Manatt Digital and Technology Transactions Leader Eric Bergner and Partners Gary Gilbert, Eric Custer, Beau Stapleton, Chris Chatham, Sophia Yen and John Meller were named to Variety’s 2024 Legal Impact Report, which highlights top attorneys in the industry for securing client wins and staying ahead of the curve.
Bergner, Gilbert, Custer and Stapleton were recognized as a group for their notable media clients, including TelevisaUnivision, Roku and the Women’s Sports Netowrk, and for content deals on behalf of Samsung relating to its connected devices. They were also highlighted for music clients including Jackson Browne, Death Cab for Cutie and Neil Young.
Chatham was recognized for his diverse work in transactions and litigation, representing many iconic celebrities. He was also highlighted for advising talent clients in deals with companies outside of the entertainment industry. In regards to talent appealing to a wider variety of services rather than solely traditional TV, Chatham says, “Our clients now have direct engagement with the audience, unlike before.”
Yen was recognized for her work with AMC Theatres in mapping out its theatrical distribution model, which was implemented for the theatrical distribution of the Taylor Swift and Beyoncé concert movies as well as her role as counsel for Kevin Hart’s multi-media company Hartbeat. Commenting on Hollywood’s cost-cutting, she said, “As the industry becomes more mindful of the bottom line, demand is shrinking and thus the supply side will need to adjust.”
Meller was recognized in the “Up Next” category for his excellence in client service and industry knowledge. He was highlighted for his key work representing an iconic American musician in a $100 million corporate restructuring and football star Johnny Manziel in his agreement with Netflix.
Read the full Variety profiles here and Meller’s Up Next profile here.