Manatt senior partner L. Lee Phillips and partners Lindsay Conner and Gary Gilbert, who both co-chair the firm's Entertainment and Media practice, have been recognized by the Daily Journal as three of the entertainment industry's leading lawyers in California. The Daily Journal's inaugural list, "California's Top 50 Entertainment Lawyers," was published on November 5, 2014, and identifies the key dealmakers and litigators who are rapidly reshaping the movie, music and game businesses at a time when digital disruption is transforming the industry.
In its profile of Phillips, the Daily Journal reports that he spends a good chunk of time fielding calls from people requesting an interview with his longtime client Steve Perry. Other times, Phillips is tending to matters with Neil Young, Kenny Loggins or Burt Bacharach. Phillips recently represented Canadian artist Paul Anka in his agreement with the estate of Michael Jackson to release a song that he co-wrote with Jackson in 1983. The song, "Love Never Felt So Good," was released by Sony earlier this year. He and the firm also handled the sale of Beach Boys singer-songwriter Brian Wilson's life story rights to River Road Entertainment and Battle Mountain Films. Phillips told the Daily Journal that he's a fan of the artists he represents, saying, "They are legends. It's hard not to love them because there's a reason they got that way."
The Daily Journal profiles Conner's work for his client Sony Pictures Entertainment, which released The Amazing Spider-Man 2 this year. The film came about as a result of a slate funding round that Conner helped engineer. Sony's deal with LSC Film Corp., its second slate of the year, covered a whole set of future motion pictures. "There is always a good discussion about content," said Conner. "We talk about films being made right now that are included as well as others in the pipelines. For the most part, however, we focus on economic models." The Daily Journal also highlights Conner's completion of two deals with made-for-Internet content providers. Conner recently worked with Red Arrow Entertainment Group in a deal with Amazon.com Inc., and he helped The Tornante Co. reach an agreement with Netflix Inc.
For Gilbert, the Daily Journal notes that for 30 years he has been the lawyer of choice for many country and contemporary music stars such as Sugarland, George Benson and several American Idol champions. Gilbert explained how he is helping his clients navigate the Copyright Act of 1976, which allows artists to regain control of their copyrighted work after 35 years in 2013. Artists and songwriters must transfer termination letters to the record labels and publishers, but they still could be rejected while owners try to keep the copyrights. Gilbert counsels his clients on the process and has already helped Jackson Browne, Peter Frampton and Pat Benatar with revision matters. "Both artists and writers getting their songs back will be major for them," said Gilbert. "It's an annuity for them. It changes the leverage a writer has, and they can exploit them to how they will like them, too."