collaborate with James Mangold on writing a new “Star Wars” feature film.
Robert Darwell
Corporate
Sheppard Mullin
Georgetown University Law Center
If you believe Beast Games is tough, consider the perspective of its legal representative. Darwell was instrumental in hammering out development and production contracts for the globally acclaimed reality series, starring the planet’s most prominent social media figure, MrBeast. This show turned out to be one of Amazon’s top-grossing unscripted productions. Moreover, Darwell negotiated Amazon’s acquisition of the Accountant sequel starring Ben Affleck, rights to a documentary on tennis legend Roger Federer, and producer agreements for Reese Witherspoon’s romantic comedy, You’re Cordially Invited, all for Amazon.
André Des Rochers
Talent
Granderson Des Rochers LLP
Howard University School of Law
He arranged the first-look agreement for Richard Gadd following “Baby Reindeer” with Netflix, secured Zendaya’s role in A24’s upcoming romantic comedy “The Drama” (alongside Robert Pattinson) and her multiyear ambassadorship with athletic brand On, and supported Tony-winning writer-producer Jeremy O. Harris in his deal to produce Apple’s “The Wives,” an upcoming murder-mystery series inspired by “Real Housewives” and featuring Jennifer Lawrence.
Ken Deutsch
Corporate
Paul Hastings LLP
Harvard Law School
Over the past year, he played a significant role in Indian Paintbrush’s purchase of two key components of cinematic legacy, namely The Criterion Collection and Janus Films. Additionally, he assisted Amy Paquette and Elliott Kleinberg from Netflix in establishing their independent consulting firm, NextWave.
Alan Epstein
Corporate
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
UCLA School of Law
It’s clear now why the company was named Mint. Epstein played a crucial role in helping Ryan Reynolds sell his mobile startup, Mint Mobile, to T-Mobile for an impressive $1.35 billion. In addition, Epstein facilitated a $165 million investment by Flexpoint Ford into Creative Music Group and has been instrumental in securing new growth capital for Pharrell Williams’ consumer brand, Humanrace, from One Luxury Group.
James Feldman
Talent
Lichter Grossman
Harvard Law School
The variety of projects handled by his clients spans from ominous and eerie (he facilitated Lily-Rose Depp’s deal for the role in Robert Eggers’ Nosferatu, which has unexpectedly become quite successful, earning close to $100 million despite being a violent period film) to bright and cheerful (Marc Webb’s deal to direct Disney’s Snow White, which hasn’t been as popular, opening with a modest $43 million). It’s unclear if client Dev Patel’s experimental directorial debut, Monkey Man, fits under the gothic genre, but it managed to gross around $35 million and garnered considerable attention during awards season.
Dan Fox
Talent
Hansen Jacobson
UCLA School of Law
In the last year, he successfully negotiated no less than five agreements, one of them being for Alan Ritchson who appeared in projects like Netflix’s “War Machine”, Amazon’s “Man With the Bag”, another season of “Reacher”, and its spinoff “Neagley”. However, Fox also managed to secure deals for other clients. For instance, Emerald Fennell was given the opportunity to write and direct an adaptation of “Wuthering Heights” featuring Margot Robbie. Additionally, Brett Goldstein was contracted to pen and act in a Netflix romantic comedy titled “Office Romance“, co-starring Jennifer Lopez. This project is set to begin filming in April.
Melissa Fox
Talent
Hansen Jacobson
University of Pennsylvania
Discussing Ted Lasso, it has been announced that this character, married to Dan, has secured a new agreement for Brendan Hunt’s role as executive producer in the upcoming fourth season of the series that significantly boosted Apple TV+’s popularity. Interestingly, negotiating for comedic talent appears to be one of her specialties. In addition to Ted Lasso, she also manages negotiations for Saturday Night Live cast member Sarah Sherman (as well as Michael Che) and former co-star Kate McKinnon. She was also instrumental in securing a deal for Ali Wong’s award-winning Netflix stand-up special. Furthermore, she represents social media star Hannah Berner, who co-hosts the highly successful Giggly Squad podcast and live shows with Paige DeSorbo.
Jeffrey Frankel
Talent
McKuin Frankel & Whitehead
UCLA School of Law
In 2024, Joanna Calo, executive producer of “The Bear,” achieved a remarkable feat by garnering a record-breaking 23 Emmy nominations in the comedy category. This set a new world record, although it didn’t end up breaking the record when the awards were handed out (11 wins is still quite impressive). The previous year, Joanna had also handled negotiations for Jared Bush, a co-writer of “Moana.” These negotiations secured Bush’s position as the chief creative officer at Walt Disney Animation. Furthermore, she managed deals for Brad Ingelsby, who is working on his upcoming thriller “Task,” following the success of “Mare of Easttown” which he created, and for Alan Yang, a renowned writer known for shows like “Master of None” and “Loot.” These deals were made at Warner TV.
Bryan Freedman
Litigation
Liner Freedman
University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
Justin Baldoni’s chosen lawyer in his high-profile legal dispute with Blake Lively is known as one of the toughest attorneys around, going so far as to call himself a “pit bull.” In the case of the director of It Ends With Us, Freedman has taken an aggressive stance, filing a lawsuit worth $400 million against Lively for extortion and defamation, and adding to this by suing The New York Times for defamation as well. Conversely, in cases on the other end of the legal spectrum, Freedman also represents 24 family members seeking the release of the Menendez brothers. This case has recently resurfaced due to a new Netflix series, which has cast significant doubt on their 1996 conviction, even catching the attention of Kim Kardashian through social media posts.
Rob Freeman
Corporate
Proskauer
Georgetown Law
As an advisor to TGL, the innovative golf tournament devised by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy’s TMRW Sports, Freeman has been spearheading the sale of ownership and operational rights for the initial six teams of this new league. Outside of striking significant business deals on the greens, he is also managing various corporate and commercial matters for Warner Bros. Discovery.
Matt Galsor
Talent
Greenberg Glusker
Columbia Law School
Essentially, he’s the most accomplished lawyer specializing in vehicle accidents in Hollywood. It’s unlikely that Vin Diesel would drive a 1970s Dodge Charger R/T for his Fast & Furious series, Tom Cruise would perform death-defying stunts for Mission: Impossible movies, or Chris Hemsworth would navigate a Dementus chariot through a desert landscape for Furiosa without this attorney’s support. If a film involves fast-moving objects that inevitably explode, it’s probable that Galsor was involved, signing the contracts. He also represents several renowned directors such as James Cameron and David Fincher.
Bruce Gellman
Talent
Hansen Jacobson
UC Berkeley
As a devoted admirer, I’m thrilled to announce that Dan Fogelman has secured an overall deal with me. His talent is evident as he continues to mastermind two sensational Hulu series: serving as executive producer on “Only Murders in the Building” and showrunner for “Paradise“. Meanwhile, Jennie Snyder Urman has brought back the classic series Matlock, with Kathy Bates stepping into the shoes previously worn by Andy Griffith, exclusively on Paramount+. Dave Andron, known for his work on “Justified” and “Snowfall”, has also clinched a significant overall deal with FX Productions. Lastly, Patrick Macmanus is gearing up to explore the twisted mind of serial killer John Wayne Gacy in a limited series airing on Peacock.
