Cynthia Arato

Cynthia Arato is one of the nation’s leading media and entertainment litigators. With a practice focusing on intellectual property, media and entertainment, and commercial litigation, Cynthia has successfully represented major corporations and prominent artists in copyright, trademark, defamation, right of publicity, and contract and other civil litigation. Cynthia also regularly advises clients on a wide range of intellectual property matters, including emerging technologies and trademark and right of publicity issues related to advertisements and products.

Cynthia has scored victories in numerous cases of first impression for artists such as Lizzo, and the late Frank McCourt. Early in her career, she was lead trial counsel for the Select Committee of Inquiry formed by the House of Representatives in Connecticut in connection with impeachment proceedings related to Governor John G. Rowland and won a landmark ruling from that State’s highest court leading to the Governor’s resignation from office.

Ranked among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America, Cynthia has been recognized in Chambers USA, Crain’s New York Business, IP Managing Stars, Best Lawyers in America, Euromoney, and New York SuperLawyers.

Cynthia co-authored a White Paper on behalf of the News/Media Alliance regarding generative artificial intelligence, which was covered by The New York Times. She gave the keynote address on Artificial Intelligence litigation at the Washington State Bar Association 29th Annual Intellectual Property Institute.

Prior to co-founding Shapiro Arato Bach LLP in 2009, Cynthia was a partner of a leading international law firm, and before that, at other firms of national reputation.

Vice-Chair of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts

Co-Chair of the New York State Bar Association Task Force on the Crisis in Local Journalism

Past Chair of the Copyright & Literary Property Committee of the New York City Bar Association

Member, Committee on Media Law of the New York State Bar Association

Speaker at numerous continuing legal education events covering copyright, law practice management, and privilege issues, including presenting keynote address on Artificial Intelligence litigation at the Washington State Bar Association 29th Annual Intellectual Property Institute.