Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz PC‘s entertainment group excels in advising the full gamut of media and entertainment individuals such as producers, actors, directors, models and personalities as well as production, distribution, broadcast, financing and media companies. The firm splits its sizeable practice across New York and Los Angeles, often advising clients on cross-border global transactions and deals such as international distribution deals for television creators and studios. Victoria Cook leads on these issues from New York, representing creatives and financiers in these international deals and advising on creating a new storytelling initiative. The team also assists with IP-related issues such as licensing and brand management. Andrew Hurwitz leads the team from Los Angeles, while Hayden Goldblatt and Lisa Davis spearhead the New York practice. Hurwitz specializes in handling complex deals in TV, film and video game sectors, Davis focuses on representing artists and Goldblatt centres his practice on equity and debt film financings and rights deals. Also in New York, Julie Murray advises TV, film and documentary production companies through complex transactions, while Ben Moskowitz is knowledgeable on development agreements, production deals and talent agreements.

Latham & Watkins LLP is praised as 'the preeminent law firm in media, entertainment and sports', boasting a strong team of media and entertainment and finance specialists based in Los Angeles. The firm advises a wide range of clients from independent production companies and major motion picture studios to financial institutions, investment funds, music companies and talent agencies. The firm regularly assists with major M&As and strategic investments as well as IP and content deals and media and entertainment financing. Practice head Rick Offsay is an expert in handling complex media and entertainment M&As, joint ventures, capital raises and financings. Nancy Bruington is the go-to for producers, private equity funds and investment banks looking for experience in structuring and negotiating media transactions. Other notable team members include Kendall Johnson who excels in handling sports-related transactions, Jonathan D. West who represents celebrities and companies in joint ventures and IP issues, and Liliana Paparelli Ranger who focuses on representing film & TV studios, streaming platforms and independent production companies in entertainment M&As, equity and debt financings and content production. Justin Hamill sits in New York and is well-versed in M&As and private equity deals.

Paul Hastings LLP‘s entertainment and media group stands out for its expertise in a wide range of transactions for content companies, banks, private equity investors and talent agencies. The team has been active in M&A deals, music catalog acquisitions and investments into the entertainment industry. The clientele of the firm benefit from the team’s experience in structuring project and corporate financings. The Century City-based team is headed up by Ken Deutsch who is a media and entertainment transaction specialist and Erik Hyman. Deutsch advises on corporate transactions for film & TV, streaming platforms and independent media companies. Susan Williams is the go-to for capital market transactions and licensing and distribution agreements for motion pictures, TV and digital media.  She serves both domestic and international clients in key digital media financings and distribution transactions. Sean Monroe is noted for his expertise in motion picture financings, television business acquisitions and investments alongside digital and new media venture formations.

The Los Angeles entertainment, media and sports group at DLA Piper LLP (US) includes a dedicated entertainment finance practice which advises upcoming and established media and entertainment clients in domestic and cross-border transactions. The team is well-versed in the music industry, advising on music rights finance including music rights securitization and financing. Other than M&As and financings, the team also assists with monetization initiatives, content development, production and distribution. Clientele of the firm include Hollywood and international studios, digital content services, music rights acquisition platforms, production companies, financiers and other key industry players. Tom Ara leads the wider entertainment, media and sports group and represents banks, private equity funds, investors and borrowers on media transactions. David Markman chairs the entertainment transactions practice and acts as counsel to media clients in project acquisitions, financing and sales. Robert Sherman is the go-to for cross-border financing and transactions within the media and entertainment space and leads the entertainment finance group. Katherine Imp is noted for her transactional work for media companies and brands,

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP's transactional media, entertainment and technology team assists clients with M&As, equity investments in media and entertainment companies, product placement and promotional agreements and IP transactions. The team advises financial institutions, celebrities as well as their ventures and production companies. The team is jointly led from Los Angeles by Kevin Masuda who excels in representing content companies in transactions and Benyamin Ross who advises a mix of technology, media and entertainment companies in M&As and investments. Steve Tsoneff is sought out by content producers, distributors and financiers in production, licensing and distribution transactions, he is based in Century City. Sarah Graham resides in Los Angeles and is the go-to for private equity funds, investors and media and entertainment companies for restructurings, M&As and investments. The team is also well-equipped to assist with licensing, distribution and production agreements.