Gregg Gellman
Talent
Yorn Levine
Loyola Law School
Among his clients is the inventor of a widely beloved children’s show starring an Australian puppy named Bluey (you might know this if you’re six). Additionally, he represents the creator of a Korean thriller that broke Netflix records as one of their most watched series ever (it’s called Squid Game, I bet you’ve heard of it!). Gellman also manages Sam Wrench, who recently directed Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour (you may have caught wind of it) and has just signed a deal to direct his first scripted feature for Amazon.
Rick Genow
Talent
Goodman Genow
Harvard Law School
I’ve got some exciting news to share as a dedicated fan! I’ve just learned that Jacob Elordi, our beloved star from Saltburn, has sealed the deal to play the monster in Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein reboot on Netflix. Additionally, he’ll be playing Heathcliff opposite Margot Robbie’s Catherine in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights adaptation for Warner Bros.
Moreover, Genow has also finalized Domhnall Gleeson’s deal to star in the upcoming Office spinoff on Peacock. Wes Ball, on the other hand, has signed to direct a Legend of Zelda feature at Sony, and another Planet of the Apes sequel at Disney.
Patricia Arquette is set to star in the Murdaugh Murders limited series for Hulu, while Sheryl Lee Ralph has renegotiated her role in Abbott Elementary. This lineup promises an incredible array of captivating performances across various platforms!
Mark Geragos
Litigation
Geragos & Geragos
Loyola Law School
Over time, he’s handled challenging clients, ranging from Michael Jackson to Chris Brown and Sean “Diddy” Combs; however, his daughter now manages more recent issues for the rapper. Yet, his persistent efforts to free Erik and Lyle Menendez might be his most challenging case yet. Although there’s still hope for the brothers to leave prison after 30 years, Los Angeles’ new tough-on-crime DA, Nathan Hochman, has made Geragos’ job significantly harder. Another complex client, Hunter Biden, admitted to tax-related felonies but managed to escape jail time due to a last-minute presidential pardon. Meanwhile, he represents Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita in his libel lawsuit against The Daily Beast, while previously losing his own libel lawsuit against the L.A. Times last year.
Tamerlin Godley
Litigation
Paul Hastings
USC Gould School of Law
When NeNe Leakes, a cast member on “The Real Housewife of Atlanta,” filed a $100 million lawsuit against Andy Cohen and NBCUniversal, accusing them of a hostile work environment and racial discrimination, it was Godley who managed to negotiate a settlement just before arbitration. Moreover, in the case of Mobland – a blockchain cryptocurrency game – Godley successfully defended against copyright infringement allegations, resulting in a favorable settlement. “It’s challenging to provide an intriguing comment when so much of what I do is kept private,” she explains. “Take my word for it – it’s intriguing.
Karen Gottlieb
Corporate
Grubman Shire
Fordham Law School
She excels at securing biopics for music legends who feel their stories warrant such treatment. Notable figures like Madonna, Elton John, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Shania Twain, and more have sought Gottlieb’s expertise to negotiate the rights to their life narratives. Currently, she is collaborating with Britney Spears on a film adaptation of her memoir, “The Woman in Me,” which is being produced at Universal with Jon M. Chu set to direct. Recently, she also handled deals for the Green Day-inspired comedy, “New Year’s Rev,” focusing on the band’s early years. She explains that celebrity biopics are similar to franchises because they attract a dedicated, financial audience of diehard fans, allowing studios to reduce risk. For instance, her college-aged daughter was enthused about Madonna’s life story following her recent tour.
Michael Gottlieb
Litigation
Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
Harvard Law School
Currently, Gottlieb’s most significant client is Blake Lively, known for her role in “It Ends With Us,” who is currently embroiled in a lawsuit against director Justin Baldoni over claims of sexual harassment and retaliation. Recently, Gottlieb has been involved in several high-profile cases, such as representing Drake in his suit against Universal Music Group, alleging defamation and harassment related to Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning “Not Like Us” diss track (Gottlieb claims the song’s release and promotion spread a “false and malicious narrative”). Notably, Gottlieb also worked as an associate counsel in the Obama White House. Among his non-Hollywood clients are the two election workers who successfully sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation, resulting in an award of $148.1 million.
Marissa Román Griffith
Corporate
Akin
Stanford Law School
One of the rare female partners, not to mention one of the few senior Latinas in private practice, she holds significant influence within Hollywood’s financial arena, orchestrating deals worth millions throughout the city. Last year, she played a pivotal role in setting up a multimillion-dollar credit agreement for Comerica Bank, steered MRC through its JPMorgan-led revolving credit facility and shaped their financial strategies for an upcoming slate of films such as “All the Devils Are Here”, “All of You”, “Let’s Have Kids”, “The Gallerist”, “SpongeBob 4” and “Wuthering Heights”. Additionally, she provided guidance to Anonymous Content with their “East of Eden” series.
Justin Hamill
Corporate
Latham & Watkins
Boston College Law School
Hamill wasn’t just involved in one significant and transformative deal this year, but rather two. Firstly, he was part of the legal team that worked on Skydance Media’s potential $28 billion merger with Paramount Global. If approved by the Trump administration’s FTC, this would be the first major studio sale since Disney bought Fox in 2019. Secondly, Hamill oversaw Endeavor’s pending $13 billion sale to Silver Lake, a move that would take the company private again following its short-lived and disappointing attempt at going public.
Mark Hansen
Litigation
Kellogg Hansen
Harvard Law School
When Disney, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Fox announced their plans to collaborate on a giant sports streaming service called Venu, their competitor Fubo sought help from Hansen. In this high-stakes legal battle over antitrust concerns, the antitrust specialist successfully obtained a court order preventing the joint venture and questioning the legality of certain requirements that ultimately caused Disney to combine Hulu With Live TV with Fubo in an unexpected deal that disrupted the streaming television industry.
Harris Hartman
Talent
Sloane Offer
University of Michigan Law School
Hartman brokered deals for Margaret Qualley in ‘The Substance’, an unnervingly powerful performance, and for Stephen Amell to star in the spinoff of ‘Suits’, titled ‘Suits LA’. It’s uncertain if client Julia Garner will embody Madonna in the fluctuating biopic ‘Who’s That Girl?’, but both she and Madonna drew attention at this year’s Vanity Fair Oscars party, capturing similar moments in a series of selfies. (Karen Gottlieb is depicted on the left.)
