Department profile
Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP

Media & Entertainment: Transactional

USA Guide 2026 : California

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Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP

A leader in entertainment law, Manatt’s Media & Entertainment: Transactional: Mainly Talent practice is built around marquee, artist-led work across music, film, television, digital media and emerging entertainment sectors, including podcasts, gaming and esports.

Manatt advises some of the nation’s most prominent and fastest-growing entertainment companies, such as production studios, streaming platforms and other media businesses, through high-profile M&A transactions; film, television and media financings; distribution deals; and other transformative transactions.

At the same time, the Firm’s talent-side practice is a defining strength, helping actors, artists, creators, influencers and other entertainment professionals protect their interests, advance ambitious creative and commercial goals and drive highly negotiated, boundary-pushing deals across a rapidly evolving entertainment landscape.

Clients (9)

  • AT&T
  • Sony Pictures Entertainment
  • Perfect World Pictures Co., Ltd.
  • Huayi Brothers Media Corp.
  • IMAX Corporation
  • ProSiebenSat.1
  • CBS Broadcasting
  • Tang Media Partners
  • Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

Industries (4)

  • Media
  • Private Clients / Individuals
  • Telecommunications
  • Entertainment

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Media & Entertainment: Transactional - California

Band 3

What the Team is Known For

Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP has a deep bench of attorneys catering to talent as well as content companies and financiers. The firm offers expertise in all aspects of entertainment, including film, television, music and digital content transactions. The team is particularly experienced with negotiating complex financing deals, such as film slate financing. They represent prominent recording artists and songwriters as part of their respected talent practice.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP represented FilmRise in connection with their merger with Shout! Studios and the subsequent creation of Radial Entertainment.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team is made up of great communicators and helps to distill information with ease.

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA

  • The team's ability to handle complex and sophisticated matters is excellent. Its attorneys are adept at creative problem-solving when standard approaches won't work.

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA

  • The team exhibit intelligence, thoughtfulness, creativity and diligence.

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA

  • Manatt Phelps is incredibly responsive and brings a practical, business-oriented approach to deal negotiations. The firm has a strong grasp of both legal and industry-specific challenges in the live entertainment space.

    Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Gary Gilbert
    Gary Gilbert

    Gary Gilbert

    Gary Gilbert represents an impressive roster of clients in the music industry, including prominent artists, producers and songwriters.
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  • Jordan Bromley
    Jordan Bromley

    Jordan Bromley

    Jordan Bromley leads the firm's entertainment transactions and finance practice. He predominantly advises recording artists on the full gamut of music transactions.

    • Jordan approaches deals with a calm, solution-driven approach.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA

    • Jordan is not just a lawyer, but a true partner in getting the deal done.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA
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  • Sophia Yen
    Sophia Yen

    Sophia Yen

    Sophia Yen is well regarded at the media and entertainment Bar, with expertise advising corporate clients on film and TV production and development deals. She is also active on financings and M&A deals.

    • Sophia constantly goes above and beyond as a service provider.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA

    • Sophia is experienced, knowledgeable and commercial.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA
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  • Christopher Chatham
    Christopher Chatham

    Christopher Chatham

    Christopher Chatham is recognized for his strength in a range of transactional work in the entertainment space. He displays particular prowess in the negotiation of talent agreements and partnership deals.

    • Christ is a truly exceptional lawyer all around.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA
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  • Ellie Heisler
    Ellie Heisler

    Ellie Heisler

    Ellie Heisler leads the entertainment group at Nixon Peabody LLP. She is a go-to adviser for social media influencers and other individual and corporate clients in the media, entertainment and sports sectors.

    • Ellie is a great deal-maker.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA
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  • Lee Phillips
    Lee Phillips

    Lee Phillips

    Lee Phillips is a highly experienced music attorney with an enviable client base consisting of recording artists, producers and composers.

    • Lee has been in the space for a long time and knows the industry well.

      Media & Entertainment: Transactional respondentUSA
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Ranked Individuals at Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP (6)

California

Members

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