Best Lawyers in America for Entertainment Law - Theater
State
Mark A. Merriman is counsel to the Entertainment Group where he practices in all aspects of entertainment law - with an emphasis on theatre and book publishing. He is recognized in the 2023-2025 editions of Best Lawyers in America for Entertainment Law – Theatre. Mr. Merriman is listed as a “Super Lawyer” by Super Lawyers magazine, and has received praise in Chambers USA for his work in media and entertainment. Additionally, The Legal 500 list him as a “Key Lawyer&rdqu...
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...
Marcie Cleary is a partner in the Entertainment Group at Frankfurt Kurnit, representing clients in the film, television, digital, and book publishing industries. Ms. Cleary structures and negotiates entertainment transactions for individual and corporate clients in the film, television, digital, and book publishing industries. Her clients include actors, news correspondents, writers, directors, producers, authors, podcasters and influencers. Ms. Cleary has significant experience representing ...
Sydney Drake is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Entertainment and Sports Law. Sydney practices law in Augusta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized Sydney Drake since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Sydney Drake is held by other lawyers.
Alexandra Badalamenti is an intellectual property attorney whose practice focuses on media and entertainment transactions. Alexandra represents artists, musicians, image creators, and innovators in production, fashion, music, and media. Alexandra counsels her clients on a variety of matters, including brand partnerships, commercial endorsements, music festivals, experiential activations, talent representation, licensing partnerships, and literary publishing.
Andrew Richman supports all aspects of entertainment, media, sports, advertising and technology transactions, and provides advice on intellectual property (IP) issues. His creative approaches help clients confidently pursue partnership opportunities that generate innovative campaigns, materials and activations. With a business-focused approach, Andrew assists advertising and marketing agencies, sports agencies, production companies, esports apps, brands, individual talent and creators in brin...
Darbie Tamsett is a transactional attorney who practices in the areas of corporate, real estate, and entertainment law. Darbie focuses her practice on issues faced by corporate clients, closely held businesses, investors, and high-net-worth individuals, in acquisitions, dispositions, and transactions. Darbie’s experience includes the general representation of start-up and existing companies, stock, real estate and asset acquisitions and dispositions, exploitation and protection of intel...
Kaley Sokolowski is an associate in Sterlington’s Corporate and M&A practice, advising clients on a range of domestic and cross-border corporate transactions, joint ventures, co‑investments and corporate governance. Prior to joining Sterlington, Kaley practiced at Sullivan & Cromwell, Gunderson Dettmer and Withers Bergman in New York. Her client base spans public and private companies, family offices, founders, and high-net-worth individuals across sectors including fashion, ent...
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.