Loeb & Loeb LLP is at the forefront of the entertainment industry covering Broadway and live theatre, TV, film, music podcasts and other new digital media as part of its entertainment, media and sports group. The firm advises producers, playwrights, directors and other key players in productions on Broadway and the West End as well as representing motion picture studios in adapting live stage versions. It regularly assists clients with production contracts, IP issues such as licensing arrangements, financing live stage productions and digital content financing. On the podcast side, the team has aided with online service joint ventures between content products, advertisers and internet distribution platforms. Chairing the practice, Scott Edel sits in Los Angeles and represents film and TV production companies, investors and financiers in development, production, distribution and financing transactions. In New York, Roger Arar focuses on film and development, finance and production, while Marc Chamlin leads on television transactions. Bess Morgan sits in Nashville and is experienced in IP issues.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP's entertainment and transactions practice is led by Jordan Bromley and mainly advises film, television, music and digital media clients. The Los Angeles-based team assists clients with complex M&As and IP transactions, including assisting with acquitting IP and music catalog rights. On the distribution side, the team has worked on a number of concert film distribution agreements and strategies. Financings are also a key part of the practice. Bromley specializes in music transactions including catalog sales and purchases of music companies and assets. Gary Gilbert excels in handling catalog deals on behalf of artists, producers, songwriters and executives. Sophia Yen is the go-to for M&As, financings and production and development deals for international media, production and distribution companies. W. Joseph Anderson is a corporate transaction specialist focused on the media industry.

Based in Century City, O'Melveny is well-equipped to advise on media and entertainment deals and transactions such as capital raising, acquisitions, joint ventures and commercial licensing agreements. The firm represents Hollywood clients from the film & TV sector such as production and development studios. The firm is strongly positioned to aid with cross-border joint ventures and transactions due to its overseas presence in Europe and Asia. Amy Siegel spearheads the team from Century City and advises studios, networks, streamers and production companies on acquisitions, financing, exploitation and management of media assets. She also assists with commercial licensing and joint ventures agreements as well as structuring distribution and endorsement deals. Matthew Syrkin sits in New York and focuses on the intersection of media and technology, structuring deals that are often global in scale. Financial institutions, PE funds and media and entertainment companies all seek out Lindsay Conner‘s expertise in film and TV financing and distribution deals. He resides in Century City alongside Silvia Vannini who leads on international M&As for the entertainment sector.

The digital media and entertainment, gaming and sports group at Perkins Coie LLP is well-versed in technology transactions, M&As, venture capital and IP transactions. The team focuses on assisting clients in the interactive entertainment industry such as gaming publishers, developers and distributors alongside streaming platforms, console manufacturers and software tool developers. Other than its work in the interactive space, the firm also has expertise in handling music-related transactions and sports sector agreements and licensing. Kirk Soderquist leads the Seattle team and excels in technology transactions and privacy matters such as M&A transactions for major gaming companies. Co-head Jason Schneiderman sits in Palo Alto leads on corporate matters for entertainment clients, while New York practice head John Delaney focuses on music, TV and film licensing and distribution issues.  Ron Koo is part of the Seattle team and centers his practice on video games, AR/VR and digital content collaboration agreements, licensing deals and product launches. Ali Mirsaidi works on commercial transactions such as licenses for content and development agreements from New York.

Akin stands out for its expertise in media and entertainment financings. The firm's media, entertainment and sports practice mainly advises corporate clientele such as banks, private equity funds and investment banks. Matters include structuring complex finance, M&As and joint ventures. The Los Angeles-based team is led by Chris Spicer who is well-versed in handling deals between movie production companies and financial institutions. Marissa Román Griffith centers her practice on advising financiers, borrower and distributors on production, financing and distribution of film, TV and digital content. Deals made between independent movie production companies and financial institutions are handled by Alissa Miller. Vanessa Roman is also key to handling credit facilities and single-project loans in the entertainment industry. Lauren Epstein advises on financing and equity issues in TV, digital and film transactions for financial institutions.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP is known for its specialism in handling corporate transactions for international and multinational corporations in the media and entertainment industry. The firm has handled a number of complex acquisitions, financings, divestitures as well as financing restructurings and reorganizations for production studios, TV networks, broadband networks and animation studios. The team is led by corporate heavyweight Faiza Saeed from New York who excels at handling multi-billion dollar mergers and acquisitions for the entertainment industry. She has also handled major sales of media and entertainment businesses as well as assisted with takeover defence and proxy contests for clients.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP serves media and entertainment clients across the US as part of its technology and IP transactions practice group. The team benefits from the firm's expertise in M&A, debt finance and capital markets to advice media clients on transactions often involving intangible assets and technology assets. The team has also assists with joint ventures, strategic partnerships, licensing, promotions and other commercial agreements with TV personalities, artists and athletes. Seth Traxler sits in Chicago and is the go-to for carve out transactions as well as joint ventures, acquisitions and sales. Over in New York, Edward Lee assists with both cross-border and domestic M&As, Allison Wein focuses on cross-border and contested transactions and Shellie Freedman often handles transactions involving IP and technology aspects.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP combines its expertise in corporate transactions with its knowledge of entertainment and media to advise investors, entrepreneurs, media and entertainment companies and media technology corporations. The team also advsies on IP issues such as rights negotiations, film studio deals, film production, distribution and financing arrangements. The team is based in New York and jointly led by Robert Schumer, Michael Vogel, Charles H. Googe Jr. and T. Robert Zochowski Jr.. Schumer is an M&A specialist with extensive experience in the media and entertainment space, Vogel represents media companies and entrepreneurs in M&As and joint ventures and Googe Jr. leads on IP matters and is known for structuring entertainment aspects of M&As and financings. Zochowski Jr. is sought out for assistance with specialized and innovative finance structures including project financings involving film, royalties and music rights asset securitizations.