David Hernand
Corporate
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Georgetown LAw
He significantly contributed to the creation of Brahma AI, a powerful entity valued at $1.43 billion, which emerged from the fusion of Metaphysic, an AI-focused VFX company, and the technology branch of DNEG, a global leader in visual effects. Additionally, he played a part in securing Chernin Group’s $40 million investment in audiochuck, an expanding true-crime podcast empire founded by Ashley Flowers.
Carolyn Hunt
Corporate
Barnes & Thornburg LLP
Georgetown LAW
Over the past year, she successfully secured a massive $1.2 billion in deals for various clients such as Western Alliance Bank, Bank of Montreal, Code Entertainment, Magenta Light Studios, and Peachtree Media. These transactions included production loans for movies like “Hotel Tehran” (starring Liam Neeson) and “Bad Apples” (with Saoirse Ronan), financing for “Deep Water” directed by Renny Harlin, obtaining funding for another Neeson thriller titled “Mongoose”, as well as U.S. distribution and financing for “The Surfer” starring Nicolas Cage, “Muzzle: City of Wolves” featuring Aaron Eckhart, and “Mary” with Anthony Hopkins.
Andrew Hurwitz
Talent
Frankfurt Kurnit
Georgetown Law
In a fantastic turn of events, Hurwitz has successfully sealed deals that ensure the return of beloved characters like Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff (and perhaps Sven too)! Jennifer Lee will direct and pen the script for “Frozen 3,” as well as write and executive produce “Frozen 4.” Additionally, Tony McNamara has been brought on board to oversee the adaptation of “James and the Giant Peach” for Netflix streaming and bring the intriguing tale of “Avengelyne” to life on the big screen through Warner Bros.
Larry Iser
Litigation
KHIKS
UC LAW San Francisco
If you tangle with Mattel, be prepared to face Iser, a tenacious lawyer who’s no pushover. He skillfully defended the renowned game and doll company against a $46 million lawsuit alleging that Mattel had stolen the concept for a brief 2017 reality TV show titled “Toy Box.” Iser managed to thwart Herrick Productions, a firm owned by billionaire real estate magnate Norton Herrick. He successfully convinced a jury that the idea behind the show was already common knowledge and had been circulating in the television and toy industries for quite some time.
Kimberly Jaime
Talent
Jackoway Austen
Columbia Law School
Last year, client Pedro Pascal had a hectic schedule. In addition to season two of “The Last of Us”, he secured roles in Marvel’s “Fantastic Four” as Mister Fantastic and a part alongside Joaquin Phoenix in A24’s Western “Eddington”. Jaime also handled negotiations for Greta Lee, including deals for her to star in Louis Leterrier’s Netflix thriller “11817” (about a family trapped inside their house) and for a role opposite Willem Dafoe in “Late Fame” (about an obscure, middle-aged poet who suddenly becomes famous). She even found time to secure a deal for new client Lexi Minetree, who’ll be starring in the “Legally Blonde” prequel series for Amazon. “The business may be chaotic,” she says with Elle Woods’ enthusiasm, “but representing clients remains just as exciting.”
Nicolas Jampol
Litigation
Davis Wright Tremaine
University of Michigan Law School
After a five-year legal dispute, Jampol successfully proved to a court that M. Night Shyamalan did not steal his concept for a TV show titled ‘Servant’, which revolves around a delusional mother treating a doll as if it were an infant. Currently, he’s defending Showtime and Lionsgate in another copyright case, this time arguing that the series ‘Yellowjackets’ did not copy plot points and characters from the 2015 survival film ‘Eden’, which also centered around a soccer team stranded in the wilderness fighting for survival.
Matt Johnson
Talent
JSSK
New York University School of Law
Perhaps the next movie by Tyler Perry could be named “Madea Deposits a Cheque“. Over the past year, Johnson has accumulated a massive $1 billion in production commitments for Tyler Perry Studios. This includes a multi-year first-look series deal with Netflix, an agreement for eight films over four years, as well as numerous faith-based movies. Additionally, he brokered a joint venture between Skydance and the Muschietti siblings – known for their $1 billion-grossing It movies – to establish a horror division called Nocturna.
Adam Kaller
Talent
Hansen Jacobson
Whittier Law School
When Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, expressed interest in venturing into podcast production, he enlisted Kaller’s assistance to facilitate the arrangement (notably, Kaller had previously arranged similar deals for Pulitzer Prize winner Ronan Farrow). In the last year alone, Newsom has also sealed a deal with Lionsgate involving “The Rookie” and “The Recruit” showrunner Alexi Hawley (known for his hostage-recovery drama titled “The Envoy,” set to premiere on Hulu), as well as agreements for Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger to jointly script a Ryan Gosling film for Amazon, and a Jonas Brothers movie for Disney.
Arash Khalili
Corporate
Loeb & Loeb
California Western School of Law
When high-profile celebrities require a skilled negotiator for their corporate and entertainment matters, they often reach out to Khalili. Morgan Wallen relies on his expertise in these areas, while Carrie Underwood utilizes him for endorsement deals such as her new health and wellness project, which includes the fitness app fit52. Supermodel Cindy Crawford sought his assistance to launch her new Casamigos Jalapeno Tequila.
Wendy Kirk
Talent
JSSK
UC Davis School of Law
As a dedicated fan, I’ve been thrilled to see how a master negotiator has skillfully reworked the Obamas’ agreement with Netflix. This allows Higher Ground, the former first couple’s production company, to keep producing award-winning documentaries on factories and civil rights activists, as well as apocalyptic thrillers starring Julia Roberts, such as “Leave the World Behind”.
This year has been a whirlwind of exciting deals! Shawn Levy is now set to direct and produce a “Star Wars” film. Steve Carell will grace our screens in an upcoming HBO series produced by Bill Lawrence’s team. The writer behind “The Queen’s Gambit”, Scott Frank, is now working on a new Netflix crime series titled “Department Q”. And last but not least, Sam Mendes and Neal Street are set to create four Beatles biopics at Sony! What an incredible lineup of talent and stories!
Deborah Klein
Talent
Jackoway Austen
USC Gould School of Law
In the recent lineup of projects, Klein successfully negotiated Jim Carrey’s comeback for Sonic 3, re-established Samuel L. Jackson’s Capital One campaign and arranged his fees for Fright Night, also securing Will Ferrell’s Netflix series Golf as well as his films You’re Cordially Invited and Judgment Day on Amazon, in addition to his PayPal campaign. Furthermore, Klein managed Paul Rudd’s Anaconda deal and most recent Marvel contract, along with Vince Vaughn’s role in Bad Monkey.
