
Media & Entertainment: Litigation
USA Guide 2026 : New York
Rankings

Ranked Individuals
Ranked Individuals
About
Provided by Pryor Cashman LLP
Over the course of 60+ years, Pryor Cashman has built a phenomenal Media + Entertainment Litigation team with extraordinary depth, coupled with decades of experience handling the cutting-edge issues in media + entertainment. Our unparalleled reputation and successes have made us the firm to go to for music publishers, record labels, songwriters, and recording artists. The Media + Entertainment team has built an unassailable reputation for handling the most complex matters and litigations that set new standards in how music is made and consumed, and how the industry’s valuable assets and intellectual property are monetized and defended.
Our award-winning music litigation attorneys protect and defend the rights of creators and owners of intellectual property, routinely winning multimillion-dollar copyright infringement lawsuits for international pop stars, rock icons, music publishers, and record companies, as well as litigating breach of contract actions, royalty disputes, copyright termination claims, and other music-based disputes.
There is no other Media + Entertainment Litigation practice in the United States with the breadth of clients and range of practice of Pryor Cashman, and we are known throughout the industry as pioneers and relentless advocates for clients in the M+E space.
Chambers Review
Provided by Chambers
Work Highlights
Provided by Chambers
Pryor Cashman LLP successfully represented international singer-songwriter superstar Ed Sheeran, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Publishing and others in a music copyright jury trial in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. It also secured summary judgment in a second case brought by Structured Asset Sales on the same song.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
Pryor Cashman is excellent across the board with superior business and industry knowledge. Its team is flexible and collaborative.
Media & Entertainment: Litigation respondentUSAThe team is well practised and thorough.
Media & Entertainment: Litigation respondentUSA
Notable Practitioners
Provided by Chambers
Senior Statespeople 
Senior Statespeople 
Donald Zakarin
Donald Zakarin is best known for his representation of clients in the music industry, including music publishers, record companies and recording artists. He frequently handles high-stakes copyright disputes. Donald Zakarin is literally the don. He is experienced and reliable.
Media & Entertainment: Litigation respondentUSA
Band 3 
Band 3 
Ilene Farkas
Cochair of the firm's Litigation group and Music group, Ilene Farkas handles intellectual property and contractual disputes on behalf of clients in the media and entertainment sector.
Ilene is a powerhouse music litigator. She works skillfully to achieve the best possible results in litigation.
Media & Entertainment: Litigation respondentUSA
Band 4 
Band 4 
Ben Semel
Ben Semel regularly advises media and entertainment entities on licensing, regulatory, and litigation matters. He serves as the cochair of the firm’s Music Group and Media and Entertainment Practice, as well as chair of the AI Interdisciplinary Group.
Ben is incredibly smart, practical and business minded. He is a trusted advisor in every respect.
Media & Entertainment: Litigation respondentUSA
Band 4 
Band 4 
Brad D. Rose
Brad Rose acts on behalf of well-known artists, music publishers and other prominent clients in the media and entertainment industry. He comes especially recommended for his expertise in trademark and copyright matters. Brad is a very good lawyer.
Media & Entertainment: Litigation respondentUSA
Ranked Individuals at Pryor Cashman LLP (4)
Members
Provided by Pryor Cashman LLP

Donald Zakarin
View profile of Donald Zakarin
Brad D. Rose
View profile of Brad D. Rose
Ilene Farkas
View profile of Ilene Farkas
Ben Semel
View profile of Ben Semel
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