Best Lawyers in California, United States for Entertainment and Sports Law

John T. Frankenheimer's practice is centered in the entertainment and media industries, with emphasis on both institutional and talent clients. This includes advising on the acquisition, sale and restructuring of companies, including financing, valuation, securitization and due diligence issues, as well as representing companies, artists and executives in all aspects of the music industry, including all forms of talent contracts, distribution, licensing, technology-related issues, publishing,...

Greg Akselrud is a founder and Partner of the firm and a member of the firm’s executive committee. He Chairs the firm’s Internet, Digital Media and Entertainment Practice group. Greg advises clients across a wide range of industries, including companies in the entertainment, digital media, Internet, technology, software, mobile, venture capital and consumer electronics industries. Greg Akselrud has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, teaching Busine...

Ken Kraus takes a thorough and thoughtful approach to his practice, focusing on entertainment, copyright, trademark and intellectual property law in the music, television and film industries. Throughout his career, he has represented major recording artists, songwriters, record companies, music publishers, book authors, managers, music industry executives, startups, investors, and other groups and individuals in the entertainment field. A significant portion of Ken’s work has revolved a...

Jonathan Steinsapir is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television, Entertainment Law - Music and Litigation - Intellectual Property. Jonathan, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeremy S. Goldman is a partner in the Litigation Group and Co-Chair of the Emerging Technology Group, focusing on intellectual property, entertainment, media, privacy, technology, and commercial law. Jeremy is an accomplished media and entertainment litigator, focusing on copyright, trademark, privacy, intermediary liability, right of publicity, First Amendment, and business disputes. Jeremy draws on his sophisticated understanding of law, technology and industry, along with creative problem-...

Steven Katleman represents individuals and companies who create, produce and sell content in all media, emphasizing television, motion pictures and new media. Mr. Katleman’s clients include talent, such as writers, producers, performers and directors, as well as production companies and studios ranging from artist-owned boutiques to public companies, that create and supply programming to television broadcasters, television and motion picture distributors and studios. He also handles oth...

Stanton (“Larry”) Stein is a partner and the head of Russ August & Kabat’s Media & Entertainment group. Larry’s clients include actors, writers, directors, producers, music artists, high-net-worth individuals, entertainment guilds, talent agencies, personal and business management companies, independent production companies, and video game companies. Larry is widely known in the entertainment industry for his work taking on Hollywood studios. Throughout the las...

Michael Hobel is recognized as a leading authority in the legal profession on entertainment transactions across digital, television and film. Described by clients as "a tremendous thought partner who provides practical, sophisticated advice," Michael is trusted by entertainment and media companies to represent them on deals involving some of the entertainment industry’s most successful properties for more than 25 years. As the head of Katten's Entertainment and Media Practice, Michael h...

Chad Fitzgerald is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television and Litigation - Intellectual Property. Chad, who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Chad is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Time and again, major recording artists, their key advisors and core industry companies trust Zia Modabber, the managing partner of the Los Angeles offices, to handle legal issues they face in the creation and protection of their assets. With decades of experience in the music and entertainment industry, he has an ability to not only address his clients' pressing legal issues, but also their long-term artistic and business interests. Zia is a sought-after litigator of intellectual property, F...

For more than two decades, Robert J. Labate has maintained an active litigation practice in corporate restructuring and transactional media and entertainment law. Mr. Labate has been an adjunct faculty member at DePaul University School of Law for many years, where he teaches two courses reflecting his practices: "Corporate Workouts and Restructuring" and "The Law of Film and Television Production." For the past five years, Mr. Labate has served as chair of the Public and Charitable Service C...

Ivy Kagan Bierman’s practice includes the representation of entertainment and related companies in labor, production, distribution, technology and other business matters. She handles both transactional and litigation matters for clients. Ivy is one of a select few entertainment industry labor lawyers looked to for representation in guild and union matters by film and television production companies, digital companies and networks, cable networks, public broadcasting companies, distribut...