Robby Koch
Talent
Hansen Jacobson
Loyola Law School
Jeremy Allen White continues to garner awards for his intense portrayal of a chef on the show “The Bear,” with his second consecutive Emmy and third consecutive Golden Globe wins. However, it’s his role as Bruce Springsteen in the highly anticipated biopic “Deliver Me From Nowhere” that could significantly boost his career trajectory. Furthermore, Koch secured White’s inclusion in the “Star Wars” franchise, appearing in both “The Mandalorian” and “Grogu.” Additionally, he finalized an overall deal at HBO for “Hacks” co-creator Jen Statsky (who has also received multiple Emmys and Golden Globes). Furthermore, deals were made for sisters Erin and Sara Foster for another season of their Netflix comedy “Nobody Wants This.” However, the most personal deal this past year was undeniably the one Koch arranged for his nephew, actor Cooper Koch, who earned his first Golden Globe nomination for his role in Netflix’s “Monsters: The Erik and Lyle Menendez Story.
Tara Kole
Talent
JSSK
Harvard Law School
Her client Greta Gerwig is set to continue her success from the ‘Barbie’ project with a Netflix adaptation of ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’. On the other hand, client Angelina Jolie has wrapped up shooting ‘Stitches’, previously known as ‘Couture’, where she portrays an American filmmaker in Paris during Fashion Week. Additionally, Kole manages Zac Efron, who will take on dual roles in A24’s ‘Famous’ as both a prominent Hollywood figure and his overenthusiastic fan. Halle Berry is slated to star alongside Chris Hemsworth in Amazon’s upcoming thriller ‘Crime 10’, while Riz Ahmed will join forces with Tom Cruise in an unnamed film by Alejandro G. Iñárritu that is yet to be released.
David Krintzman
Talent
Yorn Levine
University of San Diego School of Law
The award season was a thrilling ride for the transgender gangster musical “Emilia Pérez” from Netflix, with its ups and downs. However, in the end, our client Zoe Saldaña emerged victorious, winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Additionally, Krintzman facilitated Liam Hemsworth’s acquisition of a leading role in the upcoming season of Netflix’s “The Witcher,” and Hannah Einbinder’s return for another season of HBO’s critically acclaimed “Hacks.” Meanwhile, our client Matthew McConaughey secured roles in Paul Greengrass’ next film, “The Lost Bus,” as well as an upcoming comedy series with Woody Harrelson on Apple TV+.
Bianca Levin
Talent
Gang Tyre
Yale Law School
Recently, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been spending a considerable amount of time in Hawaii for his on-screen roles. First, he secured a deal to reprise his voice character in the upcoming sequel to Moana. Following this, he agreed to star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Emily Blunt in Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming gangster drama, set in the Pacific Islands about a mob boss struggling for power. Similarly, Regina King is indebted to Levin for brokering her deals to appear in Paramount’s adaptation of the popular YA novel Children of Blood and Bone, as well as opposite Austin Butler in Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming film, Caught Stealing, which revolves around a baseball player entangled in crime.
Jared Levine
Talent
Yorn Levine
Harvard Law School
He assisted basketball star Stephen Curry in his switch from playing point guard to becoming a comedic actor. This was through a deal he secured for Curry to star in the Peacock comedy “Throwback,” which is produced by Curry’s own production company, Unanimous Media. Producer Bill Lawrence relied on him to work out deals for “Bad Monkey” with Apple TV+ and an as-yet-unnamed HBO project featuring Steve Carell. In the movie sphere, he also handled negotiations for Aziz Ansari’s deal to direct and act in Lionsgate’s comedy “Good Fortune,” alongside Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves, and Keke Palmer.
Ryan LeVine
Talent
Jackoway Austen
Southwestern Law School
Sophie Thatcher, one of the clients, garnered attention from critics with her portrayal as a kidnapped Mormon missionary exchanging religious discussions with Hugh Grant in “Heretic”. Meanwhile, another promising talent, Mike Faist, is anticipated to generate buzz, taking on James Dean’s former role in Netflix’s new series adaptation of “East of Eden”. LeVine also arranged deals for Octavia Spencer to star in a fresh movie adaptation of “Death of a Salesman” and for Ariana DeBose to play her part alongside Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis in Amazon’s upcoming suspenseful film, “Scarpetta”.
Jamie Mandelbaum
Talent
Jackoway Austen
NYU School of law
2025 appears to be looking optimistic for Mandelbaum, as he predicts that top-notch TV writers will continue to secure significant overall deals, even if these are primarily for development purposes. He has successfully negotiated several commitments this year, such as a new HBO overall agreement for Zach Kanin (covering the comedy project The Chair Company), a fresh deal at Hulu for Bruce Miller’s sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, titled The Testaments (which has recently begun production), and a significant chance for Sam Shaw to lead JFK, Netflix’s American adaptation of The Crown, which was recently given the green light for a full season.
Steven Marenberg
Litigation
Paul Hastings
University of Chicago Law School
Last year, I found myself smack dab in the midst of a culinary brawl, standing alongside YouTube sensation Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast. We were embroiled in a $100 million lawsuit against Virtual Dining Concepts, the organization behind the fast-food chain, MrBeast Burgers. In a move to part ways from the restaurant, MrBeast filed the initial suit, citing consumer complaints about the burgers being “disgusting” and “inedible.” As his trusted ally, I couldn’t help but inject a personal flair into the legal proceedings. After all, I hold great admiration for our adversaries. So, during one deposition, we arranged a little joke by ordering their lunch from none other than MrBeast Burger!
Kevin Marks
Talent
Gang Tyre
UC Berkeley Law
Likely, the discussions transpired in either a volcano cavern teeming with piranhas or a sophisticated Beverly Hills boardroom. However, the location doesn’t matter much as Marks was the mastermind behind the sale of EON, the 007 IP controlling company owned by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, to Amazon for approximately one billion dollars. Additionally, he brokered Demi Moore’s role in The Substance, which earned her an Oscar nomination for best actress, negotiated Taylor Sheridan’s deal for Landman with Paramount, and played a significant part in rejuvenating the iconic J.Crew catalog.
Joel McKuin
Talent
McKuin Frankel Whitehead
Harvard Law School
McKuin emphasizes that this is an excellent opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs in the arts. He suggests that artists must seize opportunities to create their own luck, a notion his clients appear to be embracing wholeheartedly. For instance, Lily Gladstone isn’t just starring alongside Bryan Cranston in “Lone Wolf,” but she’s also developing a collection of original projects with numerous production studios. Maisy Stella had an impressive year, delivering a remarkable performance in “My Old Ass” and completing a new film for Warner Bros., while Kristen Stewart has seized full creative control, writing and directing her debut feature, “Chronology of Water,” which is currently in post-production.
John Meigs
Talent
Hansen Jacobson
Harvard Law School
Meigs recently brokered Issa Rae’s substantial multi-million dollar agreement with HBO, encompassing various forthcoming film, television, and digital media ventures. Additionally, he renegotiated Kaley Cuoco’s contract with Warner Bros. TV, assigning her roles as both star and executive producer on “Kansas City Star”, while also managing the second season of “Based on a True Story”. Meigs remains pragmatic about the evolving landscape of the industry, asserting that traditional broadcast exclusivity contracts should be abandoned because the old rules no longer apply.
