Best Lawyers in America for Sports Law
Vincent H. Chieffo is an entertainment and media litigator with significant trial and appellate experience. His practice also includes entertainment transactional work. His litigation experience encompasses disputes throughout the entertainment business, including those involving copyright and trademark infringement, right of publicity, defamation, the rights of estates and heirs in copyrights and other entertainment assets, idea submission, royalties and participations, and distribution and ...
Steven H. Stodghill is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television and Oil and Gas Law. Steven H. practices law in Dallas, Texas Best Lawyers has recognized Steven H. Stodghill since 2018. 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 Steven H. S...
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...
Charmaine D. Smith is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Copyright Law, Entertainment Law - Music and Litigation - Intellectual Property. Charmaine D. practices law in Atlanta, Georgia Best Lawyers has recognized Charmaine D. Smith since 2017. 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 Charmaine D. Smith is held by other lawyers.
Monika Tashman is a Manatt Entertainment partner in the firm’s New York City office. With a broad-based practice spanning over 25 years in the music and entertainment industries, she advises and provides creative, pragmatic solutions for clients at the intersection of entertainment and innovation—from independent artists and record labels to new media entrepreneurs and emerging technology companies—aiming to strategically expand and transform their organizations, business mo...
Daniel G. Stone is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Entertainment Law - Motion Pictures and Television. Daniel G. practices law in Los Angeles, California Best Lawyers has recognized Daniel G. Stone since 2024. 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 Daniel G. Stone is held by other lawyers.
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...
Sid Fohrman is a partner in the firm’s acclaimed Entertainment and Digital Media Practice Group and Leader of the firm’s Music Industry Team, and Leader of the firm's Esports Industry Team. Sid provides strategic counsel and transactional support to a diverse client base comprised of public and private companies, on and off-screen talent, artists, influencers, and entrepreneurs across the full spectrum of the entertainment industry, including, music, esports, fitness, sports, tech...
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 ...
Karen M. Lent is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Antitrust Law and Sports Law. Karen M. practices law in New York, New York Best Lawyers has recognized Karen M. Lent since 2019. 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 Karen M. Lent is held by other lawyers.
David N. Pessin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Sports Law and Trusts and Estates. David N. practices law in Towson, Maryland Best Lawyers has recognized David N. Pessin since 2011. 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 David N. Pessin is held by other lawyers.
Peter J. Anderson is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Entertainment Law - Music, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Media Law. Peter J. practices law in Los Angeles, California Best Lawyers has recognized Peter J. Anderson since 2024. 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 Peter J. Anderson is held by other lawyers.
Bradley I. Ruskin is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Litigation and Sports Law. Bradley I. practices law in New York, New York Best Lawyers has recognized Bradley I. Ruskin since 2007. 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 Bradley I. Ruskin is held by other lawyers.
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.
