Media & Entertainment: District of Columbia

THE FIRM Arnold & Porter maintains a broad involvement with the media and entertainment sector. Its attorneys counsel a range of clients across a wide spectrum of work, including privacy, advertising and consumer protection issues. The firm has a number of prominent media and entertainment clients and is also noted for its expertise with sports entities. For example, both the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Major League Baseball (MLB) feature on the firm's client roster.   

Sources say: "A top media practice."  

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Garrett is clearly "a high-quality media and entertainment lawyer." Sources commend his considerable expertise in copyright litigation, which is called upon by a range of high-profile sports, media and entertainment clients. His heavy caseload features a number of prominent cases, including the representation of the Coalition Against Video Piracy, a coalition of major entertainment companies, broadcast networks and sports leagues, in relation to the copyright implications of websites which facilitate the unauthorized streaming of TV programming.

THE FIRM Covington & Burling's media and entertainment offering differentiates itself from its DC peers by the sheer breadth of its coverage. This team provides expertise across the whole spectrum of media and entertainment regulation, transactions and litigation. The group represents some stellar clients from the entertainment and media sector including Warner Bros., the NFL, Univision Communications, Hulu and MySpace.

Sources say: "We go to the firm because it has all the media and entertainment expertise that we need and it provides us with a good-value, superb work product." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Stephen Weiswasser is lauded by clients, who believe that his background as general counsel of a major media company gives him "a unique appreciation for the needs of businesses in the current regulatory environment." Weiswasser has recently been representing the National Geographic Society on the sales and acquisitions of publishing and cable assets. Kurt Wimmer is acknowledged by peers as "an excellent media lawyer." His practice is focused on digital media, TV and technology clients. Wimmer recently worked with a 70-member coalition of media companies, which included all the major networks and publications, on the negotiation of the Free Flow of Information Act of 2009 with the Obama administration. Mace Rosenstein chairs the firm's technology and media practice groups, and is also the head of Covington & Burling's cross-departmental Internet, media and telecoms industry group. His personal practice is largely focused on media and telecommunications transactions, policy and regulation.

THE FIRM This group is renowned across the country for its broad media and First Amendment expertise. It has a tremendous track record in providing both litigation representation and counseling to prominent clients from traditional and new media. The firm's media group is spread across its Washington, DC, Los Angeles, New York and Seattle offices.

Sources say: "A nationally renowned media and entertainment practice."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Robert Corn-Revere has an impressive track record in First Amendment law, as well as in communications, media and information technology law. Sources pay tribute to his "incredible intellect," acknowledging his status as "a truly terrific First Amendment lawyer." Laura Handman cochairs the firm's appellate practice and focuses her practice on media and IP law. Peers are quick to acknowledge her importance to the team, suggesting that "not only is she a skilled lawyer, but she also has a real star power presence to her."

THE FIRM Holland & Knight's media and entertainment group counsels clients across a wide range of issues, including First Amendment, IP, telecommunications and corporate matters. The team recently won a notable appellate decision for the Software & Information Industry Association, and is continuing to litigate the case on remand to the superior court. The team works for a number of significant media and entertainment clients, including Associated Press, Cable New Network and Fox Television Stations.

Sources say: "This group understands and is experienced in the full panoply of its clients' media work."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Charles Tobin heads up the firm's national media team. "An acknowledged leader at the media Bar," he draws praise from clients for the completeness of his client service; sources particularly note his alacritous responses.

THE FIRM Jenner & Block's involvement with the media and entertainment sectors is through the firm's creative content practice group, a subset of its litigation department. The group is comprised of veteran trial attorneys and represents clients across a broad array of media and entertainment litigation, including copyright, First Amendment, IP and trademark issues. Sources note the firm's increased involvement in the video games sector, as evidenced by the team's representation of the respondents in the Schwarzenegger v Entertainment Merchants Association case, a case concerning government attempts to regulate the video game industry.

Sources say: "I can think of a load of reasons to choose Jenner & Block, but as in-house counsel, I go to the firm because its lawyers get me the right results." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS Paul Smith is noted by commentators as "a superb lawyer and a strong appellate advocate and brief writer." Smith represents a range of clients in conjunction with telecommunications, First Amendment and IP issues, among others. Steven Fabrizio impresses his clients with a "remarkable combination of tenacity and judgment." Peers concur that "he is an incredibly dogged pursuer of the rights of his clients, but in a way that reflects a nuanced judgment of the sector." Fabrizio is best known for his hi-tech copyright and content protection litigation expertise.

THE FIRM Kirkland & Ellis is acknowledged as a leading firm for plaintiff-side representations in First Amendment and defamation cases. The group represents both corporations and high-profile individuals across a wide variety of industries. Examples include Chiquita Brands International, Ford, GM and Motorola.  

Sources say: "Clearly the leading plaintiffs firm – these guys are the ones to go to if you are on that side of the table."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Thomas Yannucci is "one of the best plaintiff-side media lawyers you will find." He has a great track record in handling high-profile matters for high-profile clients, having represented the award-winning HBO program 'The Sopranos' as well as the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Tigers and 'super agents' Leigh Steinberg and Jeff Moorad.