Darrell D. Miller
Talent
Fox Rothschild
Georgetown Law
He’s playing a crucial role in transforming the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “Monkey Boy” into a screen adaptation for clients Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance, simultaneously securing a multiyear agreement for their production company, Bassett Vance Productions, to create comedy, drama, limited series, and films across Disney’s various television outlets. Following his successful negotiation of Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s Academy Award-winning role in “The Holdovers”, he has lined up her subsequent projects, such as “The Gallerist” produced by MRC, the romantic comedy “Eternity” from A24, and an as-yet-unnamed action thriller from Lionsgate.
Robert Offer
Talent
Sloane Offer
UCLA School of Law
For three decades, he’s been acquainted with client Mike White, yet remains unsure about the location for the already approved season four of “The White Lotus”. He casually mentions, confirming the obvious, that it will likely be someplace exotic and stunning. On the other hand, after his memorable portrayal as Ken in “Barbie”, client Ryan Gosling is preparing to star in the upcoming “Star Wars” film, directed by Shawn Levy. As for client Paul Giamatti, he’s returning to Yorkshire, taking on the role of one of the Crawleys’ affluent American relatives once more in “Downton Abbey 3”.
Rick Offsay
Corporate
Latham & Watkins
Harvard Law School
Together with partner Justin Hamill, he is counseling Skydance Media as they work towards their groundbreaking merger with Paramount. Additionally, he is providing guidance to the Ellison family and RedBird Capital Partners for their $8 billion acquisition of National Amusements, which holds a controlling stake in Paramount Global. As a result, David Ellison now has control over the New Paramount, valued at approximately $28 billion.
Daniel Passman
Talent
Gang Tyre
UCLA School of Law
Passman secured Timothée Chalamet’s role in the movie “Marty Supreme,” a less casual sequel to “A Complete Unknown.” In this film, he’ll be paired with Gwyneth Paltrow as a historical 1950s ping-pong prodigy who apparently had more than just a powerful serve. As Paltrow has recently disclosed, the movie contains a significant amount of romantic scenes. Besides that, Passman also negotiated Nicholas Galitzine’s contract for “Masters of the Universe,” Ridley Scott’s Bee Gees biopic for Paramount, and a post-apocalyptic thriller titled “Dog Stars” for Disney.
Robyn Polashuk
Corporate
Covington & Burling LLP
UCLA School of Law
She facilitated the integration of Disney’s Star India division with Reliance’s Viacom18, a significant player in the Indian media industry, in a $8.5 billion deal. This transaction paves the way for an influx of American-style family entertainment to the subcontinent. The merged company, still known as Viacom18, holds exclusive distribution rights for Disney films and access to over 30,000 Disney assets.
Lucy Popkin
Corporate
Goodman Genow
Stanford Law School
Joseph Quinn, one of our clients, has just completed working on Fantastic Four and is now preparing for Avengers 5. He also stars in Alex Garland’s upcoming movie, Warfare, which releases on April 11th. Meanwhile, Milly Alcock, another client of ours, has moved on from House of the Dragon and is currently shooting a Supergirl feature film. She is also gearing up for the release of her limited series, Sirens, on Netflix. Leo Woodall, another notable client, who was a breakout star in season two of The White Lotus, recently appeared as Bridget Jones’ love interest in Mad About the Boy. Next, he will share screen time with Russell Crowe in Nuremberg. Lastly, Murray Bartlett, also from The White Lotus (season one), is set to act alongside Nicole Kidman in the second season of Nine Perfect Strangers. He is also filming The Death of Robin Hood, starring alongside Hugh Jackman.
Martin Putnam
Litigation
Latham & Watkins
Georgetown Law
In no time at all, “Baby Reindeer” skyrocketed to become one of Netflix’s most-watched series, amassing an impressive 84.5 million views in merely 91 days. Shortly following this success, lawsuits began surfacing, with Fiona Harvey – the supposed inspiration for the character Martha’s overly clingy nature – filing a lawsuit against both Netflix and the show’s creator, Richard Gadd, alleging that she was wrongfully depicted as a sexual predator. Putnam, who has a history of defending Netflix from such claims, stepped in to handle this case. This isn’t the first time he’s taken on a task like this; he successfully defended Netflix against similar accusations made by free-diver Pipin Ferreras, who claimed that the 2022 film “No Limit” misrepresented him as responsible for his wife’s death.
Ken Richman
Talent
Hansen Jacobson
Harvard Law School
He is the primary person consulted by leading television producers, managing high-value packages for Mike Schur, creator of Parks and Rec, at Universal, as well as Jeff Schaffer, writer of Curb Your Enthusiasm, at HBO. He has successfully arranged projects for Jenni Konner (Nobody Wants This), Michelle Nader (Shifting Gears), R. Scott Gemmill (The Pitt) and Bill Simmons (Celtics City). Additionally, he manages contracts for some actors, including Elisabeth Moss’ agreement for Apple’s limited series Imperfect Women.
Aaron D. Rosenberg
Talent
Myman Greenspan
Harvard Law School
Rosenberg’s extraordinary maneuvers within the music sector have clients such as Ariana Grande reaching unprecedented heights, even surpassing a flying monkey’s leap. For her portrayal of Glinda the Good Witch, Grande garnered both Oscar and Golden Globe nominations, and the movie itself shattered records during its opening weekend, amassing over $114 million – an achievement that marked the largest debut for any Broadway musical adaptation to date. Moreover, Rosenberg facilitated a fresh publishing and recording contract for Jennifer Lopez with BMG, arranged a book publishing deal for John Legend’s children’s lullaby album titled My Favorite Dream, and assisted Legend, together with his wife Chrissy Teigen, in launching the Kismet dog food brand.
Mathew Rosengart
Litigation
Greenberg Traurig
Boston College Law School
Previously serving as a federal prosecutor known for his tenacious courtroom fights, Martin Rosengart gained widespread recognition for his transformative work with Britney Spears. This led to the pop star’s release from her 14-year conservatorship. Overjoyed, Spears publicly praised Rosengart on Instagram as “amazing.” Other notable clients of Rosengart include Steven Spielberg, Lena Dunham, Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck, Jelly Roll, and Sean Penn. Recently, he represented Penn in a case brought by the National Labor Relations Board, who accused the Academy Award-winning actor of sending a menacing letter to a CORE charity staff member. However, Rosengart successfully argued that the letter was not a threat, but rather a “call to action” or “rallying cry.
Ben Ross
Corporate
Gibson Dunn
NYU School of law
This lawyer is about to take on more nightmare-inducing roles than any other figure in Hollywood, quite an achievement. He has been representing Universal Studio, known for iconic horror films like “Frankenstein,” “The Exorcist,” the “Chucky” series and now “Nosferatu,” in its groundbreaking merger with Blumhouse Productions (renowned for “Get Out” and the “Conjuring” universe) and James Wan’s Atomic Monster (responsible for “Insidious” and “Malignant”). This deal, resulting in a three-way ownership split, was praised by Blumhouse founder Jason Blum as the point when “the leading homes for horror are now under one roof.
