Manatt Entertainment Leader Jordan Bromley and Partners Eric Custer, Gary Gilbert, Beau Stapleton, Christopher Chatham and Sophia Yen were named to Variety’s 2023 Legal Impact Report, which highlights top attorneys in the industry for securing client wins and staying ahead of the curve.
Bromley, Custer, Gilbert and Stapleton were recognized as a group for their work on two of the biggest music deals of 2022, representing Dundee Partners’ $1.1 billion acquisition of Kobalt Capital’s music rights portfolio and Francisco Partners Management in acquiring a majority stake of Kobalt Music. The profile also featured the group’s work with Melon Inc. on the groundbreaking NFL-license Roblox experience in the metaverse.
Discussing the opportunities and challenges the entertainment industry is facing in the future, Bromley said artificial intelligence is simultaneously exciting but can bring complications for the creator economy.
“It begs the question of how we can create an ecosystem that harnesses the benefits of A.I. and related technology without jeopardizing the careers of music artists and other creators,” Bromley said. “The industry must collectively advocate to ensure artists that their original music and content are protected.”
Chatham was recognized for a client list boasting high-profile names, such as Demi Moore, Heidi Klum, Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. He was also noted for representing Chris Harrison’s successful launch of “The Most Dramatic Podcast Ever…With Chris Harrison,” Next Century Spirits in its partnership with Hollywood mogul Seth MacFarlane on Bear Fight American Single Malt Whiskey and Dr. Phil McGraw in the next evolution of his career following 21 seasons of his eponymous show.
Yen’s profile highlighted her work advising Kevin Hart’s HARTBEAT on its formation and $100 million capital raise, FilmRise on upsizing its working capital facility to a nine-figure commitment and various financing deals, such as “Lee” starring Kate Winslet and Michael Mann’s “Ferrari.”
See Variety’s full list of winners here.