Entertainment, Sports & Media Team Shines in Variety's 2022 Legal Impact Report

Seven Latham transactional partners and three litigation partners in Latham’s Entertainment, Sports & Media (ESM) Practice have been honored by Variety in its annual Legal Impact Report that spotlights “top attorneys winning cases and making deals” in the entertainment industry. Partners Nancy Bruington, Ken Deutsch, Robert Ellison, Justin Hamill, Kendall Johnson, Rick Offsay, Marvin Putnam, Libby Savill, Laura Washington, and Jonathan West were all profiled in the 2022 Legal Impact Report for their lead strategic roles advising clients across film, television, music, and digital.

The 2022 Legal Impact Report also featured a compelling Q&A with Joe Calabrese, who recently retired as Global Chair of the firm’s ESM Practice. In the interview, Calabrese discusses the strength of the Latham platform and the transition of the ESM practice to the next generation, including new ESM Practice Co-Chairs Ken Deutsch and Adam Sullins.

The transactional partners honored by Variety – Bruington, Deutsch, Johnson, Offsay, Savill, and West – were recognized for working with top industry clients on a full spectrum of film, television, music, sports, and content-related business transactions. Their profiles in Variety cited work ranging from advising on recent major acquisitions and investments involving clients such as Allen Media Group, Endeavor, KKR, Moonbug Entertainment, Mar Vista Entertainment, MGM, and Silver Lake Partners, to negotiating financing arrangements and other transactions that fuel the entertainment industry for long-standing clients such as A24, Anonymous Content, Authentic Brands, Buzzer Media, Content Pictures, eOne, Macro Media, Oaktree Capital Management, New Republic Pictures, and Skydance Media.

The honored litigation team – led by Putnam, Global Chair of the firm’s Entertainment, Sports & Media Industry Group, with Ellison and Washington – was recognized for advising on an impressive roster of headline making cases, including recent representations of the Association of Talent Agents, Beyoncé, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, International Creative Management, Madison Square Garden Company, Johnny Mathis, MGM and Marc Burnett Productions, and Miramax.

“We greatly appreciate the recognition from Variety and the way in which they paid tribute to Joe Calabrese, who has made immeasurable contributions to the entertainment industry, and the practice of law. Among his legacies are the clients he helped guide and grow, and the practice he built at Latham that touches all corners of the entertainment, sports, and media worlds,” said Sullins.

Deutsch added, “Latham’s ESM practice combines decades of experience representing major industry players with unique market insights into the industries’ legal and financial drivers. It’s an honor to be recognized for our work. Our clients are the creative force behind all we do, and we pride ourselves on delivering sophisticated commercial advice on cutting-edge transactions and high-stakes litigation.”