Hollywood Reporter Lists 100 Most Powerful Entertainment Lawyers for 2024

The Hollywood Reporter released its list of the 100 most powerful lawyers in Hollywood, recognizing attorneys who specialize in talent representation, litigation, and corporate law. These lawyers were selected based on their involvement in notable cases and deals over the past year that affected the entertainment sector.

The list covers a range of activities, from contract negotiations to mergers and intellectual property disputes.

In corporate law, Tom Ara of Weil, Gotshal & Manges advised Domain Capital Group during Village Roadshow Entertainment's Chapter 11 restructuring. This included guidance on ownership rights to the company's film catalog, which features titles such as The Matrix and Mad Max, and its subsequent sale to Alcon Entertainment. K.

Representation Deals Michael Auerbach of Jackoway Austen

handled David Corenswet's agreement for James Gunn's Man of Tomorrow.

He also represented Mia Goth in projects including Guillermo del Toro's Mary Shelley adaptation, Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and Shawn Levy's Star Wars film opposite Ryan Gosling. Auerbach's client James Marsden secured roles in Avengers: Doomsday and season two of Apple TV's Your Friends and Neighbors, while Mia McKenna-Bruce and Bo Bragason obtained parts in Sam Mendes' Beatles film and The Legend of Zelda, respectively.

Karl Austen of Jackoway Austen negotiated a reported $20 million deal for Zach Cregger to write, direct, and produce Sony's Resident Evil reboot.

Austen noted that such a deal for a third-time director is uncommon. He also arranged for Eddie Redmayne to star opposite Julia Roberts in Panic Carefully and return for season two of The Day of the Jackal, and facilitated Carlton Cuse adapting Dan Brown's The Secret of Secrets for Netflix.

Dean Bahat of Ziffren Brittenham LLP secured compensation for Matt Damon in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, where Damon portrayed Odysseus.

Bahat, along with partner Brian Lazarus, handled the agreement. He also finalized Mae Martin's deal to create and star in Wayward with a Netflix first-look deal, and with partner Ben Rubinfeld, closed Danielle Deadwyler's agreement to star in HBO's Rooster opposite Steve Carell as a poetry professor.

Berlinski of Bird Marella achieved a court order for Brad Pitt in his dispute with Angelina Jolie over Château Miraval ownership.

The order required Jolie to provide documents withheld on privilege grounds. The case is scheduled for trial in Los Angeles Superior Court in February 2027. S. arbitration, managing complex residuals matters including self-dealing claims across thousands of films and TV series.

The lawyers on the list contributed to various industry developments, such as acquisitions involving companies like Paramount and Warner Brothers, and Jennifer Garner's children's food company going public at an $845 million valuation. These efforts supported ongoing operations in film, television, and related sectors. The full list details additional attorneys and their specific contributions.