Pryor Cashman LLP's media and entertainment transactions practice is jointly led out of New York by Simon Pulman and James Janowitz as well as Briana Hill in Los Angeles. The firm assists clients with key entertainment projects related to feature films, documentaries, TV and streaming. The team negotiate deals and contracts for clientele as well as handle financing, loans and acquisitions. Hill excels in transactional matters, structuring and negotiating development, production, licensing and distribution agreements for media and entertainment players. She is also the go-to for rights and relationship deals. Pulman centers his practice on studio business issues for entertainment companies such as financing, development and production. He has structured a number of streaming deals including co-production agreements. Video game clients also seek Pulman out for his speciality in transmedia rights deals and adaption of video game properties into film and TV series. Lastly, Janowitz focuses on financiers and content creators, assisting them with monetization of audio-visual and music catalogs. He also advices on financing and merger transactions as well as sales.

Reed Smith LLP‘s entertainment finance practice is chaired by Stephen Sessa in Century City and is part of its global entertainment and media industry group. Sessa specialises in buying and selling copyrights for the music industry and excels in advising on music catalog sales and acquisitions. The practice represents institutional lenders, private financiers and corporate borrowers in a motion picture and television production financing and syndicated financings. The team serves a number of sectors within the media industry including music, celebrities, publishing, advertising and brands. Michael Sherman is part of the Century City practice and advises media entities on US and foreign tax credit financings, as well as other finance transactions for single motion picture, television series and music clients. In Chicago, Jason Gordon leads on advertising and marketing matters, while Monique Bhargava handles adtech transactions. Christian Simonds is the go-to for studios, financiers, networks and production companies for film and TV transactions, he resides in New York.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP's entertainment, technology and advertising practice group is spearheaded by New York-based Alexis Robinson who acts as strategic counsel in entertainment-related commercial transactions as well as assisting clients with negotiating digital content, music licensing and distribution deals. The Century City-based team advises studios, streaming services and platforms on financings, acquisitions, production and distribution of content. The team often act as lead entertainment counsel for clients and are sought out for their skills in handling motion picture and TV productions. As part of the West Coast team, Robert Darwell leads on the acquisition and development of motion picture and TV projects, Robb Klein focuses on film and TV financing and Linda Michaelson brings corporate expertise to the media team.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP fields a specialized media and entertainment group which is focused on assisting media powerhouses and new players in media and entertainment transactions and cross-border M&As. The firm is sought after by music clients for its expertise in catalog acquisitions and music joint ventures, assisting artists, established and independent music labels. The Los Angeles-team is led by media specialist David Eisman who is noted as a music industry heavyweight, advising on major investments, sales and M&As in the music industry as well as other key transactions. The practice also aids clients with production and distribution matters as well as executive compensation, tax, IP and labor issues. Eisman has also assisted clients with forming new ventures such as animation or film studios and handling capital raises, he has also assisted with launching new products and advised investment groups on acquisitons of equity stakes in media companies.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP's New York-based media and telecommunications team advises media companies, sports organisations, sponsors and investors on media transactions. The team is comprised of corporate law specialists who are well-versed in handling transactions in the content and distribution industry. Practice head Jonathan Levitsky leads on public and private M&As and joint ventures between media and telecom companies. He also advises private equity clients on investments into the media and entertainment sector. Co-lead Emily Huang works alongside Letvitsky and advises corporate clients on M&As. In San Francisco, Michael Diz advises a mix of private and public companies as well as private equity firms on corporate governance and acquisitions.

Katten's media and entertainment team spans both domestic and international matters, advising motion picture studios, TV networks, film and TV distribution companies and production companies on transactions. The practice is also well-versed in assisting sports sector clients as well as digital media companies such as game developers and animation companies. Typical matters the team assists with include licensing and production agreements, clearance, contract analysis and other transactions related to TV and film production. Michael Hobel spearheads the Los Angeles practice and is adept at handling deals which cross the border between entertainment and technology. On his team include Scott Cutrow who handles complex entertainment finance transactions and talent agreements as well as James Freedman who handles music,  film and TV issues.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP is a California-based entertainment, sports and media group with clients ranging from production companies and studios to music, gaming and sports companies. Structuring and negotiating mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships and financing transactions are all key areas of the practice. The team also assists with joint ventures, sweat equity partnerships and brand ambassador deals. Entertainment specialists Alan Epstein, and Andrew Kramer all jointly lead the Los Angeles team. Epstein handles transactions for private and public companies as well as represents production companies, celebrities and content creators in business activities. Fohrman leads on music and digital media matters, assisting with complex music publishing agreements, licensing deals and joint ventures. Kramer is the go-to for project finance, acquisitions and global distribution of content for entertainment and film companies.