Best Lawyers in New York, United States for Entertainment and Sports Law
Michael P. Frankfurt, a Partner Emeritus, is retired from the firm. He was one of the founding partners of Frankfurt Kurnit, one of the pre-eminent media and entertainment law firms in the United States. During his long career, he represented advertising agencies, commercial film, television, publishing, graphic and fine arts and new media companies, and represented and counseled executives and talent in those and other businesses. He also lectured often at various conferences and schools, in...
Jake Levy is the founder of Levy Law. Jake’s practice encompasses a broad range of transactions in the entertainment and media industries, with an emphasis on television, motion picture, podcast, book publishing, celebrity branding/endorsement and music matters. He represents both individuals and companies, including award-winning documentary and narrative filmmakers, directors, series creators, producers, literary authors, talent and broadcast journalists, as well as leading production...
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.
Brian G. Murphy counsels advertising agencies, advertisers, and entertainment companies as they develop and produce advertising and entertainment properties across all media. Mr. Murphy has been named the 2018 and 2025 "Lawyer of the Year" for Advertising Law by Best Lawyers in America. His practice focuses on copyright, trademark , right of publicity/right of privacy, false advertising, unfair competition, and defamation. Mr. Murphy negotiates and structures celebrity talent agreements, agen...
Daniel E. Lust is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Sports Law. Daniel E., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Daniel E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Robert E Freeman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Sports Law. Robert E, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert E is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Richard B. Heller is a partner at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC and a longtime member of the firm's Entertainment Group. His practice focuses on motion pictures and television, new media, publishing, celebrity branding and intellectual property. Mr. Heller's clients include on-screen talent, writers, producers, directors, production companies and distributors in the motion picture and television fields, as well as numerous foreign companies , charitable organizations and individuals d...
Alan D. Sacks is a partner in the Entertainment, IP Finance and Sports Groups. He is recognized in the 2023-2025 editions of Best Lawyers in America for Entertainment - Motion Pictures and Television and The Legal 500 for his expertise in media & entertainment law. He is also recognized by Variety in its 2021 Legal Impact Report. His blend of entertainment law and hands-on entertainment industry, transactional and advisory experience - combined with a substantial corporate finance and pri...
Barry Slotnick is a nationally recognized intellectual property litigator who represents high-profile clients in the music and entertainment industries, as well as major brands across the advertising, licensing and merchandising sectors. Barry has litigated scores of copyright infringement cases in courts throughout the United States, as well as numerous disputes addressing the respective rights of copyright and trademark owners and users, including rights of privacy and publicity. His client...
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.