THE FIRM This firm's media and entertainment practice encompasses a wide spectrum of work, as illustrated by a diverse client base that includes broadcasters, programmers, talent companies and online media companies. This is a multitalented group, drawing attorneys from a range of legal disciplines, and as such is able to assist media and entertainment clients across transactional, litigation and regulatory work.

Sources say: "This group is strong in all aspects of M&A, regulatory work and disputes within the entertainment sector."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Eric Bernthal is the managing partner of Latham & Watkins' Washington, DC office. Sources are quick to praise his extensive telecommunications expertise, and he regularly works with television and radio stations on both regulatory and transactional matters.

THE FIRM Market sources regard media law and the Levine Sullivan brand as being indelibly linked. This 24-member boutique firm is undeniably home to a number of the country's finest First Amendment litigators. The team is recognized for the depth of its expertise in media law, including First Amendment, entertainment and IP law. Its abilities can be clearly gauged by the caliber of its clients, which include ABC, CBS, Dow Jones, Fox News, The New York Times and Viacom.

Sources say: "Levine Sullivan is a brilliant firm – it may not be the biggest firm out there, but every single one of its attorneys is top-quality."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Lee Levine is a "simply terrific lawyer; he's extremely knowledgeable, he's an excellent writer, he always shows excellent judgment and he knows this area inside out." Levine has an incredibly strong track record in representing media clients in libel, invasion of privacy, reporters' privilege, copyright and First Amendment cases. He is acknowledged by peers as "professorial – he is a leader for the media Bar." Seth Berlin and Michael Sullivan were recently successful in representing Condé Nast Publications and author Amy Wallace in Arthur v Offit, a notable defamation lawsuit arising from an article published in Wired magazine. Berlin is another of the firm's highly regarded First Amendment specialists, while peers readily accept that Sullivan is "an incredibly skilled trial lawyer." Nathan Siegel represents media clients across First Amendment, IP and entertainment law cases. Clients view him as "the ideal guy to go to with a complicated question that looks impossible to answer."

THE FIRM Wiley Rein has established a leading reputation for its communications practice. Its 80-strong team works with a number of notable clients from the media, technology and communications sectors. The group's regulatory expertise garners the most plaudits, with commentators praising its broadcasting, cable, programming and content regulation experience. Sources continue to regard this firm as a standout choice for FCC issues, pointing to the numerous team members who have previously held FCC positions. Over the past year, the team has continued to represent JPMorgan Chase as administrative agent in connection with the bankruptcy of the Tribune Company.

Sources say: "A fantastic service! Wiley Rein lawyers staff well, they cut out the trash and they assess all the probabilities and give me the bottom line."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Richard Wiley is regularly dubbed "the dean of DC communications law." As the former chair of the FCC, he brings considerable invaluable expertise to bear on behalf of his clients. He is currently representing JPMorgan Chase as administrative agent in the bankruptcy of the Tribune Company. Kathleen Kirby regularly handles a range of regulatory, policy and transactional matters before the FCC. She also works with both new and traditional media clients on affiliation and content-licensing agreements.

THE FIRM Williams & Connolly's 12-lawyer media group has a tremendous reputation for representing media and entertainment clients across a variety of disputes, but especially for its expertise in First Amendment cases. The market's appreciation of the team's work is neatly underlined by the breadth and quality of its client base, which includes The Washington Post, Newsweek, CBS, Fox Television and Time Warner.

Sources say: "No question that these guys are top-tier media litigators – one of those rare examples where a team lives up to its fantastic reputation."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Kevin Baine practices principally across First Amendment and media issues, and is regarded as one of the leading practitioners in this niche. Peers acknowledge that "if you hire Kevin Baine, you walk into court with instant credibility," and they cite not just Baine's impressive track record and expertise, but also his "incredibly smooth, wonderfully skilled oral advocacy." Robert Barnett rules an even narrower niche, and is universally acknowledged as "one of the best authors' representatives," with sources admitting that "if you have a high-end book deal, there is only one guy you call – Bob Barnett." The veracity of this statement is supported by his client list, which includes Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bob Woodward, among many others. Thomas Hentoff is noted for his expertise in First Amendment and media law and IP litigation. He draws considerable praise for his "fantastic sensibility," with sources suggesting that "all good lawyers write great briefs, ask good questions at briefings and so on – what you don't always find is the judgment and commercial sensibility, and Hentoff has that as well as everything else." David Kendall receives unanimous praise from peers and clients alike, with sources agreeing that he is "one of the finest and most gentlemanly lawyers practicing." He brings a vast range of experience to the table, and his clients have included The Washington Post, Newsweek, National Enquirer and Playboy.

THE FIRM The media and entertainment practice at WilmerHale is centered around the representation of clients in First Amendment, IP and privacy issues, although the group is also recognized for its regulatory work. The team recently achieved a notable success on behalf of its client craigslist, securing a complete victory in a high-profile lawsuit brought against its client by the sheriff of Cook County, Illinois.

Sources say: "A team which really understands the media industry, understands how fast a turnaround we need, and delivers."

KEY INDIVIDUALS Patrick Carome is widely recognized as "one of the leaders in Internet law." He works with a range of marquee clients including Time Warner, Yahoo! and eBay. Carome led the firm's representation of craigslist in the high-profile lawsuit brought against it by the sheriff of Cook County, Illinois in the Northern District Court of Illinois.