Best Lawyers in New York, United States for Sports Law

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...

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...

Jim Johnston helps sports, entertainment and media clients venture outside their comfort zone and into uncharted territory. By understanding their business goals and managing their risk, he’s cleared paths for clients to invest in film and television programs, launch streaming services, and sponsor sports arenas with worldwide audiences. Fledgling sports leagues turn to him for airtight media, sponsorship and facility partner agreements to get their brands off the ground. Jim’s cl...

Joyce Dollinger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Copyright Law and Entertainment Law - Music. Joyce, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joyce is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Anthony J. Dreyer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Intellectual Property and Sports Law. Anthony J., 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 Anthony J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Karen M. Lent is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Antitrust Law and Sports Law. Karen M., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Karen M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Wayne D. Katz is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Sports Law. Wayne D., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2017. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Wayne D. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

M. Graham Coleman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television, Entertainment Law - Theater and Media Law. M. Graham, who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which M. Graham is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David G. Feher is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Antitrust Law and Sports Law. David G., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David G. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Melissa Georges is a partner in our Entertainment Group and Chair of our Content Review & Clearance Group. For more than 30 years, she has helped award winning documentary, feature film and television producers, directors, actors, writers, animators, and comedians resolve complex legal issues to get their projects cleared and distributed. She is recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the 2025 edition for Entertainment Law. Ms. Georges assesses all forms of entertainment content for lega...

Stefan Schick has been practicing entertainment law for more than 16 years, with a specialty in live theater. Stefan advises clients on all aspects of creating, developing, financing, producing, co-producing and licensing Broadway, off-Broadway, touring, regional, West End and other overseas live stage productions, from the initial rights deal to opening night and beyond. His clients include film studios, producers, investors, playwrights, bookwriters, composers, lyricists, directors, designe...

Michael R. Williams is a partner and Chair of the firm’s Fashion Group and Co-Chair of the Celebrity Branding Group. Mr. Williams’ clients include major television and motion picture actors, leading fashion designers, top models, fashion show production companies, photographers and executives in the entertainment and fashion industries. Mr. Williams represents actors in the negotiation of deals to perform in film, television, theater and other media. He also works to assist client...

Leslie M. Greenbaum is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Entertainment Law - Music. Leslie M., who practices law in Buffalo, New York, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Leslie M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Hayden Goldblatt is a partner and Co-Chair of the firm's Entertainment Group, where he focuses on motion picture, television, and digital media work. Mr. Goldblatt has wide-ranging experience in all areas of entertainment and media, representing producers, writers, directors, documentary filmmakers, actors, comedians, financiers, and independent distributors. He has negotiated complex single picture and slate multi-party financings both on behalf of producers and financiers, as well as struct...

Stuart R. Goldfarb is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Sports Law. Stuart R., who practices law in New York, New York, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Stuart R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.