Gretchen Rush
Talent
Hansen Jacobson
UCLA School of law
Agent Rush successfully negotiated Ellen Pompeo’s role in the Hulu limited series “Good American Family,” signifying a fresh chapter for the Grey’s Anatomy actress, now free from her scrubs. Moreover, Rush struck a significant deal for Lena Dunham, selling her film “Good Sex” to Netflix, and secured Kerry Washington a leading role, as both star and producer, in Apple TV+’s “Imperfect Women.” Furthermore, Rush finalized financing for “Die, My Love,” featuring Jennifer Lawrence and produced by Lawrence’s own company, Excellent Cadaver. “I am thankful that the women I represent have not only been telling stories over the past year,” she notes, “they’ve been reshaping the industry’s rules.
Faiza J. Saeed
Corporate
Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP
Harvard Law School
Saeed, experienced in multi-billion-dollar strategic moves, provided guidance to the board’s special committee at Paramount Global during their proposed $28 billion merger with Skydance. Similarly, he advised the independent special committee of Endeavor Group Holdings for their potential $25 billion private acquisition by Silver Lake Management.
J. Eugene Salomon Jr.
Talent
Gang Tyre
USC Gould School of Law
Pink confides in Salomon’s sound judgment; he managed her successful Summer Carnival tour that amassed an impressive $693.8 million. He also manages artists such as Neil Diamond, Cher, Green Day, R.E.M., Camila Cabello, Phoebe Bridgers, and Sofia Richie Grainge, among others. With over $1 billion in deals, Salomon’s expertise encompasses catalog sales, touring, merchandising, endorsements, and record and publishing agreements. A notable transaction: Randy Newman’s sale of his music publishing and recorded assets to Litmus Music last year.
Peter Sample
Talent
Jackoway Austen
Harvard LAw School
In this lawyer’s office, there are no hallways that lead to nowhere. The executive producer of the show “Severance”, Dan Erickson, has sealed a comprehensive agreement with Apple. This deal encompasses another season of his collaboration with Ben Stiller on their psychological thriller, which is characterized by its trippy aspects. Additionally, he closed deals for director Grant Sputore to shoot the upcoming “Godzilla x Kong” sequel and for Tony Yacenda to direct the football drama “Chad Powers” on 20th Television. Moreover, Eric Heisserer, a writer-producer, has secured multiple deals, including a feature first-look deal at Sony and a television first-look deal at Legendary. Meanwhile, Mike Makowsky, known for his work in “Bad Education“, is penning and producing his next film for Amazon while wrapping up the limited series thriller “Death by Lightning ” for Netflix.
Ilissa Samplin
Litigation
Gibson Dunn
Stanford Law School
Lawyer Samplin is currently handling two high-profile cases: one defending NBCUniversal against a $100 million defamation lawsuit filed by Sean Combs (also known as Diddy) due to the portrayal in Peacock’s 2022 documentary, “Making of a Bad Boy.” In addition, Samplin is representing Warner Bros. TV, John Wells, Noah Wyle, and R. Scott Gemmill in a lawsuit brought by Michael Crichton’s estate, who claim that the new Max medical series, “The Pitt,” is an unauthorized copy of Crichton’s concept for “ER.” Samplin argues that this lawsuit lacks merit because both shows share typical elements found within the medical genre. According to Samplin, there has been a recent increase in legal disputes over weak copyright or questionable copyright claims.
Ethan Schiffres
Talent
Gang Tyre
Harvard Law School
He skillfully coordinated the arrangements for Billie Eilish’s captivating “Hit Me Hard and Soft” album and her sold-out 2024-25 global tour, as well as representing her brother Finneas in his album “For Cryin’ Out Loud”. To add to this impressive list, he also took care of the organizational aspects for Adele’s Las Vegas and Munich residencies and oversaw Green Day’s The Saviors Tour, which electrified stadiums worldwide.
P.J. Shapiro
Talent
JSSK
USC Gould School of Law
This past year, Selena Gomez was hard to ignore with her impressive roles, including her acclaimed performance in Emilia Pérez, her role as a discerning podcaster on Only Murders in the Building’s third season, and her stint as an aspiring chef on HBO’s reality show Selena + Restaurant. She also solidified her billionaire status by launching her own makeup brand, Rare Beauty, in 2020. Shapiro represents other notable clients such as Emma Stone’s Fruit Tree production company, which recently secured a first-look deal with Universal, and John Cena, the 16-time WWE champion known for his role in The Peacemaker. Lately, Cena has signed multiple deals for film and TV projects, as well as planning for a farewell wrestling tour.
Nina Shaw
Talent
Del Shaw
Columbia Law School
In the negotiations for Lupita Nyong’o’s role in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of “The Odyssey,” Shaw played a pivotal part, arranging her appearance alongside stars like Tom Holland, Zendaya, Matt Damon, and Anne Hathaway. Additionally, Shaw facilitated Jurnee Smollett’s casting as the lead in Apple TV+’s original series “Firebug.” Moreover, he managed to secure a hosting opportunity for Nick Cannon on the podcast “We Playin’ Spades” with Wondery, despite his busy schedule.
Michael Sherman
Corporate
Eisner LLP
UC Berkley
He serves as the attorney overseeing the legal aspects for Kevin Costner’s significant investment in the saga “Horizon: An American Saga“. Unfortunately, the anticipated four-part Western didn’t turn out quite as expected – it seems part two may not be released at all. Despite this setback, the project was still one of the most daring ventures of the year, featuring a colossal financing deal worth millions and an intricate web of production and distribution challenges. Recently, Sherman has switched law firms from Reed Smith to Eisner LLP.
Lawrence Shire
Talent
Grubman Shire
GW Law
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band,” which debuted in October. Additionally, Shire works with a variety of other high-profile clients such as Robert De Niro, Gayle King, Spike Lee, Bono, and David Letterman.
Marc H. Simon
Corporate
Fox Rothschild
Cardozo School of Law
This individual has a strong affinity, particularly in dealing with client Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. He was instrumental in securing a deal for the Pakistani filmmaker and activist, who won an Oscar in 2016 for a documentary short about honor killings and went on to direct popular Pakistani animated action movies, to become the first female director of a “Star Wars” film. Additionally, he negotiated agreements last year for Obaid-Chinoy’s Hulu documentary on Diane von Furstenberg and for her collaboration with the Obama’s Higher Ground company to produce live stage shows.
