Entertainment & Media

From A-list talent and music icons to vanguard media companies, Willkie represents leaders and stars across the entertainment and media industries. 

Our deep bench of experienced attorneys provides seamless transactional, litigation and intellectual property services to performers, industry executives, management and production companies, established networks and streaming platforms, and virtually any organization operating in the entertainment space. 

Clients rely on us to advise on business planning strategies, negotiate and structure transactions, navigate complex investments, counsel on branding and sponsorship opportunities, and protect valuable intellectual property. When disputes arise, our entertainment litigators—backed by a team of experienced trial lawyers—work creatively and efficiently toward favorable outcomes for our clients.

Entertainment Transactions

Our transactional attorneys represent management companies, production studios, networks and streaming services, music brands, gaming developers, virtual and augmented reality companies, social media and nearly any organization involved in developing, producing and monetizing audiovisual and digital content worldwide.

Clients rely on us to negotiate and structure mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, financing transactions and joint ventures, and to secure key service providers and talent through executive compensation and equity incentive arrangements. We draw on the experience of our intellectual property team to help clients develop and protect brand strategy and monetize content through licensing and distribution agreements, sales, sponsorship deals, and promotional partnerships and events.

Our transactional team is consistently recognized by The Hollywood Reporter, Variety and Billboard, and is ranked in Chambers USA’s Media & Entertainment: Transactional category.

Entertainment Industry Professionals

As trusted advisors, we represent celebrities, A-list talent, influencers and other public figures in endorsement and brand ambassador deals across consumer-facing sectors such as apparel, wellness and fitness, beauty and skincare, spirits and other retail products, real estate, technology and emerging areas such as digital currencies. Our cutting-edge Private Wealth group supports this work by handling complex business and income-tax planning matters unique to industry professionals.

Music

Our team of leading music lawyers advises on recording and publishing agreements, complex licensing structures, joint ventures and investments, contracts for festivals, concerts and other live events, and acquisitions and sales of music catalogs and other revenue streams. We also counsel social media, sports, fitness, digital media and technology companies on integrating music assets.

Entertainment Litigation

When disputes arise, our entertainment litigators, led by veteran first-chair trial attorneys, apply a creative and efficient approach to meet our clients’ objectives. We handle the full spectrum of business and partnership disputes and protect clients’ valuable intellectual property by prosecuting and defending copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity, idea submission claims and other IP assets.