Best Lawyers in America for Entertainment and Sports Law
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
State
Bart H. Williams is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Sports Law. Bart H., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bart H. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Elizabeth A. McNamara is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Copyright Law, Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television, First Amendment Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Media Law. Elizabeth A., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elizabeth A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal prac...
Caroline is a seasoned trial lawyer representing clients in the entertainment, arts, fashion, retail, and technology sectors, such as motion picture studios and production companies, major media companies, film libraries, actors, comedians, television personalities, musicians, artists, jewelry designers, retailers, manufacturers, architects, market research firms, and others, in disputes involving copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, design patents, defamation, licensing and other contract ...
Bradley I. Ruskin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Sports Law. Bradley I., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bradley I. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Steven S. Sidman is a deeply experienced, highly regarded transactional attorney dealing in the business of pop culture. His practice focuses on the modern entertainment, food & beverage/hospitality, lifestyle/branding, and sports industries. For nearly 28 years, Steve has provided sophisticated, insightful, front-line legal advice and business affairs counsel to highly creative talent and high-profile individuals and corporate entities, along with their various entrepreneurial ventures. ...
Jordan Bromley is the leader of Manatt’s entertainment transactions and finance practice. His experience lies in recognizing talented artists, individuals and companies; developing strategy to achieve their long-term success; and protecting their interests by rigorously negotiating and drafting the agreements that form the basis of their business relationships. Jordan’s client base includes iconic, established, legacy and developing artists, songwriters, producers, record labels, ...
David N. Pessin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Sports Law and Trusts and Estates. David N., who practices law in Towson, Maryland, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David N. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jess L. Rosen focuses his practice on talent representation, including all facets of transactional entertainment matters in the music, film, television and new media industries. He represents, advises and counsels numerous songwriters, producers, recording artists, actors, writers and executives in all aspects of their entertainment careers. As a professional musician, Jess has a unique perspective and understanding of both the creative and business issues faced by talent today.
Julia R. Haye’s entertainment practice includes successful resolution, at trial and in arbitration, of complex business disputes involving profit participation, motion picture production and distribution, rights ownership, copyright and trademark infringement, idea submission, and other entertainment-related conflicts and contractual disputes. Her counsel and interests encompass every genre of entertainment and media, including studio and independent motion pictures, television, music, ...
Jean Ward is counsel to our Entertainment Group. She is one of New York’s best-known theatre lawyers, with over 30 years’ experience representing producers, authors, film companies and other stage rights holders, not-for-profit theatre companies, theatre owners, creative personnel, and investors. She is recognized in the 2023-2025 editions of Best Lawyers in America for Entertainment Law – Theatre and is listed as a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine. She n...
Joseph M. Leccese is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Sports Law. Joseph M., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2005. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joseph M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Gary Gilbert, a leader in the music industry, concentrates his practice in the area of music transactions. His clients include renowned performers, including Jackson Browne, Death Cab for Cutie, Rick James Estate, B.B. King Estate, George Thorogood, Pat Benatar, Dixie Chicks, Wynonna Judd, Michael McDonald, Sara Evans, Peter Frampton, Jennifer Nettles, George Benson, k.d. lang, Lyle Lovett and several alumni from American Idol . He has been recognized as a “Top Music Lawyer” by Bi...
Andrew J. Velcoff focuses his practice on entertainment, intellectual property and media law. His practice includes a wide range of institutional and individual entertainment and media clients, including broadcast and cable networks, film and television production companies, marketing companies, on screen talent, writers, and other clients involved in the development, production, acquisition, financing, marketing and distribution of content for motion pictures, television, video, the Internet...
Bonnie E. Eskenazi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television, Entertainment Law - Music and Litigation - Intellectual Property. Bonnie E., who practices law in Los Angeles, California, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Bonnie E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal pract...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.