Gregory Slewett
Talent
JSSK
Cardozo School of Law
Slewett is skillfully managing Glen Powell’s burgeoning career trajectory, handling his dealings for the films “Anyone but You,” “Twisters,” the remake of “The Running Man” directed by Edgar Wright, and J.J. Abrams’ upcoming Warner Bros. project yet to be titled, in addition to Powell’s forthcoming Hulu comedy series titled “Chad Powers” where he serves as executive producer. Moreover, Slewett has successfully negotiated acting and producing contracts for Florence Pugh for her next Netflix venture, the “East of Eden” series, as well as writing and directing agreements for client Lynne Ramsay on Jennifer Lawrence’s upcoming film, “Die, My Love.
Jason Sloane
Talent
Sloane Offer
UCLA School of Law
Discuss the skillful negotiations Sloane executed: Sloane successfully arranged Sebastian Stan’s contract to portray Donald Trump in the television series, The Apprentice, a role that led to an eight-minute standing ovation at Cannes (and also earned him Golden Globe, BAFTA awards, and an Oscar nomination). Besides this, Sloane was instrumental in securing Hugh Jackman’s live performance at Radio City Music Hall titled, From New York, With Love, as well as his less musical role as Wolverine in Deadpool & Wolverine. Furthermore, Sloan facilitated Chris Pratt’s deal for the Netflix series, The Electric State.
Mitch Smelkinson
Talent
Goodman Genow
Loyola Law School
This year’s most extraordinary business transaction saw Smelkinson finalizing a deal for Suits‘ creator Aaron Korsh to produce the spinoff series, titled Suits LA. It’s an exciting new NBC show that delves into the high-octane, pulse-racing realm of entertainment law in Tinseltown. On a different note, our client Oscar Isaac is preparing to breathe life into one of cinema’s most renowned mad scientists—Victor Frankenstein—in Guillermo del Toro’s forthcoming Netflix adaptation.
Cheryl Snow
Talent
Gang Tyre
UCLA School of Law
Actor Daniel Dae Kim is currently experiencing a burst of success. He has recently secured a first-look deal at 20th Television, landed a significant role in an upcoming TV series (yet to be announced), and will soon travel to Korea to star and produce “Butterfly”, a new spy thriller for Amazon. Additionally, his talent agency also represents screenwriter Travis Braun, whose popular screenplays have made the Black List twice. Now, one of his highly anticipated scripts, titled “Bad Boy”, about a rescue dog who suspects its owner is a serial killer, is finally going into production.
Orin Snyder
Litigation
Gibson Dunn
Penn Carey Law
Snyder, who often advises influential figures like LeBron James and Bob Dylan, is currently handling several high-profile cases. One of his major assignments is defending Andy Cohen against a lawsuit filed by Real Housewife Leah McSweeney, who claims discrimination based on sex, gender, disability, as well as alleging a hostile work environment and retaliation. Additionally, Snyder is representing Range Media Partners in a case where CAA has accused them of unethical practices such as poaching agents and stealing confidential information. Lastly, he’s working with AMC in a dispute over profit participation with ‘Walking Dead’ creator Robert Kirkman.
Christopher Spicer
Corporate
Akin
Georgetown Law
For the past year, Spicer has been instrumental in securing funding and distribution deals for successful series such as “Severance”, “Nine Perfect Strangers”, “Flora and Son”, “Savant”, and “Tokyo Vice”. Additionally, he helped Alpha Wave Global with their investment in MrBeast’s Feastables snacks company, and aided Konami Cross Media in discussions regarding potential film and TV adaptations of their games, including “Metal Gear Solid,” which is currently slated for an adaptation starring Oscar Isaac.
Alex Spiro
Litigation
Quinn Emanuel
Harvard Law School
In just three days at a courthouse in New Mexico, the accomplished lawyer successfully had the manslaughter charges against Alec Baldwin for last year’s Rust case dismissed (it’s worth noting that withheld evidence in the accidental shooting case could have contributed to this outcome). At one point, Spiro represented New York Mayor Eric Adams during federal corruption investigations. However, once Donald Trump was elected, these charges miraculously vanished, and Adams became extremely worried about undocumented immigrants residing in Manhattan instead.
Eric Swedenburg
Corporate
Simpson Thacher
Cornell Law School
Rather than flying a Super Hornet jet or climbing a skyscraper in Dubai, his legal work during the high-pressure $28 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance (the studios behind Tom Cruise’s Top Gun and Mission: Impossible films) presented its own set of challenges. As The New York Times described it, navigating the intricate legal obstacles of this groundbreaking deal was akin to directing a blockbuster movie in itself.
Joe Tacopina
Litigation
Tacopina Seigel & DeOreo
Quinnipiac University School of Law
On April 22, 2022, A$AP Rocky, the renowned Harlem rapper known as Rakim Mayers and his superstar girlfriend, Rihanna, came back to Los Angeles after a lengthy getaway in Barbados. Upon landing at LAX on a private plane, Mayers was apprehended by LAPD officers and detained. He was accused of two counts of felony assault for reportedly discharging two bullets that lightly wounded Terrell Ephron, a former member of A$AP Mob who was known as A$AP Relli, during an altercation at a parking garage in West Hollywood the previous November. After posting bail, Mayers declined a plea deal to serve six months behind bars and opted to contest the charges in court instead. Facing a potential prison sentence of up to 24 years that could end his career and drastically change his life, Mayers enlisted the help of Joe Tacopina, a well-known New York lawyer who has successfully defended many rappers and entertainers including Michael Jackson, Foxy Brown, Meek Mill, and members of Wu-Tang Clan. This attorney charges $2000 per hour.
Read the full story here.
Matthew Thompson
Corporate
Sidley Austin
UC Law San Francisco
He manages the business partnerships between Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, overseeing deals for their production company, Artists Equity. Last year, he secured a senior credit facility from JP Morgan (a line of credit), providing them with funds to expand. Additionally, he arranged a multi-year deal for his client Alex Cooper, partnering her with Nestlé to create a hydration drink for women named Unwell. Thompson has previously worked on celebrity beverages; he negotiated the $53 million purchase of ZOA Energy, a drink founded by Dwayne Johnson, by Molson.
Darren Trattner
Talent
Jackoway Austen
UC Berkeley Law
Trattner successfully secured the agreement for Scott Cooper to write, produce, and direct the Bruce Springsteen biopic titled “Deliver Me From Nowhere,” focusing on the creation of his iconic 1982 album, “Nebraska.” Jeremy Allen White was cast as Springsteen, while Trattner also finalized Giancarlo Esposito’s role in Marvel’s upcoming film, “Captain America: Brave New World,” as Sidewinder. Additionally, he managed the new overall deal of Jason Hall, who wrote the Oscar-nominated “American Sniper,” with Amazon.
