Media and entertainment: transactional
Rising stars
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Vanessa is a key player on Akin’s renowned entertainment team and throughout the corporate entertainment world. She is regularly found at the table with seasoned professionals who seek her guidance and advice in finalizing their deals. Vanessa provides counsel in various aspects of the production, financing and distribution of film, television, digital media and music projects. She is keenly focused on helping clients address issues related to the rapidly-changing landscape of the entertainment industry, including the proliferation of streaming services and the rise of virtual reality. She leverages positive relationships across the sector to facilitate efficiencies in transactions. To learn more about Ms. Roman, please visit her profile here: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/vanessa-f-roman.
Leading lawyers
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Faiza J. Saeed is Cravath’s Presiding Partner. She advises public companies, boards of directors and special committees in connection with M&A, corporate governance and crisis management, including takeover defense and proxy contests.
Chris Spicer serves as the head of the firm’s media, entertainment & sports practice. He focuses on entertainment and media transactional matters, advising on projects throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He represents financial institutions, mezzanine investors, equity providers and other investors with respect to their film, television, digital media and music financings as well as in other media investments. He also advises borrowers, distributors, independent production companies and others involved in various aspects of the production, financing and distribution of content. To learn more about Chris, please visit his full profile: https://www.akingump.com/en/lawyers-advisors/christopher-s-spicer.html
Ken Deutsch is Global Co-Chair of the Entertainment and Media practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Century City office. He represents a broad array of operating entities in the entertainment and media industries, including film and television studios, streaming platforms, and independent media companies, advising on their most significant corporate transactions as well as on a variety of film, television, and other commercial ventures. Mr. Deutsch also routinely represents financial institutions, investment funds, high-net-worth individuals, and other media and content financiers in evaluating and executing on investment and acquisition opportunities in the entertainment space. He has particular experience in structuring complex equity and debt financings, content funds, and strategic joint venture arrangements. Mr. Deutsch, who has been referred to as a “Hollywood Heavyweight” by The American Lawyer, is recognized as one of the few Band 1 leading lawyers for Media & Entertainment: Transactional in California by Chambers USA, where clients note that he is “deeply knowledgeable” with a “fantastic ability to handle complex transactions.” He is also recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” for Media and Entertainment: Transactional by The Legal 500 US and is routinely recognized by a number of industry publications, including Variety’s “Hollywood’s New Leaders,” “Dealmaker Impact Report,” and “Legal Impact Report,” and The Hollywood Report’s “Power Lawyers.”