Steve Warren
Talent
Hansen Jacobson
Harvard Law School
Over the last year, this consistently occupied lawyer successfully negotiated several high-profile acting roles. Among them was Charlize Theron’s part in Netflix’s action thriller Apex, where she plays a mountain climber pursued by a serial killer. He also secured Colin Farrell’s role as a gambler in Netflix’s adaptation of The Ballad of a Small Player. Furthermore, he handled Leonardo DiCaprio’s part in Paul Thomas Anderson’s thriller One Battle After Another, as well as Jonathan Bailey’s role in Jurassic World: Rebirth. Kirsten Dunst was represented by him for her role in Ruben Östlund’s follow-up, titled The Entertainment System Is Down, alongside Keanu Reeves. Lastly, he facilitated Elle Fanning’s appearance in Margo’s Got Money Troubles on Apple TV+, where she will share screen time with Nicole Kidman and Michelle Pfeiffer.
David Weber
Talent
Sloane Offer
USC Gould School of Law
Last year, lawyer Weber successfully negotiated several high-profile acting deals. For instance, he secured Emily Blunt’s casting in Disney’s upcoming sequel to The Devil Wears Prada, as well as her role in Steven Spielberg’s yet-to-be-titled film. Similarly, he arranged Austin Butler’s part in Darren Aronofsky’s drama titled Caught Stealing. In addition, Henry Cavill’s role in the reboot of Highlander at Amazon was also facilitated by Weber. Lastly, he played a key role in securing David Ayer’s position as writer, producer, and director for Heart of the Beast, a film about a special forces soldier and his retired combat dog, which Brad Pitt will produce at Paramount.
Todd Weinstein
Talent
Weinstein Senior
California Western School of Law
He’s the individual who took the lead on negotiating the agreement with Amazon for MrBeast’s Beast Games, a game show featuring 1,000 contestants competing for a $5 million prize and garnering an unprecedented 50 million views in just 25 days, making it the streamer’s most popular unscripted series to date. Weinstein has expertise in this area; he also facilitated the deal for Extracted, a high-stakes survival competition on Fox, which is produced by Sylvester Stallone.
Shelby Weiser
Talent
Sloane Offer
NYU School of law
Last year, Weiser secured numerous acting projects for Daisy Ridley, such as a mystery series on Apple TV+ titled “The Last Resort“, a small-town thriller on Amazon named “Panic“, an Australian horror film called “We Bury the Dead“, and several other TV projects and development deals. Additionally, Ridley signed an endorsement deal with Miu Miu, further establishing her as a fashion icon. Similarly, for Nicholas Hoult, Weiser finalized a lead role in a movie titled “How to Rob a Bank” and endorsement contracts with Jaeger-LeCoultre and Burberry, cementing his status as a fashion trendsetter. Meanwhile, Mahershala Ali will feature in a production called “Your Mother, Your Mother, Your Mother” at Orion.
Max Wellman
Litigation
Venable
Southwestern Law School
Actress Katherine Heigl is currently embroiled in a significant legal dispute: her attorney, Wellman, is managing her lawsuit against a dog rescue organization that she alleges has been disseminating untrue and damaging statements about the Jason Heigl Foundation, a charity for animal welfare which she co-founded with her mother, named after her brother. Besides handling this case, Wellman also represents another dog-related entity, Snoop Dogg, in various business deals, most recently the acquisition of his share in the Indoggo Gin branded beverage, paving the way for Snoop’s upcoming spiritual project, a cocktail venture with Dr. Dre called Gin & Juice.
Douglas Wigdor
Litigation
Wigdor LLP
Catholic University Law School
As I, a gamer, delve into the world of legal battles, my recent involvement in a civil suit against Sean Combs on behalf of singer Cassie Ventura didn’t resolve overnight. Instead, it sparked a federal grand jury indictment on sex trafficking charges, set to go to trial in May in New York City. This criminal case is likely to draw heavily from the witness testimony I guided during the civil court cross-examinations. Furthermore, beyond this high-profile case, I represent Jane Roe, a client who has accused country music legend Garth Brooks of sexual assault, battery, and rape.
Sophia Yen
Corporate
Manatt
Boston University School of Law
In her role as external legal advisor for AMC Theaters, she played a significant part in the innovative arrangement for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour concert movie, which allowed AMC and Swift to negotiate their own terms directly, bypassing traditional film distribution intermediaries. Additionally, she assisted Kevin Hart in establishing his production company, Hartbeat, and subsequently facilitated a $100 million investment from private equity firm Arby Partners. Her involvement extends across various aspects of Hartbeat’s operations, including real estate transactions, human resources matters, and film financing decisions.
Kevin Yorn
Talent
Yorn Levine
Tulane Law School
Previously serving as a deputy district attorney, this individual was known for imprisoning gang members; however, his current endeavors involve casting movie stars in dinosaur movies and other projects. This year, he brokered Scarlett Johansson’s deal to star in Jurassic Park: Rebirth, finalized Hwang Dong-hyuk’s agreement with Netflix for two additional seasons of the suspenseful Korean series Squid Game, arranged Jason Sudeikis’ return for season four of Ted Lasso on Apple TV+, and secured a deal for Jonah Hill to write, produce, and act in Outcome, an upcoming Apple film that he will collaborate on with Keanu Reeves and Cameron Diaz.
Julian Zaifen
Talent
Ziffren Brittenham
Stanford Law School
Beyond handling contracts for established clients such as Dick Wolf, Eddie Murphy, and Darren Star, Zajfen additionally represents successful directors like Gareth Edwards, who is set to direct the upcoming Jurassic Park sequel featuring Scarlett Johansson. He also facilitated a deal for client Mark Mylod to serve as executive producer and director for HBO’s forthcoming Harry Potter TV series; Hayley Atwell’s agreement to star in Marvel’s Avengers 5 and 6; and Catherine Zeta-Jones’ contract for her role as Morticia in the second season of Netflix’s The Addams Family reboot, Wednesday.
Susan Zuckerman Williams
Corporate
Paul Hastings
USC Gould School of Law
She assisted Media Capital Technologies in finalizing a multiyear financing agreement with Lionsgate, ensuring a significant investment in Lionsgate’s movie lineup. Additionally, she provides counsel to Eastree Media, a fresh U.K. fund focusing on acquiring film and TV properties, and acts as the representative for MidCap Financial during the bankruptcy case involving Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment.
Jeff Hynick
Talent
Jackoway Austen
Southwestern Law School
To begin, we’ll focus on Ortega, who has successfully finalized numerous agreements with Hynick. These include a second season for the series Wednesday, a leading role in the adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s acclaimed novel Klara and the Sun, and a part in an as-yet-unnamed J.J. Abrams film at Warner Bros. Additionally, Ortega represents Nicole Kidman, facilitating her acting and producing deals for Babygirl (A24), Holland (Amazon), Scarpetta (Amazon and Blumhouse TV), and Margo’s Got Money Troubles (Apple). Moreover, the director of Conclave, Edward Berger, has closed deals to direct The Ballad of a Small Player for Netflix and The Barrier for 20th Century Fox. Lastly, Jonathan Entwistle, director of I Am Not Okay With This, has signed on to direct a big-screen reboot of The Karate Kid.
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2025-04-04 16:29